The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-05

Chicago, June 2s.-In this sermon the preacher. choosing a patriotic theme for the nations anniversary, shows some Of the lessons to be drawn from the De- e1aration of Independence and their ap- pllcation to the latter conditions of our own times. The text is Psalm evi, 5, sThat I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation"
 When a child is born the attending physician makes out birth certificate. This important document is sent to the fireproof building where are preserved the county records. The omission of this certificate or the improper filing of the same might cause inestimable damage. Years hence the lack of it might disin- herit the child of large property Inter- ests and involve many would be heirs in interminable 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, 1t is carefully housed within the sacred hall wherein the na- ton was born. The paper upon which Is written the Declaration of Independence is the nations birth certificate. Other na- tions came to recognition by the slow processes of evolution. but the United States of America sprang into existence in a day, and this Declaration announced to an astonshed world on July 1. 1H6 ., .F ( fTn.f fnrY of nations As the young King Alfonso XIII of Spain. having been born after the death of his father has the unique distinction among sovereigns of being born a king, so. the American Goddess of Liberty at her first appearance took her place in the world sovereign The document in which she declared her sovereignty and her rights constituted the old Independence Hall of Philadel- phia, the most sacred building in Amer ican history, since within It's walls is that sacred birth chamber in which was first rocked the cradle of this newborn national infant It publishes to the world that the men who signed their names at the foot of that immortal doc ument penned by Thomas Jefferson in the little three-story red brick house still standing at the corner of sevtnth and Market streets, Philadelphia, were
 
 the attending witnesses whose testimony gave validity to that national birth cer- tificate.
 An Immortal Paper.
 The Declaration of Independence as a document is our theme today. l am going to lay. down upon my pulpit desk n fac-simile of .hs immortal paper do this for two reasons. First 1t is the Sabbath preceding our national Inde- pendenee day; hence 1t Is fitting and ap- propriate for patriotic themes. The sec ond reason is that few weeks ago, after ths death of a very dear friend, the fac sfmile of the Declaration of Independ- 4nce which I now place before you came into my possession. I have read 1t over and over again. I have read 1t in the chirography of Thomas Jefferson and in the handwriting with which the attend ing statesmen signed it. I have read 1t with all it's corrections and interlinea- tions. l have read 1t with entirely diff ferent feelings from those with which I used to regard it when Ii came to me in cold and unimpassioned type The most sacred document of American history ap- pears to me in an entirely new aspect, and from it today I would glean some new moral deductions for the everyday struggles of our practical lives.
 
 the startling continuation or manly in- tolerance of injustice. The document was not, as some people suppose. the re- suit of long and carefully planned con- spiracy extending over many years. It seemed rather to have been the out growth of the moment. It was the crys- talization of sentiments the results of which but few men could foresee. The British ministry had not anticipated it. neither had the American people. When the first constitutional congress assem- bled In Philadelphia, on September B. 1774 there was probably not one promi- nent leader in all America who wished for national Independence with the sole exception possibly of Samuel Adams of Boston. Before the 17th of April, 1775," wrote Thomas Jefferson, 4I had never heard a whisper of a disposition to sepa- rate fronS the mother country" When I first took command of the army. July 3, 1775, l abhorred the idea of independ- ence," wrote George Washington in one of his letters, but l am now convinced that nothing else will save us." All that the American colony wished from Eng land was not separation, but justice.
 For Right and Justice.
 The two countries in every essential part of their make up were one. They spoke the same language. Many families had brothers and sisters and other rela- tives in both countries The children of prominent Americans were for the most part educated in English schools, where they were taught to reverence the Brit ish king. When Richard Henry Lee arose on the memorable 7th of June. 1776, and read the following resolution: Re solved, That these united colonies are os,A ,f 4, .f.,l,f .,..l,t l.a pendent states and they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown" his own boy was at that time attending