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AUTHOR: 
 
 FRIENDS, SOCIETY 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 AN ADDRESS ON 
 SOME GROWING 
 
 PLACE: 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 DA TE : 
 
 1882 
 
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 '■: 
 
 Friends, .Society 'of. 
 
 An address on some growing ^vils of the-'^ 
 peoially demoi^all^ing literature^'and^-art, frcp^tt^ 
 represontativ^s of the religious Society of f riexid 
 for Pennsylvania, Hew Jersey and Delaware, Second 
 month, 10, 1882* Philadelphia ^ISegT^ 
 
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T 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 ON 
 
 Some Growing Evils of the Day. 
 
 KSPECIALLY 
 
 DEMORALIZING LITERATURE AND ART, 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE KEPRESENTATIVES 
 
 OF 
 
 The Religious Society of Friends, 
 
 FOtt 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, AND DELAWARE. 
 
 iSEVOND MONTH, JO, isat. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 TO BE HAD AT FJlIENDy' BOOK STORE; 
 304 Arch Strjeet. 
 
 Ki -A.* 
 
AN AT); 
 
 1 
 
 ON 
 
 Some Growing Evils of the Day. 
 
 K8PF.CIAM.Y 
 
 DEMORALIZING LITERATURE AND ART, 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 or 
 
 The Religious Society of Friends, 
 
 FOK 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, AND DELAWARE. 
 
 SECOND MONTH. 10, 1888. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 TO BE HAD AT FRIENDS' BOOK STORE» 
 
 304 Arch Street* 
 
 ^ 
 

 r^ 
 
 AN ADDRESS. 
 
 
 v> I 
 
 H"^ 
 
 P; '- '' 
 
 \ 
 
 (. 
 
 I^IIE advance of modern s<x'iety in j>:eneral intelligent* 
 - as well as in the arts and eoniforts <►(* civilized life 
 has l)een steady and nipid. The progmss of the United 
 States in these directions lias lx»en largely owing to the 
 liberal spirit which pervades its institntions, and their 
 wholesome influence, and the j)ossession of almost un- 
 limited natural resources, have combined, under the 
 blessing of the Most High, to give to our beloved countiy 
 a rapidity of growth in material wt^alth an<l general 
 pn)sperity unexampled in the world's histor}'. 
 
 It is, however, always to lx» Iwrne in mind that those 
 broad views of the foundei-s of our government resjxx^t- 
 ing the equal rights of man, civil and religious lilwrty, 
 and the just claims of the governed to })articipate in 
 and control the government under which they live, find 
 their highest sanction in the pix'cepts of the New Testa- 
 ment ; and if the prosperity of this gi'eat country' is to 
 be lasting, we believe there nmst ever be a direct mf- 
 erence, not only to the development of its resources and 
 the progress of its people in useful arts and knowledge, 
 but to its advancement in Truth and Righteousness. 
 Yet it must be admitted by everj^ ctireful observer of 
 
 what is transpiring around us, that notwithstanding the 
 
 3 
 
.■> 
 
 rapid aclviuuvs in wealth, ^rciuTil iiitcllijr^'iui', and rt^ 
 fincinoiit apparent on evcrv side, tliei-e an* eertain .-ouret^ 
 of weakness and downward tendeneie?*, which are anionjr 
 the <lireet results of financial pros|KTity and incidental 
 to a hi^h degree of civiliztition and <'nltnix*. 
 
 With the general incn-ase in wealth there has been 
 broutrht within reach of the great bulk of our ]KM)i)le, 
 not onlv the comforts, but many of the hixuri(s of life ; 
 f(»llowing these there has Uvn an indulgence ni tastes 
 often of a character more or less injurious, and a love 
 of display has Imvu <levelope<l which leads to extrava- 
 giuuv in ukkIcs of living. In order to suj)port a style 
 Avhich is Ix'vond their circumstances, men are thus often 
 driven to an unwarrantable extension of their business 
 M-hich nsidts in ixfuniaiy embarrassment, distnss to 
 their families, and a loss of moral rtn-titude. 
 
 We c-annot but notice a lowering of the stanclanl of 
 business integrity and of moral i-esi)onsibility for the 
 piynient of debts ; the increase of unscTupulous s|Hrula- 
 tion and ofcorrupt combinations to control j>rices and give 
 fictitious values i-eganlless of the injury done to othei-s ; 
 Avhicli all grtnitly oppnss the man of tender eonseienee in 
 his endt-avors to make a living. Tliere is a growing dis- |j 
 |>osition to consider all means of accunudating wealth TJj 
 justifiable which the law does not forbid, in forgetful- 
 iiess of the equitable claim of ever}' one to a fair op- 
 portunity of using his talents and industry in ac<|uir- 
 ing pro})erty. Aeeompanying this and pi-omoteil by 
 it, unsound views of the rights t»f proi)erty which are 
 
 subversive of scM'ial oixler and security are industrious: v 
 taught, spreading abroad envy or jealousy of those who 
 have tlie advantage of wealth ; and nn'strust exists 
 lK»tween clas^i's of stM'iety whosi' common interests, if 
 n'gulated by Christian consideration, would keep them 
 in contented co-(»peration. Unfaithfulness in the ad- 
 ministration of trusts, which was once comparatively 
 nu*e, is not unfre(|U('nt, an<l |)ositions of public trust are 
 sought for the oj)|K>rtunity of private gain by means 
 which threaten the stability of the government. 
 
 These evils, though the result of cond)ined cjuiscs, are 
 in large ])art tniceable to the enuilation for the reputa- 
 tion of wealth, and love of the power which wealth 
 gives, which is apt to follow rapid increase of material 
 pros|K*rity where its influences are not moderatcHl by the 
 warning that "a man's life consisteth not in the abun- 
 daiK*e of tlie things which he iXKs^'sseth." 
 
 Hut In'sides these ciuisesand conseipiences of demoral- 
 izjition, which all thoughtful men observe and deplore, 
 there are some othei*s which, though hidden in their 
 nature, mav well awaken in the true lover of his country 
 <leep anxiety lest, if they go unchecked, the result will 
 in the end prove disjistrous tt) its true interests and 
 highest haj)piness. 
 
 With the cultivation of what are known as the " Fine 
 
 Arts," and through the op|K)rtunities which wealth 
 
 affbnls, there have Ix'en intnxluced on this side of the 
 
 Atlantic many works of the acknowledged masters in 
 
 painting and sculpture, which an* commended as ukkIcIs 
 1* 
 
I 
 
 6 
 
 of art, and havQ thus Iki'Ii accvptwl a«i a standard to be 
 followcil. Some of* thost', which arv in ktvpin^ with 
 nioiks of life and a c^hIc of morals utterly at variantv 
 with tJK' pure t<'achiii<rs of the ^osjK'l, are tolerated and 
 admireil in cultivated society, forjrettinjr that no cover 
 of artistic excellence or stamp of classicid reputation 
 counts for anvthinjr in the Divine sijrht as an excits<' 
 lor tlftit which prompts unholy thoujjhts; and that, 
 though " to the pniv all thinjrs aiv pure," no one will 
 Ih' justifiiHl in *' puttintr an <KH-asion to fall in his 
 brother's wav." 
 
 The tendency of the i)re.si'nt day in this direction is 
 to 1h« s<Tn in the chanicter of many of the paintintjs and 
 en<n-avinirs exhihittnl in art iralleries or the windows of 
 print stons; in the pi ih-cs of statuary intnKluced into 
 public jrrnunds, or in the ornamentation of public build- 
 ings, wheivin nndra|xxl tiornres (Kx-upy conspicuous 
 places. Has their not also Iki'u a growinj? relaxation 
 of those ruh's of propriety which were once sufficient to 
 <'xclude such i-epresentations from private houses; and 
 <lo we not now find in the honu^ of the wealthy, and 
 oven th<Kse of pn)fessin*r C'hristians, sixvimens both of 
 painting and sculptuir whose tendency c-annot he in the 
 <lir(H'tion of a high oitler of purity or virtue? 
 
 EndM)ldenwl bv this laxitv of public sentiment, the 
 theativ, the o|H'ra, aiul the cimis, too ready to pander 
 to the lower apjK'tites of the eomnmnity, have of late 
 thrown oW nuicli of the restraint which at one time they 
 assumed, and we now not unfrequently see displayed 
 
 on their j)lacai-ds large pi<'tnrcs of their pcrionnances 
 that may well sh«K«k the finer fci'lings of those wh<» pass 
 them. It is therefore to Im* greatly fcarcnl that fre<|uent 
 familiarity with pnMlnctions such as these is uncon- 
 sc-iouslv lowering that high standard of moral purity 
 which it is of the fii-st im|M)rtance slundd be maintainiHl 
 in a Christian connnunity. 
 
 More hurtful still in its efi'eets than these injurious 
 influenct»s is that of much of the literature which is n«»w 
 Iwing circulatiHl broadcast through the land. Highly 
 WHMight tales of adventuiv, romance, or crime, profusely 
 illustratiHl, which arc demoralizing in their general tcme, 
 or ciiter to the sensual pro|M'nsities of our nature, are, 
 through the wonderful iM»wei-s of the printing-press, 
 furnished at pritres so low as to bring them within easy 
 reach of young minds. Many of the novels of this day 
 are histories of the indulgence of unholy passions and 
 disregard of the sjinctity of marriage, so stHluctively 
 presented as to make a |>ure life, crowned with the 
 blessings of the family relation, ap|H'ar tame and unin- 
 teresting. To a population in which few are unable to 
 read, the injurious e( nisei juences resulting from impns- 
 sions thus reeeiveil can srarcely l>e estimate<l. It is not 
 too much to assume that to this source may 1k' largely 
 attributed the rapid spreading of sentiments snbveisive 
 of gospel truth, sound morals, and right views of eivil 
 government, as well as the fearful increase of crime in 
 its varied phases. 
 
 At the news-stands, where are displayed this worse 
 
> I 1 
 
 8 
 
 than tnishv HtoRiturc, we may sti' «rroni>s of boys am! 
 jrirls ^rjithcrcHl to feast their eyt»s u|M>n the jrraphic illas- 
 trations of the thrilling story, which a few (vnts will en- 
 able them to buy. U|K)n the niilroa<l-tniin how frequent 
 an* the calls of tiie iMMjk-vendor in efforts to (lisj)ose of 
 his armful of mon* or less ex|H*nsive works, while in 
 manv cases it net'ils but a glance to satisfy the traveller 
 that the contents of many of the:n are such its etui only 
 <'orru}>t the heart and fill the mind witii j)ictures which 
 mav leave lasting impressions for evil. Where a ta^te 
 for such reading hiui l)ecn indulgcHl, can we lie surprised 
 to learn that the downward progress of very many of 
 the inmates of our jails and reformatories is traced by 
 themselves to the sitnls <4' vice thus early sown? 
 
 Ilisinsr iu the scnial scale, we find on the counters of 
 most iMiok-stores, and in the lKH)k-c*ases of many professors 
 of religion, the complete works of i)oets who have, in 
 sonic of their writings, abandone<l their exalted gifts to 
 ministering to the lowest and most excitable passions of 
 our weak human natun, in the most seductive language. 
 The im}>ure thoughts and images infiLsed irito the moral 
 being by this unhallowed |K)etiy, like certain jK)isons 
 taken into the bl(M)d, may remain there for life, to be 
 only rendertnl inert by continual resort to Divine graw. 
 How can any doubt that He wh<» " is of purer eyes than 
 to l)ehold iniquity," will " sweep away as the refuge of 
 lies " the plea of an aocepteil classical standing as a sanc- 
 tion for immorality ; and that He will hold to an awful 
 accountability the jiossession t»f exalted powers of mind 
 
 9 
 
 and fwling, deliberately en^.ployed in estranging fronr 
 Him those for whom Christ ditnl ; and that He will not 
 hold them clear who further their work by tolerating- 
 and excasing it. 
 
 A large proportion of the publishing arrangements 
 of this country is employed upon novels, either in l)<K)kSy 
 magazines, or family newspaiKM-s ; and there are public 
 libraries, designtnl for the imj)rovement of the j)eople, 
 wliose volumes count bv tens of thous-mds, devoted in 
 large measure to works of fiction, InH-ause there is so. 
 much more demand for them than for anv other kind 
 of readinor. Such works, whatever mav be their claims 
 to literary' merit, often present false views of life, or 
 aims that are far from elevating ; and by stimulating 
 the fancy with dreams which they c^annot realize, the 
 young of either sex are frequently led into most unwise 
 courses or improper eonne(*tions. 
 
 Even where the aim of the author is to u[)hold right 
 views of life and to serve the cause of religion, where 
 the lesson intended to l>e taught is good and the char- 
 acteiN worthy of imitation, human nature puts the teac^h- 
 ing aside as imposition when it crosses its own inclina- 
 tions ; and only gives to the characters deserilKKl that 
 kind of sentimental admiration which is due to ideals 
 which mav be or mav not bo true. This is far different 
 in its effects upon character from the sincere desire ta 
 follow the example of excellence as exhibited in the 
 records of real life, which is strengthened by the as- 
 surance of possible attainment. 
 
10 
 
 11 
 
 'riicrc is reason to U'licve that in icadinir tliccla.ssof 
 novels w iiicli most attract cnltivatcd and refined natnres, 
 wlien' the fas<ination <-onsists in the jjraphie representa- 
 tion of hnnian nature in its dealing witli not unnatural, 
 hut unreal <'ireu instances and eharaetei-s, the finer emo- 
 tions of our heinjr are often arouse<l and wiU'thy interests 
 stimulatiHl. Hut thes4' havin^: no real ol)ie<'t to act uiM>n 
 mv l)JU'ren of dii*eet ir<MKl to othei-s, and in the end often 
 pHnluce sentinientalisin or ohtuseness of f(H'lin*r in th<' 
 i-ejKler. The svnipathv whieh <-an have no outh't either 
 in effort or pniyer for the relief of a<tual suflerinjr or 
 thankfulness for actual happiness, tends t(» n'act and 
 become morbid, or may ^row to 1k' as fictitious as the 
 inuunncil «K-cj»sions which have cjdle<i it forth. The 
 pleasurabh' excitement of tluse emotions satisfies the 
 benevolent impulses for the time, while it indisj>oses for 
 the exercis<' of that healthy sym|>Jithy with the rejd life 
 around us, an<l active participation in its joys and 
 sorrows, which brinjrs its own rewanl of hap]>iness on 
 ^rth and the approval of Him who will siiy, '* Inso- 
 nuich as ve have done it unto the least of these my 
 brethivn, ye have <lone it unto me." 
 
 By the indul«rence of a piis^ive and unregulated 
 iniajjination nniuirinjr no mental effort, the taste for 
 tndy profitable Ixjoks is destroytnl, while a tlreiuny habit 
 of thought is l)egotten which unfits for grappling 
 bravely with the duties and practi(-al business of life. 
 Those who give themselves up to this desultory (x-cupa- 
 tion of their thoughts are the more ready to satisfy their 
 
 desires for mental entertainment with theatrical ixirform- 
 anees, and thus subjtrt themselvt^ to their corrupting 
 asso<-iatious. Upon the female mind esjK'cially dm's 
 the habit of novel i-eading k^d to mast injurious results, 
 and to this source may Ik» fairly traced a large proi)ortion 
 of the domestic wretchwlness which now abounds. It 
 is to the evils growing out of these and kindred abuses 
 of the printing-press that we fwl the conuuunity needs 
 to \ye thoroughly aroused, lest the l)est life and energies 
 of the nation become poisontnl at their very source. 
 
 We firmlv believe that the corrective for this and 
 every other injurious tendency which threatens the 
 highest interests of our l)elovwl countiy, is to be found 
 in a fuller and more practical ac(vptance of the teach- 
 ings of our Ix>rd Jesus Christ. While the Scriptures 
 of the New Testament deal with human nature in all 
 its weakness and deformity, they also set forth the cajKi- 
 cities of man for bringing glory to his Maker, l)oth 
 here and hereafter. As his heart is brought into har- 
 mony with the Divine will, a large measure of pure 
 and substantial happiness is promised him on this side 
 the grave. They treat of life, however, as it i-eally is, 
 short at best, and most um^rtain as to its ending; the 
 inestimable value of time, therefoix?, and its right em- 
 ployment, are frequent themes of the Saviour and his 
 apostles. By them, also, the realities of death, eternity, 
 and the judgment to come ai*e pressed with the deejK'st 
 earnestness. 
 
 Thev teaeh that as men m-eive Christ and his pre- 
 
,r 
 
 12 
 
 cepts into tlu'ir liwirts, thoir (Icsirt's, their wills, and the 
 wlu.le U'ut of their lives will Ik- ehantrwl, and throujrh 
 the sjinetifyin>r influene*' of* his own Holy Spirit, they 
 d<» indcxnl iVn-onie " new ereaturts in C'hrist Jesus." All 
 Wuvr thus sulMirdinated to the will of GikI, they aiv 
 assunnl that power from on high will l)e given over 
 everv sinful projx'usity ; and all that is out oi' harmony 
 with their highest hapi)iness will Ix' made manifi'st by 
 the liglit of Christ "which lighteth ever>' man that 
 eometh into the worhl." The life into whieh our blessed 
 Keileemer eidls his followers is marktHl by a degriHi of 
 watchfulness and self-(h'nial, a singleness of j)urpose, a 
 puritv of conduct an<l even thought, which bespeak the 
 Divine authoritv of Him who still '* teacheth as never 
 man taught." This is the ivligion which is meant to 
 restore, lift up, and bless our falleu race. 
 
 As we seek for the ** wisdom which cometh only 
 fnMU above," it will Ix^ given its more and moiv clearly 
 to sei' what it is that promot^^s the establishment of 
 Christ's kingdom uiM)n the earth, and what is hindering 
 
 it what sa vol's of his own pure spirit and what is not 
 
 in unison with it ; while we shall come to undei-stand 
 the full foi-ce of the ajxjstle's declaration that ** the lust 
 of th(^ flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, 
 is not of the Father, but is of the world." There has 
 ever Ixvu an incompatibility l)etween the service of the 
 " two masters," and no man ran starve them Imth. Hence 
 the warnings and exhortations that abound in the 
 writings of the ap<istles to their fellow-bt^lievers to be 
 
 18 
 
 "not conformed to this world," to "keep themselves 
 uns|K)tted from it," to " love not the world, for if any 
 man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 
 
 We have netxl of the continual help of the Holy Spirit 
 to see through and over the spirit of the world in its 
 secret workings in oui*selves and others — to enable us to 
 rise al)ove the authoritv of the standards of extvllence 
 and refinement which stxMcty adopts and changes at will 
 indejK'udently of Divine siuiction — to discern the teu- 
 <lencies of hurtful customs which are genendly ap- 
 prov(Hl, and es[KH*ially, to det(H*t and turn from the in- 
 sidious influenci* of things, impure or enervating in 
 their own nature, which gain entrance into the un- 
 guanled heart under cover of their association with 
 intellectual enjoyment or the attracticuis of refined taste. 
 \V hile we feel that the doctrines of our Saviour lav the 
 axe at the r(X)t of everv evil, v(»t in our human weak- 
 ness we an' confused by the mingling of go(Kl and evil 
 in life, and are unable of ourselves to apply them with 
 assurance to our own condition or that of societv. 
 
 But our Holv R^nleemer, when He returned to the 
 glor\' which He had with the Father Ix'fore the world 
 was, having left his followers a j)erfect example of holi- 
 ness, and prtHt^pts to show them how " to walk even as 
 He walkeil " while with them on earth, did not leave 
 them comfortless, discouraged at their high calling, in 
 doubt how to carry out his puix» teachings in their pracv 
 tical application to the circumstances of their daily lives, 
 and in perplexity how to keep thems(»lves pure while 
 
 
f 
 
 14 
 
 fultillinir tlu'ir wIhHo tliitv to tlu'ir fellow-men. "The 
 Ounfuiler which is the Holy (Jhof^t/' the Sent of the 
 Father in the name of the S)n, who is given to us, ac- 
 eonlinj; to the promisi* of our Saviour, to "teach us all 
 tlnnjrs, and to bring all things to our riMnemhram* 
 whats<H ver He has said unto us," will make the humble 
 and watchful spirit quick of undei-standing to receive 
 and a}>|)lv his recoixle<l teachings, to know his will when 
 directlv revealed, and i'ulfil his purixjses, where our 
 luMuan reast)n would fail us or lead astray. 
 
 They who desire to sit at the Master's i'vi^i to listen to 
 tiic gnicious words which still proc-eecl out of his mouth, 
 and to "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," 
 while they look to Him contimially for guidance in all 
 the aifairs of life, seek frefjuent retirement fn)m the 
 world and its confusing voices, to wait in reverent silence 
 uiH»n Him, in subinissicm of their wills, prejxissessions, 
 and reasonings. These an* brought so near to Him that 
 thev come to know of his d<H*trine, to see his gracious 
 designs for the well-being of society, and conform their 
 own conduct and influence thereto. In humility and 
 faith thev allow the cimvictions sejded ui)on their spir- 
 itual understandings to have precedence of their own 
 nu<on or the example of other men. They are taught 
 to distrust many of the ac<'ept<Hl views of society^ and 
 stand as its faithful guanlians, as well against the small 
 l)eginnings of harmful influences as against gross and 
 
 apparent evil. 
 
 Thes€% however diifering in gifts and the influence of 
 
 15 
 
 H-riu-ious a.ss(HMatioii and education, however gjithered or 
 wlieivver st-attcnnl over the earth, though mostly un- 
 known to one another, yet having daily comnumion 
 with and following one Loixl and Master, are uniteil in 
 the fellowship of those who " walk in the light as (i(k1 
 is in the light, and know the bl(MKl of Jesus Christ, his 
 S»n, to cleanse them from all sin." Thus they are made 
 c<»-workei-s with Him in harmoni<ms laUn* for the pro- 
 motion t»f the happiness of mankind by those Ixist meiins^ 
 which his all-seeing wisdom |>oints out to them day by 
 dav. Looking to the same " Holy Leader and Com- 
 mander to the jKM.ple," and InMug each olnMlient in his 
 own allottinl phicc and c-alling, acconling to the ability 
 given them — though they have no organization that can 
 l)eseenof men, He U'liolds them keeping their ranks 
 in righteousness, and moving forward in the iwlvam^e- 
 ment of his kingdom of " righteousness and ixjaci' and joy 
 in the Holv (ihost." These an' " lights in the world ''^ 
 and " the salt of the vnvth ; '* ajid as such Christians have 
 a most im|M)rtant service to fulfil. If their own lu^arts 
 are filletl with " the i)eace of (tckI which passetli all un- 
 dei-standing," they (-an have not only no enmity towards 
 those who are strangei-s to its blessed influem^s, but will 
 eiu-nestly huig and lalM)r that they too shall he brought 
 into the fold of Christ. 
 
 In our intercoui-se, therefore, with those around us,, 
 we need especially to illustrate by our own consistent 
 example the precepts of the gosjKjl, and by tlie " l)eauty 
 of lioliiM^s" (^ommend the " fulness of its blessings" to 
 
16 
 
 their approval. In our hiLsinoss relations, our modes 
 of living, the choice of our rei'reations, and even the ex- 
 -ercise of our tastes, we shall be made willing to practise 
 that personal restniint and sc»lf-sacrifi<r which should 
 ever mark the disciple of Jesits. While a discipline so 
 wholesome will tend on the one hand to wean us from 
 the spirit and vanities of the world, it will the k^ttcr tit 
 us for l)earing our allottcnl i>art in cjirrA'ing on the great 
 work of the Church. ( )ur l^)rd prayed lor his followers 
 ^*not that they should Ik? taken out of the world, but 
 that they shoidd U' kept froni^ the evil." Had we a 
 more real l)elief in his pn>mise, " \a\ I am with you 
 alway, even unto the end," and a fuller faith in the 
 <<ivping jM)Wcr of his grace, we should know our spiritual 
 strenirth to increitse, and should tind oui*si'lves the less 
 <jnibarnissed bv a weak conformity to the ways of the 
 worldlinjr in manv things which now greatly hinder the 
 <3ause of Clirist. As the numlx'r of these faithful Chris- 
 tians shall nudtiply,a fuller and more united testimony, 
 we doubt not, will be borne against evil in every shajK. 
 A higher tone will he given to public sentiment; the 
 press, the school, the business eomnumity, the civil gov- 
 -ernment, will all receive nobler and higher impulses ; 
 and thus shall our favored land be brought rightly to 
 fill that influential position among the nations for which 
 it is so eminently fitted, and for which we may trust- 
 fully believe it has been hitherto preserved by an 
 Almighty hand. 
 
r"#^