Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
RECALLS DAYS OF
WAR AND TRIALS
HAND OF PROVIDENCE AIDED
ARMIES
VETERANS HEAR A PATRIOTIC
ADDRESS
Or. Henry of First Baptist Church
Shows How Country Has Ben
Gifted Through Bravery
of Defenders

"The Hand of God in American His
tory" was DR.. Henry's topic at the
First Baptist church yesterday morn
ing when he addressed a large gather
ing of his own people as we'll as many
representatives of the Grand Army.
Sons of Veterans, Womans Relief
Corps and other patriotic organiza-
| lions.
He chose for his text Psalms 147:20.
God hath not dealt so with any ma
tion." He said in part:
Memorial days represent the con-
densed histories and biographies of ma
tons and individuals. Decoration day
! finds its explanation in the sufferings
and sacrifices Of the Civil War. 1t
commentaries the cost of American
liberty. Nothing in the life of nations
is accidental, but wholly providential.
Gods plan for nations, as for individ-
uals, comprehends all things. History
is his story. No intelligent student
questions the presence and power OF
God in the critical periods of human
history. In the creation, the exodus
the captivity. the call of Abraham and
Moses, the birth of Christ, the death
on the cross, the conversion of Paul,
the revival of letters, the reformation
of the sixteenth century, the American
Revolution, the abolition of slavery,
the birth of modern missions, the re-
formation of the hermit nations of the
world, and in the discovery and devel-
opment Of America, the devout student
will easily trace the hand of that 'di-
vinity which shapes our ends, rough
hew them how we will
Hand Of Providence Manifested
1.-THE hand of Providence is manifest
n q ltaCnUdrV nf America The
finding of new continent at that par
ticular juncture of human affairs when
Columbus reached Americas shores
was manifestly providential. 1t was
the beginning of modern history. 1t
gave new world to Spain. new
civilization to mankind, and with the
discovery of this country began a new
era In human affairs. The world was
ripe for such an event.
Mote the distinction between the
settlement of Massachusetts and Vir-
ginia on the one hand, with Mexico
and French Canada on the other. Ply
mouth Rock was the stepping stone to
New England. Its great monument is
crowned with the heroic figure of
Faith, while the bas-reliefs represent
morality, law, education and freedom.
These are the distinguishing features
of New England colonial life. These
early Professionals laid the foundations
OF our TGllElOuS nUcEly. I1dQ IfOt SOu
interviewed in their preservation how
radically different would have been
the genius and history of our institu-
tions.
Another token of Gods presence in
American history Is found in the
great charters of liberty of which every
! true patriot is justly proud. The pill
grim compact. which began with that
! famous declaration. In the name of
God amen the declaration of inde-
pendence, the constitution of the United
States, the emancipation proclamation
constitute the most remarkable state
papers of the world The revolution
of 1875 made us an independent peo-
pie. The adoption of the constitution
made us a united people. The eman-
cipation proclamation made us a free
people, while our war with Spain to
secure the freedom of Cuba empha-
sized our supreme, love of human lib
erty.
Aids During Wars
"our great wars likewise illustrate
the presence of God in the history of
our republic. BY the war of the Revo-
luton we secured our independence;
by the great civil conflict we preserved
the integrity of the Union and secured
the freedom of the slave. That war
settled once for all that this was one
country with one law. one flag and one
Our war with Spain was born of a
human concern for the liberty of a
weak and oppressed people over which
Spain had tyrannized for 400 years. 1t
was the most unselfish war that the
world has ever witnessed. Incidentally
1t greatly extended our national do
main, exalted our country to the first
place in the counsels of the world. In
our national history the first war was
waged for our preservation, the second
for national integrity and civil liberty,
while the third was entered upon out
of sheer and unselfish love for weak
and helpless people.
"But perhaps the most striking illus
tration of the providence of God in the
history of our nation is found in the
marvellous men raised up to execute
the divine purpose and to meet the
emergencies in our national life. One
has but to recall the names and deeds |
of Bradford, Cotton Mather. the
Adamses, Jefferson, Washington. Ham |
ilton, Patrick Henry, John Brown, Will
liam Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips,
Grant and Lincoln, Sherman and
Thomas, Garfield and Mckinley. Har-
rison and Hay, Dewey and Roosevelt,
not to speak of multitudes of others,
and the conviction that they were
raised up to signal and significant SER
vice and to make noble and marked
sacrifices in the interest of religious
liberty, becomes overwhelming In
every national crisis God has given to
us galaxy of such notable men who
have proved themselves equal to the
situation they were called to face.
Under this molding hand men grew
big and were able to do great things
for God and man."