Milford chronicle., 1903-07-03
TALMAGE
SERMON
@
By Rev.
FRANK DE- WITT TALRLAGR, 3D.,
Pastor Of Jefferson Ps1k Prssby.
terian OAuroh, ChtsAgo

their application TO the later condition
of our own times. The text is Psalr
cvi g. That l may rejoic in the glad
ness Of thy nation"
When a child is born the attendip,
physician makes out birth certificate
This important document is sent to tn,
fireproof building where are preserved
the county records. The omission Of
this certificate or the improper filine
Of the same might cause inestimablc
damage. Years hence the lack of il
might disinherit the child Of large
property interests and involve many
would be heirs in interminabIe legal
strife
But though the birth certificate of an
individual may be vigilantly guarded
it is not so carefully preserved as is
the birth certificate of a nation. Then
the sentimental as well as the intrinsic
value places it above the price of silver
and gold. If possible it is carefully
housed within the sacred hall wherein
the nation was born. The paper upon
which is written the Declaration of IN
dependence is the American nations
birth certificate. Other nations came
to recognition by the slow processes
Of evolution, but the United States of
America sprang into existence in n
day. and this Declaration announced to
an astonished world on July 4, 1T7G I
the birth of a new member of the /
family Of nations. AS the young King 4
Alfonso Kill Of Spain. having been
born after the death Of his father has
the unique distinction among sover-
eigns of being born a king. so the
American Goddess of Liberty at her
first appearance took her place in
the world as sovereign The docu-
ment in which she declared her sover-
eighty and her rights constituted the
old Independence hall of PHILADELPHIA
the most sacred building in American
history, since within its walls is that
sacred birth chamber in which was
first rocked the cradle Of this newborn
national infant 1t publishes to the ,
world that the men who signed their
names 1T the foot Of that immortal
document penned by Thomas Jeffer- :
son in the little three story red brick !.
house still standing at the corner of +,
Seventh and Market streets, Philadel- /,
pLia, We're the attending witnesses =,
whose testimony gave validity to that =
national birth certificate.
An Immortal Paper. ~
The Declaration Of Independence as II
a document is our theme today. | am H.
going to lay down upon my pulpit ~
iesk a facsimile of this immortal pa- =,
ler. | do this for two reasons. First. 4.
{ is the last Sabbath preceding our n
national Independence day; hence it is cr
itting and appropriate for patriotic n,
hemes. The second reason is that n l.,
ew weeks ago. after the death Of n cr
cry dear friend the facsimile Of the l.,
Declaration Of Independence which os
oW place before you came into nv g,
osSessiOn. ] have read it over and
yer again. l have read it in the
Of Thomas jefferson and IN,
the handwriting with which the at he
--NAAAAe1 ettAANoLAAIAA GlElltu IL / nave ! 90.
sad it with all its corrections and n,
terlineations. l have read it with 80,
ltirely different feelings from those NJ
ith which l used to regard it when Io,
came to me in cold and unimpas- owl
oned type. This most sacred dOcu- an
ent of American history appears to +ba
e in an entirely new aspect, and from M,
today would CLEAN some new moral o,,.
ductions for the everyday struggles mo
our practical lives ,--,, ,,-v
The Declaration Of Independence was ~.
G startling elimination Of manly in
erance Of injustice. The document ",
s not. as some people suppose. the 80
suit Of a long and carefully planned ~
lspiracy extending over many years. -
seemed rather to have been the ont
with Of the moment 1t was the 50 -"
'stallization of sentiments the results 9f"
which but few men could foyesee. oo',
e sBritish ministry had 6E antici. aoo'
el if. neither bad the AT0erican pao- asa
When the First CD0tiBentaI ON ou'
IS assembled In PhiladHlDhhA. ON maj
t. ., 11I4. there was probably not one "ea
minent leader In all America who - 1'
he'd for national independence with NAY
sole exception possibly of Samuel US
inns Of Boston. Before the 18th Of WHO
Il. 1775' wrote Thomas jefferson. l'le'
lad never heard a whisper of dis Is nc
ton TO separate from the mother NC Il
ltry." When first took command VIII
he army, July 3. 1775. abhorred oiacl
idea Of independence" wrote gent
'ge Washington in one Of his let man
''but | am now convinced that class
ing else will save us" All that ail d
American colony wished from Eng IN
was not separation. but Justice prov
For Right and Justice. an
; two countries In every essential - -
Of their make up were one. They S"s... -
) the same language. Many fam 80,
lad brothers and sisters and other nanaa
yes in both countries. The chill. tho,,,
of prominent Americans were for VIZ
most mart pfl1cafad in Enolish I