Year: 1870

most revered. The noblest of material works
are mean in comparison with a human spirit. For
this is a spark of the Almighty's being. Ills eapa-
Bile of infinite advance toward him from whom 1t
sprang.


Through world worlds in myriad myriads roll


Round u.s. each with different powers


And other forms Of life than ours,


What know greater than the souli'


Let one more fact be brought to mind that further
evinces the sacredness of humanity that is the high
estimate of mans worth which God displays. He
is the object Of Provdential that RENTS
watchiuness and the recipient of a bounty that
spares no benefaetions For him the earth has been
prepared and furnished with its nexhausbe Of
means for his delight and development. For him the
world of nature has been called into existence, and
its varied processes for him sustained The Gre
ator administers and directs the and complicat
ed system of the universe in his interest causing all
powers aud influences so to work together as may
best serve his advantage. The earth yields for him
its bounty and the heavens shed blessings on his
head .s-st.


The honor God puts upon man by giving bspa
lordship over nature and by making him the object
of his Providentiu care is limited to no class or con-
ditiou 1t belongs TO man by virtue Of bis humanity


still more significant # the value for which his
Creator holds him is the cost paid for his redemp-
ton This consideration is one of much weigh tbut
do not enlarge upon it as it is moIe familiar to
thoughts, and frequent topic of separate discourse
have eudeavored to represent of the facts per
tanning TO human nature which show that honor is
due TO all men, that value aud sacredness be-
longs to theim, be their condition and character
what they may Since they are men they bear the
traces of divine likeness they have the germs and
rudiments of measureess greatness, they exalted
by being the peculiar objects of God care and Gods
infinite love


This idea of the sacredness of humanity involves
suggestions of gratitude and duty We ought to
recognise with thankful satisfaction the progress il
the world of the sentiment of respect for humanity
There is a better appreciation OF the worth of man
as irrespective Of circumstances character.
Do you ask for the evidences of this? See them in
the growing sympathy between nations and races,
and in the tendency toward union betweenhtherto
severed portions OF kindred peoples See also the
growth of a broad sentiment of philanthropy which
seeks the reformation of the vicious and extends
to the helpless, philaAthropy which regards none
wearing human form too degraded or miserable
to be the objects of kindly sympathy aud aid. The
artificial barriers between are slowly erum-
bling; the disabilities resting classes being





tous are weakening or casting down some of those
systems of ecclesiastical and civil despotism
which have degraded and dishonored men, The
events passing before eyes the old
world have manifest tendencies in this direction.
There are silent forces also, more mighty than wars
or revolutions werking to like ends Yes, although
the just apprehension of the worth and dignity of
human nature is far from eptire prevalence, it is
trruuud Thar. il n IA idar # tho
essential saeredness of humanity. The ties of hu-
man brotherhood are more and more strongly felt.


Nowhere has this progress been more manifest
than in that land whchto many OF us is the land OF
our nativity aud the object of our patriotic affection.
As in common with our American brethren we
pay our thanks and worship before God it well be-
comes us to remember what great advances have in
his Providence been wrought for us. The truth of
the essential equality of meu was acknowledged in
the earliest assertion of political principles. But
sad contradiction existed while there stood under
the protection Of the state an institution which in
the highest degree wrouged class of men and dis
honored humanity at large. That Institution has
passed away with the shock of disturbance aRder
which the land still seems to rock and heave. Ter
ribe as were the sorrows that came upon the nation,
heavy is The burden still carried it will yet be
knowledged, when The dshonor to manhood involv-
ed IN the crime is justly felt that the reribution
righteous. The downfall of slavery was an i'm
mense gain but further step was necessary in order
to the vindcaiion of the wrouged race far as it
can be vindicated by constitutions aud laws. THAT
step has been accomplished by the Incorporation in
to the fundamental instrument of government of
the provision that shall be excluded from
the rights of citizenship on account of race color
or previous condition of servitude Thanks be TO
God for great victory won for the cause of hn-
maniiy. 1t remains now for public sentiment to
come up to the standard fixed in law, that social
bans be removed from every class, and universal
sympathy and fellowship be cultivated.


How marked in the series Of events lately trans
piring in the Republic have been the workings of
retribute and acompensating Providence Who, even
of the most extravagant hope would have dared
/ 10 anticipate such changes as have taken place |?
/ The bondman has become a citizen. Slave marts
have been converted into places Of instruction for
/ those whom but just it was a civil crime
to teach. A member of the despised race occupies
10 the Senate seat Of the foremost representative
of the rebellion, and now, recently, the state
/ in which the great conspiracy against human rights
was most warmly fostered and where the first overt
acts .ef treason were committed comes forward in
support Of those who uphold the principles of
/ equal freedom, with majority vote Of tens OF
thousands cast By the hands Of freedmen. The very
/ people who had been destined to perpetual seryl-
tnde sit now in legislative assemblies aud hold
prsz&nderating influence.


fBa further indication OF the advance gained by
the sentiment of regard for man. that more hu-
name policy has been attempted in the dealings of
the American Government with the aborigines Of
the western territories race whose wrongs fill one
Of the darkest pages Of American history. voice
has been heard in high places protesting against
that feroeious sentiment which csmors for the ex-
termination Of the red men If they we're wild
beasts or venomous reptiles. The attempt to treat
them men, on principles of justice and philan-
ihropy may for the present be overborne by that
spirit Of contempt, cruelty aud avarce which here
tofore bas ruled. But it is something that thought
has been taken OF their rights men. If cores
ponding action is now defeated, the better seuti-
ment Of the age will yet demand and enforce its
successful renewal


These moral gains wherever they are noted ought
to give grateful satisfaction. As men we should
rejoice with thanksgiving whenever any portion of
our makes a step forward or comes into recog
milton of the universal right to justice and honor
Especially those Of US who are Americans ought to
he glad and grtefuI that the wrongs OF mau against
man have in our land been so far removed. We