The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-25

fhe world. Through these ereeds cen
 monies and empires. governments and
 philosophies have come and gone.
 Progress of Events.
 ssrhe ancient civilization had it's set. ting sun, to be followed by the night of tbe middle ages, which was dispeled by
 the rising sun of the renaissance or tha | revival of learning. During the last four | hundred years new civilization has | bean evolved. A writer has said that inc | real source of this new era was the dis 1 coverv of the world. the discovery of l man. New seas and new lands were l sailed and discovered. In 1492 Columbus l discovered America, a little later the l Portugese rounoed the horn and little later Capernicus gave us his solar sys- | tenn Thus geography and astronomy re- yealed to men the vastness of the un- verse of God. This opened up to as bring man the book of nature and there | he read the glory and majesty of its l Creator. In this book he read for the | first time and at first hands the democ- | racv of nature and therefore the democ- | racy of man. The sun, the king that ! ruled the day, the moon, the queen that goverened the night, the stars, the princes of the sky, have neither crown nor scep- tor.
 '.The light and the warmth of the sun. and his reflected light from the moon and stars, shone alike upon king and subject noble and peasant, rich and poor, strong and weak. They learned that the earth gave no reward to Idle hands. whether royal or common. They learned that the laws of nature applied 10 all mankind. Thus, if nature were no re- speeter of persons. why should man2 In this way man discovered himself He aspired for freedom; he sought enllghten- ment; he explored the learnings of the ancients; he investigated nature he ere ated a new literature; new Ideas of the realities of men; a new man was born This new man was free. As a freeman he insisted upon his right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness as divine or natural rights; his right to his own be- liefs in religion; his personal responsi- bilities to God and God alone in matters spiritual He insisted that he had a right to the products of his labor. and demanded fairness in the industry and commerce of the world. He insisted that he had a right to participate in govern ment, and demanded parliaments of his own selection to make him laws. The potentates of the earth resisted all of these. Hence revolutions and wars. But 1t would not down. It grew and grew until most of the old world was trans formed into constitutional monarchies, with a peoples parliament, with religious freedom, and the rights of man estab- lished.
 The Browning Glory.
 But the crowning glory was left to America. The aspirations of humanity found expression in the voice of Patrick Henry-the forest orator." when he de- clared, "give me liberty or give me death" In the declaration of independence was the new civil and political creed of the new man. and in It's maintenance-its vic- tory and fulfilment. The new republic has lived and grown The difficulties at tending its organization the Instructions to its growth. the differences that divided its people and most of the oangers that threatened have been overcome by the patriotism, valor and sacrifice and states manship of it's citizens. It stands today rich and powerful republic-the leading world power-at peace with all nations, its states in harmonious union and it's people in happiness and peace. For this peace leI us thank God. For this peace let us hold in lasting recollection and in grateful appreciation all those who gave us this blessed inheritance.
 The Providence of God.
 we have met here today as congre- gations of various denominations, and as citizens of Montgomery and Alabama, some of us being members of no church, for the purpose of engaging in a thanks giving service. Do we believe that God in any way influences the destines of man, other than through the laws of nature and the economies of evolution? Is there a God2 Those of us who believe the bible through faith, say yes; those of us who believe the book of nature, as taught in the natural sciences, through logical necessity, say yes; only the fool sayeth in his heart, there is no Creator All intelligent people acknowledge the ne. cessity of a creator.
 General Freedom.
 'When the liberty bell proclaimed the declaration of freedom, the church bell joined in the patriotic acclaim and tn, people fell upon their knees and prais ed God and asked his blessing. In 1873 when Washington wrote to the govern ors of the several states he acknowledged the mnnifieent providence of God. Ou Declaration of Independence, the consti tuition of our country and of all ou state constitutions in their preamble ac knowledge the existence of God and hi Providence All our legislatures, all ou
 
 political functions are opened with pray CT. Who can say that in the discover. of our country, its settlement by tn Anglo-Saxon, it's victory over the French thus saving us from the oppression O Jesuitism, and the despotism of the pol icy of a Rchelieu; it's victory over tn | Spanish, thus saving us from the tyranny of an Ava and Philip, and finally in th' name of justice and freedom the sue cessful establishment of our own gov ernment, was not guided by the Provi l dence of God, in guiding and blessing the efforts of man, that mans great des | tiny may pc consummated. My friends | let us on this day. with thankful ant grateful hearts, whether we are ehurcr members or not, give thanks and express our gratitude to God for his Providence and blessings, and let us pray that He will continue to guide and help us V Rodgers Impeachment. The motion to quash the impeachment