The Portland daily press., 1895-12-02

has stood the test of ages, thes nation
that fails to recognize God as ~ Gu
preme ruler of the universe is ,,oos,,11v
ignorant.
Trust in the Lord was the watcbvyord
of the Pilgrim Fathers, while framing
the constitution of these United Sta+es !.
the Fathers were impressed with the
words, Except the Lord build the house.
they labor in vain that build it,, and
daily prayer was offered to God for ouid-
ance. The first general and president of
our government was man that asked
God, for divine guidance; and when re-
firing from the presidency, he wrote
these words: 81 feel now as l conceive a
wearied traveller must do, who after
treading many apainful step, has reached
the haven to which all the former were
directed and from the housetop is look
ing back with an eager eye, the meander-
ings by which he has escaped the quick
sands which none but the all powerful
guide and dispenser of human events
could have prevented his falling.' From
the very origin of this government to the
time it has reverenced God as the
Supreme ruler of the universe. The
Puritans suffering under the yoke OF
religious bondage (the result of the sin of
mixture of church and state), left their
home sand came to this, the asylum of the
oppressed of all nations. Those that
study the history of these United States,
will regard her as the world, with this
beautiful inscription written upon every
gate, "Ho, We, distressed of every cline,
the Creator of Heaven and earth hath
made this city as free as the blessed sun
shine and as pleasant to all as a summer
eve's shade" Of all nations this, the
great and mixed nation should give God
thanks, and make known his deeds
among the people. And if there is one
race in the country that ought to be more
thankful than any other. it is the colored
race. Think only few years ago. many
that help to make up this congregation,
were in the CALLING chains of American
Slavery. But your prayers were ascend
ing by broken and ungramatic words
But thanks be unto Him who created of
one blood all the nations Of the world !;
he took the moaning of his saints,
answered their prayers, and today they
stand upon a common level with the
nations Of the world. This has been
brought about by a wisdom more just
and divine, than mortal man ever at
tanned to. I firmly believe that the
prayers of the Christians did more to un-
lock the prison house of bondage and
liberate four millions of souls than all
the party speeches and party platforms
did. Thus it becomes US to give thanks
unto the Lord. for he has done great
things for us, whereof we are glad. To-
day You are under your own vine and fig
tree and there is no ne (north of '1Mason
and Dixon's Line'') to modest you or
make you afraid. Our Saviour declared
that the gospel of the kingdom should be
preached unto all nations, and his word
cannot fail. The preached gospel has
gone forth energized by an inyincible
power, carrying conviction to the heart
of man, and every black law has been
erased from the escutoheon of our
country. The deafening howl of the blood
hounds has given away to songs of praise
and sale pens to school houses. The eyes
OF the Lord are upon the righteous and
his ears are open to their cries, my
brethren you have entered upon new
era. New responsibilities rest upon you.
Your destiny is in your own hands, and
if, you fail to keep pace with the i'm
proving army, you shall utterly fail to
secure to yourselves the blessings of life
Every nation writes it's own history, and
when once written, time will not effect it,.
If you would vie with the civilized
nations you must educate. 1t is indis-
pensable. The mental man must bs
developed. If not, questions of interest
will pass by UNDECIDED. The moral man
must also be cultivated; much is being
done to make the rising generation sharp
and shrewd, but very little is being done
to make it honest and pure. This is the
duty of every parent, and guardian.
Every family is riyerlet flowing into
the national ocean. If the tributaries
are impure, the great body made up of
them will be likewise. Hence your in
dividual responsibility is greater than
you are apt to suppose For every I'M
trained child there lieth sin at some
ones door. and like Alhan of old, your
sin will find you out. Bitter tears ore
often shed over the conduct of grown up
children and often it is the result of our
own sowing. Many crack may be seen
in the wall, but the cause is in defective