Year: 1860

| IhuuuAsSINtuSS SeFm Ou ID! ttet. nc


Chambers, November 30. 1s8O.


After the opening exercises, as applicable t
the occasion, the 9Th chapter of Deuteromom
was read. and the speaker remarked


In common with multitudes Of our brethre
10 our Commonwealth and in our sister State'
we have come together this beautiful mornin
to express to the Sovereign and Lord of tn
| Universe the gratitude OF our hearts for th
blessings and mercies which have followed u
during the past year. No nation has create
cause for thankfulness for the multitude of "a
vors and blessings which have been lavishec
upon US, for the harvests that have been reaped
for the almost universal health, and for tn
freedom from pestilence. If famine has visitet
US It has been on the outskirts Of the land
while the great heart contains within itsel
enough for all. Remembering these, and tt
call upon God to deliver us from coming evil
we can go before His throne to-day. Let u:
pray.


a. THE PRAYER.


We acknowledge Thee, Eternal God, Father
Son and Holy Ghost, as our God, Creator


Preserver and Benefactor--we acknowledge
Thee as the God and Father, Preserver and
Benefactor OF our Fathers before US, and
amid all the crowding memories Of the past
we stand before the Throne eff the great
Eternal One, in the name of Christ, to give
thanks for the blessings Of the past year.
We thank Thee that the fruits of the earth
have been superabundant; for the cat tie
which have roamed our hills, that health,
peace and prosperity have attended US in all
the relations Of life; that famine and pesti


lence have not stalked in our midst, and that
the sword has remained iu its sheath.


We desire to call upon our souls and all that is
within us, to tless and magnify 20 good, SO
gracious, so kind God.


We are forced to confess our much migrate full
ness, and we deplore in Thy presence the
want Of earnestness and heart on the part
of Thy servants; but we humbly thank Thee
that Thou hast still remembered mercy, and
itnplore Thee that the future may transcend
the past infdelity and holiness of living
Bless all efforts made In bringing to pass that
day when Thy name shall be made among the
Genti'es. Bless all methods of instruction
among the young--the college, the academy
and all academical institutions May the Bi.
Bile 90 far and near till it shall be the COM
panons of all the earth. Give parents wis.,
. dom from on high in training up theif chill
drcn, that there may be in this nation che
richest development Of morals, in order to fit
all for the still grader developments when
men shall rise in the last day in infinite love
and kindness; stay vice In every form, stay
the tide Of evil in the dissipation, licentious
ness and drunkenness of our people. And,
infinite God, grant in every effort to redeem
the world from evil, abundant success, that
all may enjoy freedom from sin through the
redemption Of Thy Son. Thanks for all we
have, are, and hope for, and for all that has
been done for us and continue to bless US,
and may we continue to remember Thee IN
this great land. And while we thank and
adore Thee for all Thou hast done for us, we
come before Thee with sorrow----we are al
most driven to the rivers Of Babylon, and
hang our harps on the bending willows
Alas, that so much discord should exist in
this favored land. Our earnest prayer is,
that the resurrection power and divinity that
watches over the sleeping dust Of Mount
Vernon, may watch over this land so dear to
him who there reposes. Merciful God! may
no spelling hand fall on us--may the turmoil
everywhere to be heard, and the waves
which dash against the shores of our Repub-
lie be stilled and calm as the sleeping babe.
Oh, Father, put it in the mind OF every man
in this wide land to obey, to the very letter
and spirit, the laws and Constitution thereof
We have not done so--we know we have not
and in the spirit of exalted patriotism, that
spirit which knows nothing but the richest,
largest fraternal love, may we have the man
liness to confess to each other the wrong we
have done--unite us with hooks Of eternal
steel and such bods of love, that no misrule,
no evil shall change the purpose Of our Jaws
and strike one star or tear one stripe from
our glorious flag, till Gabriel, standing with
one loot in the sea, and one on solid land,
shall proclaim Time to be no more; and not
till then, may the glories of our Republic be
marred by the unhallowed act Of man.


And now, to the Father, the Son and Holy
Ghost, we will render praise now and ever,
Amen


The 18th and 18th verses Of the 21st chapter
of Isaiah were taken as text.
"Watchman, sghnt of the nights Watchman,
,ohat of the night The ,soatchman said, The
morning conetb. and also the might: II ys soiA
inquire, inquire ye: return, oome.2


THE SERMON.


No man can feel the responsibility Of his po,
sition more than do now. l stand in the
presence of large audience of fellow citizens
and fellow Christians, as minister of the
Lord Jesus Christ, devoted, as I trust, to the
interests Of my Masters kingdom, aud consid-
ering the claims Of the Bible as paramount to
all other considerations of earth--I stand be
fore you, equal with yourselves as citizen o.
the grandest republic on tn isiearth AS this lat.
ter am as closely identified with the Consti.
tuition and the laws of my country as with the
Bible and religion of God--Father, Son and
Holy Ghost. Consequently, cannot be obtuse
in my feeling nor Indifferent in my purposes, in
connection with our common country, common
Christianity ani common communion; counting
as do Christianity thing we ought to love
over and above all things, and the support o
which will make us patriot in hearts, life and
death, if need be. The question which we de-
sign, then, to consider this morning is.


How is our Union to be perpetuated?


am aware that On this, as on all subjects
there exists diversity of opinion. ] am aware
that some, nay. many say, there is no danger
TO cause for alarm or excitement. From this
opinion, would most kindly and respectfully
dissent If did not feel in my heart, and
conscientiously. honestly, believe my country
in danger, fearful danger, wonld not tccupy
your time nor consume my strength in speak.
ing on subject of such magnitude We say
then, no sane man can shut his eyes to the
dauger, and we ought to know it. and know i,