In the Centennial Year of the Declaration of Independence--1876, Rev. Benjamin W. Arnett was invited to deliver the Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon in Urbana, Ohio, at the St. Paul A. M. E. Church. That Sermon theme was, "Righteousness Exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to any People." A search at the Library of Congress, American Memory Section, "African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A.P. Murray Collection," 1820-1920, will reveal the full text of this remarkable sermon.
Here are a few excerpts:
This lengthy and detailed historical tracing of the history of nations, and then of America's 100-year history to that point, concludes with a section beginning on P. 45, entitled "The Danger to our Country," wherein Rev. Arnett outlined what he called a movement by "liberals," whose words he cites, concluding,CENTENNIAL THANKSGIVING SERMON
Text: "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." -Prov. xiv: 34
"These are words of wisdom, and were the expression of the wisest King that ever sat on a throne or ruled over a nation.
"In choosing principle to found a government on, you can only select one of two principles: Right or Wrong. All governments are founded on the one or the other, and we may fully understand what Righteousness means.
"The words Right and Wrong are relative terms, like light and darkness, good and evil, just and unjust; righteousness and sin stand in the same relation to the actions of men. The one implies strict obedience to all moral, civil, ecclesiastical or divine law; the other means the violation of either divine or human law. So when we speak of Righteousness, we have reference to the actions of men, or the principles of government. The text makes the announcement that one will exalt, and the other will bring reproach on the nation or people who practice the one or the other principle. Now we will call your attention to the application of these principles, and then look at them philosophically and logically, and then we will try and find whether the testimony of the past will bear out the declaration of the Royal King of Israel.
"Civil government is what? It is not the family, yet family is the unit of States. There can be no government without families; we can have a family without government or without political government in all its ramifications. But every family has some kind of government.
"We understand a government to be a community organized under one form or system of government, and dwelling together under that form of government, in one territory, or in territories distinct from each other. Those who thus associate themselves together form the State or nation of people.
"Now, as to the Rule of conduct that shall characterize this state of government. There are only three rules by which men govern each other. We will call them the Iron Rule, the Silver Rule, and the Golden Rule. They read as follows:
1st. Iron Rule—As I would not that men should do unto me, do I even so to them;
2d. Silver Rule—As men do unto me, do I even so to them;
3d. Golden Rule—“As I would that men should do unto me, do I so unto them.”"Now this constitutes the Political ethics, when applied to government of states. Just in proportion as the individual member of the State feels that he has an interest in the conduct of the whole, he is morally and ethically bound to consult the interest and wishes of the whole.
"In our country the wishes of the majority is expressed by the parties and the election of men to represent our principles, and then they crystallize these into law, and send to us, to bless or curse us, just in proportion as we have been wise in the election of our principles, policies and men.
"There are various opinions as to what constitutes the true basis of human government. Some contend that it rests on the will of God, and is based on Divine Right. Hobbs says, that, “whereas it is manifest that the measure of good and evil action is the Civil Law.” Again he says: “The Law of Right is the public conscience by which he hath already undertaken to be founded.” Thus he makes might Right, and establishes the divine right of Kings and governments, whether they are good or bad. We are opposed to this doctrine from beginning to end. We are of the opinion that every man is the judge of good and evil, and this was the force that set the reformation of the 16th century in motion, and which has made the protestant religion so acceptable to the masses and so powerful for good.
"Dr. Haven states in his Moral Philosophy, page 238: “That by the constitution of things and of human nature, God has settled it, that civil government of some sort, there shall be; but of what sort it shall be, He has left it to men themselves to decide; and this they do decide, each community or people for itself, by some sort of civil compact or government.”
"Then we assert that the best rule for human conduct is found in the Bible, “The Home Book of Heaven, and the School Book of Earth.”
"This gives us examples of government, which administered its law by each of the three rules named. It gives us the result of the experiment, and informs us that only Righteousness will exalt a nation, politically, morally, socially, religiously and intellectually. This was said, not by a beggar, nor a man unacquainted with government, but by the Royal King, Solomon, than whom there never was so wise a one sat on the throne of state."
" We are aware that there is a great commotion in the world of thought. Religion and science are at arms length contending with all their forces for the mastery. Faith and unbelief are fighting their old battles over again, everything that can be shaken is shaking. The foundations of belief are assaulted by the army of science and men are changing their opinions. New and starting theories are promulgated to the world; old truths are putting on new garbs. Error is dressing in the latest style, wrong is secured by the unholy alliances, changes in men and things, revolution in church and state, Empires are crumbling, Kingdoms tottering; everywhere the change is seen. In the social circle, in the school house, in the pulpit and in the pews. But amid all the changes are revolutions their are some things that are unchangeable, unmovable and enduring. The forces that underline the vital power of Christianity are the same yesterday, to-day, to-morrow and forever more. They are like their God, who is omnipotent, immovable and eternal, and everywhere truth has marched it has left its moccasin tracks."The Conclusion of the Whole Matter.We have patiently tried to examine the record of the nations of antiquity and learn the cause of their decay and decline, their fall, why their early death; and why so many implements of destruction around and about their tombs, and everywhere, in the silent streets, mouldering ruins, tottering columns, mouldy and moist rooms, and the united voice from the sepulcher of the dead past is, "sin is a reproach to any people." We see it written on the tombs of the Kings, and engraven on the pages of time, "sin is a reproach to any people." These are the principles of governments, Right and wrong; and the people who are the advocates of Right have bound themselves together and by their united effort they have brought light out of darkness and forced strength out of weakness.
"We as a nation have a grand and glorious future before us. The sun of our nation is just arising above the horizon and is now sending his golden rays of peace from one end of the land to the other. The utmost extremities of the members of the body politic are warm and in motion by the commercial and financial activities of the land. Her face is destined to blush with beauty when peace and justice shall be enthroned. The grand march of progress shall mark her in her onward advancement in moral strength, intellectual brilliancy, and political power. Then we can say that we give to every man, woman and child the benefit of our free institutions, giving all the benefits of our common school and the freedom to worship God under their own vine and fig tree. Then will we see written, on the banner of our free, redeemed and disenthralled country, the sublime words written, not in the blood of men, but in the sun-light of truth, that "Righteousness exalteth a nation." It will fall like the morning dew on the lowly; it will descend like the showers of May on the poor; and like the sun it will shine on the good and bad, dispensing from the hand of plenty the blessings of a government founded on the principle of justice and equality.
"Standing on the threshold of the second century of the nation's life, with the experience of the past lying at our feet, we are saluted by the shout of triumph from the millions who left their homes and business and attended the Great Exposition of the skill and genius of the world, collected at Philadelphia. We were permitted to receive the greetings from the oldest to the youngest nation of the earth. Egypt and the United States clasped hands over the waste of 5,000 years, and lay their treasures at the feet of our civilization. The material, intellectual and mechanical deterioration of the one, and the unprecedented progress of the other, stand in great contrast; in all that makes the nation great,—morally, religiously and socially, the young nation is ahead.
"Following the tracks of righteousness throughout the centuries and along the way of nations, we are prepared to recommend it to all and assert without a shadow of doubt, that "Righteousness exalted a nation"; but on the other hand following the foot-prints of sin amid the ruins of Empires and remains of cities, we will say that "sin is a reproach to any people." But we call on all American citizens to love their country, and look not on the sins of the past, but arming ourselves for the conflict of the future, girding ourselves in the habiliments of Righteousness, march forth with the courage of a Numidian lion and with the confidence of a Roman Gladiator, and meet the demands of the age, and satisfy the duties of the hour. Let us be encouraged in our work, for we have found the moccasin track of Righteousness all along the shore of the stream of life, constantly advancing, holding humanity with a firm hand. We have seen it “through” all the confusion of rising and falling States, of battle, siege and slaughter, of victory and defeat; through the varying fortunes and ultimate extinctions of Monarchies, Republics and Empires; through barbaric irruption and desolation, feudal isolation, spiritual supremacy, the heroic rush and conflict of the Cross and Crescent; amid the busy hum of industry, through the marts of trade and behind the gliding keels of commerce.”
"And in America, the battle-field of modern thought, we can trace the foot-prints of the one and the tracks of the other. So let us use all of our available forces, and especially our young men, and throw them into the conflict of the Right against the Wrong.
"Then let the grand Centennial Thanksgiving song be heard and sung in every house of God; and in every home may thanksgiving sounds be heard, for our race has been emancipated, enfranchised and are now educating, and have the gospel preached to them!
"Sons of freedom, sing the glad hymns of praise on the Western plains! Daughters of sorrow shout the joyful tidings amid the savannahs of the South-land! Proclaim it on the Atlantic's western stand and declare it on the slopes of the Pacific! Humble followers of the Son of Mary, chant the eternal truth in the temple of the Most High, that “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
"We invite every nation, kindred, tongue and people, to come to our land. Come from the bogs of Ireland; come from the dykes of Holland; come from the mountains of Switzerland; and from the sunny plains of Italy; and enjoy a government made for man! Come from the jungles of Africa or Egypt, the university of the infant world; come from Asia the cradle of humanity; come and bring your gifts from the Islands of the South Sea and spice land! Come ye men of every clime and race and see a nation founded in Righteousness, guarded by Justice, and supported by truth and equity, and defended by God!
"When thus united in one grand commonwealth of nationalities the universal prayer will be:
"Show us our Aaron, with his rod of flower!
Our Miriam, with her timbrel soul in tune!
And call some Joshua, in spirits power,
To praise our sun of strength at point of noon.
God of our fathers! over sand and sea,
Still keep our struggling footsteps close to thee."
This is a fabulous post!