The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-07-08
PATRIOTIC SERMON.
REV. T. E. TERRY ON ISSUES OF
THE DAY.
Special Service of National Character
In the ElktOn M. E. Church.


A patriotic service was held in the Ekton
NJ. E. Church on Sunday morning. the pastor,
Rev. T. E. Terry, delivering II forcible dis
course on National issues. The church was
decorated with American flags and National
anthems were sung. Rev. Mr.. Terry's adj
dress was as follows:
| AMERICA THE FAVORED NATION.
He hath not dealt so with any nation. -
Psa 14720.
Nations, like individuals, have characters
and regulations. Every nation OF the past
that has risen or fallen, together with those
that survive today, has been weighed in the
balance Of human opinion, and is regarded
AS entitled to greater or less respect accord
ing us its record has been good or bad.
The thought Of the text is that God has a
special or chosen people With whom he deals
in singular mercy and with special favor,
and this David applies to ancient Israel.
May We not say a. much for our own coun-
| try? Note the analogy between Israel and
America.
/. Israel was prepared in land Of bond.
age, and in the cradle Of oppression for the
possession Of the land God gave them. Who
were the pilgrims, aud why did they come to
these shores?
=. They were miracuIousy led to the pos
e-siou OF the land by the divine hand So
was Columbus. and 50 were the pilgrims.
There seemed II providence in keeping this
land hidden for just the time when, and Just
the men 10y whom 1t was discovered and set
tied. Five hundred wears before Columbus
saw lis shores Lief Ericsson sailed down
from Greenland to Labrador, and as far
south rs Rhode Island, but nothing came Of
it. For more than Il century after its dis
coycry it amounted to little, until amid the
riSors II a New England winter, tine en-
bryoui" Israel who should occupy it and give
ii character. under the guidance Of God
landed On its inhosptable coast. Cots pur-
pos" was then ripe.
3. God was the strength and defense Of
| Israel. Note their victories So was God to
our fathers. or else they had surely perishcd.
In the war of the Revolution the colonists
were poor and helpless. They had no skilled
generals, or standing armies Of trained sol
dlers but they must meet both. In their
struggle for liberty they We're stimulated by:
o. The righteous wrath and Indignation
of self respecting manhood Every principle
Of right and justice had been violated by
their rulers There is an instinct OF self
respecting manhood that drtles all authority
and ignores all associations and ties. A true
man will resent to the death an imputation
against his honor, and will defend his good
name and his inalienabIe rights to the same
extent that he will his life. for he had rather
die defending these than live without them
. They were acting in the defense of
their homes, their defenseIess wives and
hepes- children. They were humble homes
indeed. but they We're their homes, neverthe-
less
q They believed they shared the pro-
lection of God. They recognized the hand
of God in their affairs. Whatever they may
not nave been, the fathers were religious.
However far the nation may depart from the
true worship Of God, the foundation stones
Before the foot of the Pilgrim fathers touch
ed Plymouth Rock, in the cabin of the May
flower, they covenauted that the colony they
were about planting should be planted for
the glory Of God and the advancement of the
Christian faith. This spirit was shown later
in the planting of the several colonies. In
the Jamestown charter the conversion of the
Indian and the advancement of the divine
glory is declared to be the object of the
undertaking. The Carolnas were settled by
HuguenOts driven from France by religious
, persecution, and by religious refugees from
} Germany md Switzerland. In Georgia, the
Moravians, under Oglethorp emblazoned OF
} their banners the motto ''Not for self. but fol
others" In Maryland, Lord Baltimore, il
Rhode Island, Roger Williams, and in Penn
, sylvania. William Penn lifted up the banner
} of equal justice to man and devotion to God
) while in Delaware an elector must first de
clare his faith in God, and his belief in the
! inspiration of the holy Scripture before he
could cast his ballot for any civil officer
Thus did they recognize God as their Lore
, and Master In all things.
a. So long as Israel was loyal to God nc
nation prospered as Israel did. Such s the
, truth in our case as comparison with Other
, nations will clearly show. Our national in.
stitutlons were born just at the threshold o.
the most important century of all time, sc
far; and America has contributed her full
share to the aggregate of the worlds good
in the discoveries and inventions that multi
ply and cheaper the comforts and blessings
; of life The first steam locomotive was built
in 1904. Fulton's steamer was built in 1907