The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-28
AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

labor in vain who build it,"
AT FIRST PRES BYrERIaN CHURCH.
Veterans Enthused by the Sermon OF
DR.. McLsod.
A large number Of the members Of
Lieutenant Ezra S. Griffin post, ut the
First Presbyterian church listened to
the special sermon delivered by Rev.
DR.. Mcleod. There was a magnificent
audience present, the grand auditorium
being crowded to its fullest capacity.
The musical part Of the programme
was under the direction Of Tallie Nor.
gan. The choir numbered over forty
voices and sang, among other selec-
tons, PRAISE Ye the Father" by Gou.
nod. The reading of the pastor and
responsive chant singing by the choir
was a new feature in the service Of
the church. but was greatly appreoi.
ate].
Miss Annette Reynolds sung in her
usual artistic manner, THY Loving
Kindness" and after the last hymn q
male quartette, consisting of John
Lewis, Tallis Morgan, Hector James
and q. r. Grifitns. sang without ac-
compartment and with touching ef-
feet, Let the Dead and the Beautiful
Rest" Rev, N. F. Stahl, chaplain OF
Ezra S Griffin post. occupied a seat on
the platform and offered an earnest
and eloquent prayer.
The sermon by Rev. DR.. Mcleod was
a powerful discourse, redolent with
patriotism and sound Christian doc
trina, and at times so stirred the en-
thusiam of the old veterans that they
could scarce refrain from giving vent
to outbursts Of applause. His remarks
were based IN psalm cxlyii; 20: "He
hath not dealt so with any other
nation"
DR.. Mcleod said the words Of the
text were spoken more than 5000 years
ago and had direct application to the
Jewish nation. At that time, nor 1, 0OC
years later, and in some respects moi
even up TO the present tins had tho
Lord dealt with any other nation as
with that people. He spoke Of Their
survival OF misfortunes of war and cap
tivity, for they were a feeble folk
as something wonderful, attributing it
to the fact that God was with them.
He had a purpose to serve with this
people for out of Israel was to come
Christ, the Redeemer Of Mankind.
GOD HAS Been GOOD TO US.
But the text, the speaker said, wal
also applicable to this nation. Fol
when we think what we were anG
what we now are, we can truly say,
God hath not dealt so with any othel
nation" Then after extending a
cordial welcome on behalf of himself,
the officers and congregation OF the
church, to the war veterans present,
DR.. Mcleod briefly referred to the past
Of our country. He would not approve,
he said, of all the puritans did, buI
they are to be judged BY the times in
which they lived. Nevertheless hi
paid them a glowing compliment. II
was their sons, he declared who formu.
lated the doctrine that all men are
created free and equal; their sons who
signed the Declaration Of Independ'
ence.
In tracing the providence of God in
the founding Of the republic DR.. Nc
Leod declared that it would be just as
true to say that God had no hand il
shaping the Jewish ~theocracy as 10 say
that he had no hand in shaping THU
American government. 1t was no &C
cident, he asserted. that the pilgrims
came to these shores; no accident thai
lo5 70 tbo f0updipn ~ Tho oolop;oo. po
accident that they rebelled; no acci
dent that the government developed
was a republic instead Of q monarchy
no accident that raised up such men al
Webster, Clay, Lincoln, Grant; no &C
cident shattered the manacles Of slav-
cry from the limbs of q race and for
ever wiped out the foulest blot on OUT
national escutcheon. 1t was not bray
cry and genius alone that saved the
nation-the hand Of God was in it all.
Although he had stated facts that
should not be forgotten yet, proclaimed
DR.. Mcleod, there are among us those
who seem to look elsewhere than to a
divine source for the stones out oil
which this fabric of government wal
huiir. They do not see the hand oil
God in it. and have no respect for His
lars. The sanctity Of the Sabbath Is
ignored, wholesome laws are set al
naught. and yet despite al
this, "God hath not dealt &C
with any other nation" The
wonderful u and possibilities
Of our country were next dwelt upon,
Rut how IN prpnarra tho pOodlv horit,
age preserved by soldierly valor is Q
problOm. There must be unity, con.
cord, intelligence. education. Whether
right or wrong we have universal suf-
fringe. Seventy.fiye per cent. OF the
colored voters cannot read, while the
same is true of q large percentage Of
the ignorant and vicious that come tt
us from foreign shores,
THE MODERN SAMPSON.
A blind Sampson,is in our midst WIKI
may raise his hand and shake the pill
lars of our commonweal and shatter it.
This blind Sampson is the unsducated
masses with ballots in their hands.
DR.. McLeod's remarks on this subject
were eloquent and earnest the extreme
and created u deep impression as die
the entire balance of the sermon. He
closed with an appeal to the old vet
Grams to seek the heavenly crown az
their final reward.
After the discourse the quartettC
sang and the benediction was pronounc
ed by Rev. N. +. Stahl.