The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1889-11-29

Just begun to rise. The fame of fortune
waiting in these mountains and valleys.
on these hills and plains, along these rivers
and ocean shores, has just reached the ears
of restless millions in the east and pilgrim
age of vast proportions has already started
toward this sunset land. Some one has said
that we are dwelling in what is ultimately
to be the controlling and wealthiest country
under the sun. The average wealth to-day
of the people of California is beyond the
average in New York. The empire of the
west will rule the empire of the east. This
fact should make Christians tremble when
they remember the vast moral perils which
threatens these hew regions. But l. would
not lift to-day only a voice of solemn con-
Germ but of triumphant hopefulness.
From the battlements of prophetic in
spiration, l hear ringing down the GEN.
turies the goldenswords of the text: ''Ot
the increase of His government there shall
be no end" Jesus Christ is with his churc :.
The gospel has not lost its power-it is still
the wisdom and might of God to individu-
ais and national salvation. Wherever a
Christian church points its spire heaven
ward there is centre of benefcent infiu-
ences. There families are gathered, child
rem taught, God honored and His day re-
spected. There is insparted an inspiration
for the nohler things OF human life, for out
of our churches have come our Christian
culture and civilization. To recount the
triumphs of the past should call forth praise
and gratitude on Thanksgiving day, and the
needs of the present should stimulate our
zeal, and deepen our conservation i'll Chris
tian service Let the life of this common
wealth and this community-yes, of all
commonwealth and all commnnities-be
built on that fourfold foundation of the
Christian church, the Christian home, the
Christian school and the Christian Sabbath.
The Englishman was right when he said
this country was bounded on the west by the
day of Judgment All our lines are bounded
on the west by the day of judgment and it
is a matter of solemn concern how we use
them. ''rhe fashion of this world passeth
away but the word of the Lord endureth
forever. Let us thsn build up nation, a
state, community on the word of God.
Take from our foundation walls other stones
if you must, but do not disturb, do not
loosen, do not deface, do not weaken Chris.
tianity, the chief corner stone, our safety
and oul hope. If the time shall ever come,
when the idea of God shall grow dim in our
popular thought, when the tonic of Christ's
gospel shall disappear from our philosophy,
we will only need to uncover our early his
tory to see it shine again in its brightness as
it shone in the Christianity of the fathers.
1t will stand forth in shining glory as yon
snow-capped mountains gleam in the bright
ness of the mid day sun. AS we gather on
next Thursday to lift our hearts in gratitude
to God for unnuinbered blessings, let us
recognize the truth that Christ still lives
and holds in His hands the reins of universal
government-that along all the foot
paths of our history can be traced the marks
of his bleeding feet-that upon the canvass
of all the years can be seen the touch Of His
pierced hands. He directs and to Him be
all the praise and glory and thanksgiving
We need not despair of the future-it is all
aglow with the beams of divine light, anG
a.leam with the rays of divine hope.