St. Paul daily globe., 1889-05-04
sENsATIONAL SERVICES.

Among the many centennial ceremo-
nies in New York there was none more
impressive than the religious exercises
in St Paul's church, and surely nothing
more sensational than the sermon
preached by Bishop POTTER. The oc-
caSion was one of deepest solemnity,
and the congregation a most notable
one. Among the worshiperS were the
president and vice president, the two
surviving ex-presidentS, HAYES and
CLEVELAND, and all the members of
the cabinet except Mr.. BLAINE. But
Bishop POTTER was in nowlse aWed by
the august aSSemblage before him. He
was there to speak the truth, and he
went at it with the courage of aspiritual
hero. With his eye directed toward the
pew in which sat the president and
vice president he said: "a generation
which yaunts its descent from the
founders of the republic seems largely
to be in danger of forgetting their pre-
eminent distinction. They were few
in numbers, they were poor in worldly
possessionS-the sum of the fortunes OF
the richest among them would afford
fine theme for the scOrn of the pluto
crat of to-day: but they had an lnvlncl-
BILE confidence in the truth of those
principles in which the foundation OF
the republic had been laid" AT this
shot the president was observed to
scowl, and the vice president moved
nervously in his seat. Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS face wore look of mingled
amusement and surprise, while Gen.
HAYES pat his hand up to his ear to be
sure that he was not losing any part OF
the remarks. Then the bishop read an
extract from letter written by WASH
INGToN Just before his Inauguration. i'll
which he said he would discharge the
duties of the Office with that impair
tiality and zeal for the public good
which ought never to suffer the cOnnec-
tions of blood or friendship TO have the
least sway on decisions of a public nat
ure." Again the president WINGED, and
drew his face down more tightly.
After short reference to the deterio-
rating effect of our loose immigration
laws. Bishop POTTER returned to his
com parison between the first and last
administration, and it was at this point
that the members of the cabinet began
to souirm in their seats. II resumed:
"And, again, another enormous differ
ence between this day and that of which
it is the anniversary is seen in the
enormous difference in the nature and
influence of the forces that determine
our national and political life. Then,
ideas ruled the hour. To-day, there are
| indeed ideas that rule our hour, but
they must be merchantable ideas. The
growth of wealth, the prevalence OF
luxury, the massing of large material
forces which by their very existence
are standing menace to the freedom
and integrity of the individual; the in
| finite sWagger of OUT American speech
| and manners, mistaking bigness for
greatness, and sadly ccnfounding gain
and godliness-all this is a contrast to
the austere simplicity. the unpurcllas-
able integrity of the first days and first
| men of our republic"
Then it was there was bitterness
written on the faces of the members of
the cabinet who occupied pews imme-
diateIy in front of the pulpit. Postmas-
ter General WANAMAKER wished him.
self back in his Sunday school at Phila-
delphia, where he could preach his own
sermons and not have them refer to the
merchantable duality of modern poll
tics. Secretary WINDOW wondered how
Wall street could be SO profaned by a
priest who depended for his salary
largely on the liberality of the money
kings. But the good old bishop went
right on telling them how they made it
impossible to reproduce to-day either
the temper or the conduct of our ia
thers. and closed by urging his listeners
to take care that they do not forget that
there is a character which bears the
royalty of virtue.