The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1871-06-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DEAN STANLEY ON THE PARIS INSURRECTION.  Oa "Sunday forenoon Dean Stanley, who visited Paris during the past week, preached a seremn in Westminster Abbey, having special reference to the Volunteers (many of whom were present), and containing also pointed allusions to the recent conflagrations and massacres in Park  Selecting as his text the chapter in Joshua appointed for the day's lesson, he urged ripen the volunteers present always to be animated by the name spirit of true courage in fighting the battles of their country for the real love and deliverance of the people which ever actuated Joshua, and contrasted such a feeling with the cowardly and diabolical spirit which had just been witnessed in Paris. Adverting to these dreadful scenes, he observed that the lesson he had endeavoured to inculcate ought to be doubly impressed upon them by the momentous events of their own time. 'noose events ought not to bring with them a feeling of anguish and horror cnly, which left no permanent good behind, but rather out of such events there should spring up those great truths of real and practical charity which would revive many a dejected spirit and heal many a broken heart. Who could have seen, as he had Been, within the last few days the ruin of the splendid capita' of France, with its people in mourning; Its streets wasted by fire ; its noble monuments torn and scattered, and the humble dwellings of the poor, frugal, anclinduArious residents laid waste by the same unbridled passions which had destroyed the palaces of the groat— who could look on and contemplate these sad evidences of the wicked acts of misguided men, without feeling more deeply than ever the mercies of that kind Pro. vidence which h enabled generation after generation In this c. Bovern our people without the inter. positio Ai 7 solent convulsions? Youth sucoeeded age 5c.... no broken link in the chain of our dynastic history, with no necessity arising after some ten years' duration for the re-building and re-construction of our government and constitution, and God grant that those blessings might long be ours. Who could have stood, as he stood on Wednesday last, in that mighty historical edifice in Patis—eoarcely lees associated with past historical and ancient glory than the venerable pile in which they were now assembled—that vast cathedral draped from end to end in funeral attire, with its occupants in mourning for the murdered head of their Church, without experiencing a feeling of melancholy thankfulness that our country is unstained by any such crime? Who could have witnessed that scene, and reflected upon the deeds of violence which had led to it without being Impressed with the truth that they had bad their chief origin in the alliance of moral and Christian courage. The Dean added, that during his britf stay in Paris last week he ob,erved a passionate longing for peace and for quiet, from the humbleet shopkeeper to the highest in the capital; and he concluded by expressing him sympathy with the aged statesman who, with an indomitable spirit, V/ 143 now guiding the destinies of France.