Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-07-12
AMERICAN PATRIOTISM.
Sermon by Rev.. VI. Adams Which
Rings with the True Metal.

Oh the sunday before the Fourth Rev.
j. NJ. Adams, OF the Congregational
church, preached q sermon appropriate to
independence Day, which rang wit true
American patriotism. The sermon was
preached extemporaneously. Following
is an abstract
AS people we are accustomed at this
season to indulge in reflections of
patriotic nature. These are prevailingly
highly colored and exclusively compli-
mentary to ourselves. Native Americans,
as rule, possess an unreasoned fait in
the institutions we have developed. They
are proud 6s to the past and are sanguine
as to the future to the point OF vanity.
Many passages in our history, indeed,
seem extremely fortunate. 1t was fortu-
nate that the earliest settlers upon our
shores came in the fullness OF time,
actuated by the fresh impulses impaired
in Europe by the revival OF learning and
the reformation of religion. 1t was for
tunate that the Anglo-Saxon gained the
ascendency in the long struggle for
dominion here. We were fortunate in
the earnest temper of the men who laid
the foundations of our republic; and our
history since is sprinkled with incidents
that to the man of Christian faith, justify
the conviction that God has led us along
the way.
We shall be wise in exercising discrimi-
nation in the act of self-judgment. John
Watson recently in expressing to a Liver
pool audience his impressions of America,
especially lamented the signs of the
decadence Of religion among us. To our
pilgrim ancestry the exercises OF religion
were supreme privileges. They faced the
inhospitable conditions of bleak and
savage wilderness that they might be un-
molested in the worship Of God. The
church was the point of contact between
earth and heaven. Their state was theo-
cratic The father was priest i'll his
family, aud the household was school of
religious Instruction. We have appar-
emily lost the old New England reverence
for God. There is no general tendency to
put worship among the highest functions
that belong to man. 1t waits upon con-
venience. 1t has lost its sacramental
, character. The religious motive has be-
come Aimsical. Our Protestant church hes
And yet We should temper our criticism
by recollectng the discipline we have
|, PASSED through. Our interest has been
drawn out almost inevitably along
material lines. We have had to develop
hastily he vast physical resources of this
new continent. In a little over hundred
years we have laid the material foun-
, datlons OF a great nation. He that digs
in the earth must be stained by it. We
have been digging, and show the marks
| OF our toll.
We have, too, been receiving into our
midst the overplus of Europes population.
; While many of her sons have worked up
, into the best type of citizenship, the null
tltudes have been sadly inferior. We
have assimilated these with wondrous
facility; but their ieavening influence has
been too frequently manifest in a lowered
tone OF social and moral life, especially in
/ the great centres. We have been sub
jected to the demoralizing and unset
Ting effects of a shifting, home popula-
ton. All in all, considering the con-
ditlons we have had to face, we should be
grateful that 1t is no worse with US han
it is.
In passing judgment we should also
Der that genuine religious spirit
!, often assumes allotropic forms. Elec
, triclty may be converted into light, the
energy OF a blow may result III heat, and
heat may be changed into the energy that
, strikes a blow. Religious reverence
should normally ever be transforming
itself into the heart power manifested in
> the love of man for man. There has never
, been more genuine sympathy between
man and man among US than at present I;
and here perhaps We may find some re-
sutant of the piety that has seemed to
disappear from our midst. But our
humanllariaulsm needs to DC ghted up
again with vivid recognitions of God
: gained through the exercises OF divine
worship.
We are told by critics that we live in
the midst OF political corruption SO bad
as 10 be all but irredee mable. No true
American should be willing to take the
role OF an apologist respecting faults SO
garing as these. 1t is II sad truth that
) political leaders are able to constitute
themselves into autocrets, and rule in
defiance of public interest and the VIII of
our best citizens. Whole states fail under
the corrupt and corrupting control OF
these. Great cities are at their mercy.
[ Public treasures and offices furnish them
the means of perpetuating their power.
And the people who applaud most bois-
terously the effusions of Fourt h of July
speakers as they descant upon the glori-