The leader., 1897-12-01

past, of reaching into the future, OF
taking account of things about, of us
ing the forces of nature and of lifting
up our thoughts toward God. We take
our part in the nineteenth century
''the heir of all the ages in the foremost
files of time.- This is a good age in
which to live, the fairest and best since
Eden withered. This is the day OF
progress; information Is more widely
diffused; education is larger and truer;
the rights of men more recognized
and peace more generally prevalent.
2. We may praise God for the civil
liberty we enjoy. Still there is vouch-
safed unto us the magnificent heritage
of freemen, SThe gifts and calling OF
God are without repentance" With
painful efforts and by hard marches
the race of mankind, or part of it,
has come to the possession of this land
of promise. Compared with the times
that have gone before us we occupy a
splendid vantage ground. That gov
ernments were made for the people
and not the people for governments is
now an undisputed maxim, but it has
won its way over the fiercest opposi.
ton. Less than two hundred years
ago the divine right of kings to reign,
the duty of non-resistance was the
staple theme of the English pulpit, and
anything contrary to it was regarded
with horror. We wonder that an age
of darkness was so near to us once and
may delight that among all nations
having any claim to be called civilized
| it is recognized that governments get
their right to exist from the consent
of the governed.
3. The blessing of God is shown in
the religious liberty which we enjoy.
We can worship God under our own
vine and fig tree and none to molest.
In this fair Western land there is no
State Church armed with the sword to
compel uniformity of faith. That we
are exempt from this blackest of ali
despotisms should he with us a matter
I of congratulation and praise to God.
A. Let US be glad likewise because the
earth has brought forth and rewarded
the toll Of the husbandman.. This
faithful soil is still generous ia yield
ing blessings. From the earth comes
our strength as people. Agriculture
is the truest basis of prosperity, and
surely in our temperate climate and
fruitful soil we have the best guaran-
tee of continued blessings. No fiuctu-
ations of trade can fop long disastrous
ly affect a people who depend upon
themselves and upon the products of
the earth. There was a tabled wrestler,
Ant@us by name, who, in his contests,
when he felt his strength waning, had
only to touch the earth. end his vigor
was restored. From the same peren-
nial source we get the blessings which
We need.
5. AS a people we have been favored
with health through the year in an un-
usual degree. No withering pestiience
Tor consuming sickness has been per-
mitted to desolate our homes. These
have been restrained or turned aside
Eto waste or destroy in less favored
places. How few have been taken
away from amongst US by death Sell
dom has it been in this good year of
1897 that the solemn funeral bell has
tolled the passage of soul to another
world. Fathers still live the stay and
strength of their families; mothers
survive as the comfort of their house.
holds; children are spared as bless
ing to, their parents and the hope of
the land. Rut with some God has dealt
i'm different manner, and they have
been called to mourn. May God who
has bereaved give also unto them grace
Ito bear the. sorrow.
Now / mention. the fact Of our ex-
emption from scourges which have Wis
tied other localities in order to excit,
to gratitude and not to encourage the
fidea that God hasbeen Furnishing them
for their wickedness. Some people
think so and no. doubt become Phari-
sale by so thinking. Thus concluded
the friends of Job, but as theOlogians
and philosophers they we're everlast
ingly discounted out of the mouth OF
God. If you will examine you will
lind that all these notions about those
people being bad upon whom atilic
tions come, are from the false maxims
of Jobs unwise counsellors. The bad
are punished, but they are not always
Ebad upon whom evil falls. BrookhaveI
is not better than Edwards, nor Halle
hurst than Clinton, nor Summit than
Biloxi, nor Vicksburg than Mobile, nor
jackson than Montgomery, nor Canton
fthan Scranton. But the latter have
been visited by yellow fever and the
former have not. Explain it as you
will, but do not feel that they are more
wicked than. we and have been pun
ished, while we are more righteous
than they and are by consequences the
highly favored of the Lord. Be sure
we deserve it as mnoh as they, and, if
blessings come to US instead, it is OF
the mercy Of God.
6. l think the list. Of our blessings
demanding thankful recognition would
uot be complete il we should fail to
think OF tha homes that We enjoy.
What joys and grace and beauty are
lcomprehended in the idea Of home
1t is the product of religion, the growth