The Yale expositor., 1910-07-01

W~SNN reasons, all excellent In their
way, did not keep this es-
teemed magazine closed to the eyes of boyhood,
Sc is to be feared that this, parson, despite his
poetry, would be voted cross old man. For
when the Fourth fell on Sunday he reason
why IL should be celebrated on any other day or
I'm any fashion not I'm keeping with seemly OBJ
servance of the Sabbath. Instead OF gladly ac
cepting the bounty of the calendar and having
a trilogy, series of three dramatic and exciting
days fraught with danger and delight this gloomy
parsonage would have limited the days events to
a sermon and prayer.
In his records be found testimony against
him. for they read:
July L. 1S47 Sunday
July 5. Monday morning. This is celebrated
the Fourth Of July very improperly Yesterday
was the day and ministers might have preached
upon the subject of religious freedom; this would
have been sufficient and ought to have been sat-
isfactory But no; there must be noise, the drum
must beat and the cannon roar, the children be
dressed in their best and paraded, and Don't
these children look nice?
ooh, yes very nice, but If their parents would
teach them to respect their superiors and behave
with propriety 1t would be far better. Well, there
has been a general turnout, rich and poor, young
and old, all mixed up together This is free
country-but not So 1T is country of slave hold
ers. We hold 100000 of our fellow mortals as
slaves-and how inconsistent"
'July 4, 1852. Sunday.
July g. Monday.
THE community were not satisfied to have
yesterday as being the Fourth of July because
they could not Satan openly and boldly
as today. My opinion is that when the Fourth
of July comes the Sabbath 1t ought to be re-
membered In a suitable and proper manner by
assembling in the sanctuary and hearing the proc
lamation of peace announced from the pulpit,
good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all
people Suitable prayers and suitable readings
would be a suitable acknowledgment that
blessings of God, but because this won't do
must have a great noise and hustle and much
that is derogatory to the Christian character must
he put in operation"
He didn't like the methods of celebration any
better when the glorious day fell in the middle
of the week, for July 4, 1849, he wrote:
"Wednesday. At the rising of the sun the bells
OF the city ringing and the cannon roaring
calling upon those within hearing to awake, arise
and call upon their God, and give him thanks for
this great blessing. national independence
which this day commemorate by making all
the noise we can and by acting well as we
can and as bad as we can
All of which would justify any boy In the
belief that though the parson may have been a
God-fearng parsonage who walked the narrow
path all his godly days and never even tempt
ed by lingering desire for pleasant primrose by
ways he must certainly have been rather an
unpleasant person to live with and that the milk
of human kindness which his portion, though
1t may not have soured, certainly lacking
in cream
How different was the letter which John Ad-
ans In the first flush of Joy over the adoption
by congress of the Declaration of Independence.
wrote to his wife It's date, July 3, may give some
ardent young Americans excuse for firing their
crackers before the dawn of the day which even
lawmakers say may have its claim shattered
into fiery noise.
This first historic Adams, first vice-presdent,
second president of the republic which he helped
10 bring into being, was good husband. Busy
he must have been, for he was foremost hg-
ure I'm the stirring events, the Atlas OF lndepen-
dence." the Colossus of that debate" which pre-
coded the vote the matchmaking resolution,
he wrote on July two letters to his wife, Abigail.
In one he said: Yesterday the greatest question
was decided which ever was debated in America
and a greater perhaps was. nor will be.
decided among men. resolution passed
without one dissenting colony, that these united
colonies are and of right ought to be. free and
independent states" In the other: "The second
day of July, 1875, will be the most memorable
epoch In the history of America. | am apt to be-
eve that It will be celebrated by succeeding gen
erations the great anniversary festival. 1t
ought to be COMMUNICATED the day of deliver
ance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.
IL ought to be soemnized with pomp and parade.
with shows games, sports, bells, bonfres and
ilIuminations, from end of this continent to
the other, from this time forward forevermore.
You will think me transported with enthusiasm,
but am not. am well of the toll and
blood and treasure that It will cost US to main
tain this declaration and support and defend these
states Yet through all the gloom l can see the
rays OF ravshing light and glory can see that
the end is more than worth all the means; and
that posterity will triumph in that days trans
action even though should rue It. which trust
in God we shall not"
Though posterfty selected, instead of July 2.
July 4. the day which the formal Declaration