The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-13
WAS WHEN
YORK FELL |.
Notable Sermon That Was De-
livcred More Thai, One Hun-
dred Years Ago To-day. III.
ISRAEL EVANS THE. ORATOR
Commentaries The Victory Of
the Aincricans-Ded to
Marquis dc Lafayette:

z Tho following discourse was OcilVereu
al York. Va. BY the Rev. Israel Evans,
A. NJ, chaplain to the Now Hampshire
troops, on tho surrender Of the British
troops ut York, w., before the allied
fci ccs OF France and America On the
proclamation OF d genoral Thanksgiving
by Congress, to be held 18th December.
1852, the Rev. Mr.. Evans again delivered
IT at PHILADELPHIA IN the Second Pres
.byterian Church, before the assembled
congressman and large body OF troops
This discourse was afterwards printed
with the following dedication to General
Lafayette:
."To the Honorable Mnjor-G General.
The Marquis De Lafayette,
Whose distnterested services #
In tho Cause Of America, t5
Provo Him to be
The Friend OF Mankind, and whose well
Amiable Virtues, render ali panegyrlo
Needless, II
The .Following Discourss, Is most Re-
BpectfuIly Dedicated, n 8 y ts
BY his most humble aud obedient SER
i'5iE yunt, The Author .is
THE SERMON.
The extended introductory sermon, as
applied by the text Is omitted Of the main
discourse, Is as follows:
Text:61 Samuel, IL: Then Samuel
took a stone. and set It between Mizpah
and shen and called the name Of u
Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord
helped u.s.
"Could we give general utterance to
the United States Of America; gould
the voice OF her annals and records be
heard on this glad day; or. were our
pious ancestors to appear before US 20
aid our praise and increase our deyo-
tons they would all with one harmoni-s
Gus voice. unite with this emily IN
proclaiming that, Hitherto II IN n IN tne
Lord helped US. .atli VS.
Join. then. friends and brethren OF
America! Join in heart and spirit 20
patriots and friends to posterity, and form
one general concert OF praise to Him
who has aided us! Time and history,
who point out to the world, the ways
az God. ye shall tea CHI men that the
Father OF the oppressed became the adj
,yocate OF the inhabitants OF this iand!
,"Hc found them in desert lana, ana
in the waste, bowling. wilderness; he
led them about: He instructed them;
He kept them as tho apple Of His eye"
AS a vine Is planted. so. Oh! God OF
hosts Thy hand did establish a people
In the land. THE hills were covered Wild
the shadow oftit, and tho boughs there
OF we're like the goodly cedars She-
sent out her boughs unto the sea, and
Ter branches unto the river.
But tyranny. which ragged against THIS
PEOPLE In teir infancy. again prepared
calamity and oppression for. them anu,
twithstanding our enemies enjoyed the
fruits Of our industry and virtue and
grew great by tho labor Of those they
Rad exiled; yet they became enyious OF
the happiness, and Jealous OF the flour
ishinc state OF those who were befriend-
ef only by their God. In the spirit and
style OF Egyptian tyranny, they cali upon
ono another 10 unite in measures OF cru
city and injustice: Come on say tney;
"let us deal wisely with them, iest they
multiply. Therefore, they did set over
them taskmasters,t to affict them with,
their burdens" Such was the conduct
az Britain towards the Inhabitants of
this continent. But the Lord helped us,
and their secret councils and schemes,
the Nose wisely planned. at least IN the
eye Of human wisdom, were turned 70
foolishncss.
The Lord raised up wise and public
spirited men. able to discern our rights
and privileges and willing to defend them.
,rhc1I ord raised up warriors and states
mon, and united their hearts and
strengthened their hands in the service
OF their country. Our enemies were dis
appointed; they despaired Of success un.
less by their superior strength ana skill
In the field Of war.
M BATTLE NOT TO THE STRONG.
Ministerial avarice, arayed In vigorous
acts and unjust laws. suddenly changed
into British vengeance, and then hostile
armies advanced to enforce submission
by tho weapons OF death and the shedding
OF blood, Then was war in the gates,
Was there shield or a spenr seen among
forty thousand In America? But with
10y, with praise we will say, 'the battle
is not to the strong. nor the race to the
swift. My heart Is toward those that
offered themselves willingly among the
people. Praise 70 the Lord. Q. give
thanks unto the Lord. for he Is good;
who remembered us In our low estate.
for his mercy undureth forever. WIN
! any one blame mo for honestly attempt
ling to kindle the warmth Of this days
gratitude into generous and perpetual
flame; flame which. like the reflner's
fire, shall purify our hearts. and con-
sciences from all evil and consume the
dress OF every sinful practice and I'M
pure affection?
Let, then. our gratitude be increased.
BY a recollection Of the unexpected and
astonishing union, OF the Inhabitants and
states OF America, In opposition to tho
| usurpatIon OF Brlton, We will call to
, mind some OF those gallant actions In
which the assisting hand Of heaven has