DOmNION DAY. ^l
STANLEY STREET CHURCH,
The District Staff, and Memuers of the No. i Tjioop
vvi\k^4-. *^^ Cavalry and the Montreal
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WM. DRYSDALEJc CO.. BOOKSELLERS. 23. ST., JAMES STREET .
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DOMINION DAY.
A SEliMON
PKEACHEH IN
STANLEY STREET CHURCH,
l!V THK
REV. JOHN C. BAXTER,
liKFOKK
The District Staff, and Mkmhrrs of the No, i TRoor
OF Cavalry and the Montreal Field
Battery of Artillery,
\ ' .' HUSLISHED BY ^F^EQUECT.
MONTREAL :
WM. DRYSDALE & CO., BOOKSELLERS, 232 ST. JAMES STREET
1877- ,; -i; J
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B. Q. R.
MoNTRKAL, July 2, 1877.
RiiV. AND Dkar Sir :
The luiflersitjnecl most resi)cctfully re(|ucst that you will
have the gocxhiess to furnish us (with a view to puhlication), the
manuscript of the a(hnirable and eh)quent sermon, preached hy you
yesterday, before tlie District Staff, and members of the No, I Troop
of Cavahy and tlie Montreal Field Mattery of Artillery.
I'V-elin^ confident that the loyal and patriotic sentiments it c(m-
tains, will ])rove of much benefit to the cor.ununity i^^enerally, we
trust you will experience no difficulty in c(Jmplying with this request,
thereby obliging
Your most obedient servants,
JOHN DYDE, Coloml,
JOHN FLETCHKR, U.-Col.,
n. A. G. No. s.
THOMAS HACON, U.-CoL,
Jh-ii^adt- Major.
A. A. STEVENSON, Lt.-Col.,
Conmuinding M. F. B. of A.
W. McGlUHON, Lt.-Col.,
M.F. B.of A.
Rev. John C. Baxter,
Montreal.
Montreal, July 3, 1877.
Gentlemen :
I have pleasure in complying with your kind request, and en-
close the manuscript ; though, at the same time, it may be right to
say that the sermon was not written with any view to publication.
Yours cordially,
JOHN C. BAXTER.
To Col. Dyde,
Lieut. -Col. Fletcher, &c., &c.
51655
DOMINION DAY.
" This day shall he unto yon Jor a memorial'" — ExoDUS X 11, 14.
A crisis had conic in the career of Israel. Transferred
from Canaan to I'^gypt, tlie seed of Jacob lived under a
king "which knew not Jo.sei)h." (killed by the cruel
yoke, the o))])ressed aliens awaited promised deliverance.
"I'he groans of the prisoners " entered into the ears of the
Lord of Sabaoth." 'I'heir hour of redemption drew nigh.
Moses announced the dawn of freedom. W^onders were
wrought to force proud Pharaoh to loose their chains : and
here, at the date of sacred record, with the j)assover,
as a prophecy of speedy ransom, the once enthralled
hosts stood on the verge of a road that raised them to the
rank of an independent nation.
Right, therefore, was it for the liberated tribes to mark
through latest pges the birth-time of national existence.
The event was well worthy of observance. It told how
mindful of His covenant Jehovah had been : it stirred
hopes of enlarged favour while they were staunch in His
statutes : and long as they kept the revealed rule, " This
day snail be utito you for a meniorialy" so long did their
path prosper ; (qualifying the Jews to be the most pro-
gressive of Asiatic peoples, and proving their religious
economy, when viewed in the light of Gospel prepara-
tion, to be the main propelling agency of modern civi-
lisation.
Now, on the basis of such facts, the principle which
underlies the text, may be of value in our own special
G
circumstances. Not that betwixt I lebrcws and Canadians
a i)erfect parallel can be drawn. 1 )irrerencesare nianilbld
and manifest. 'J'hey had been slaves — wc 'were never in
bondage to any man.' 7//a' had been endangered in
belief by conta( t with abon)inable idolatries — wc were
never threatened in our holy faith by the dead weight of
an overwhelming heathendom. TJuy had been released
through the medium of direct miracle — wc were never as-
sisted with the out-stretched arm of supernatural interven-
tion. Yet whatever may sever them from us, their course
is suggestive of lessons for our case : and at present gath-
ered to note another anniversary of Colonial Confederation
— linking the recurrence of the period with more than
wonted seriousness, because its tenth return falls on a
Sabbath — what more seemly than some tribute, whereby
Dominion Day shall be unto us for a memorial, in a sanc-
tuary dedicated to the worshi[) of jesus, who is * head over
all things to the Church' — of Him. at whose name * every
knee should bow and every tongue should confess that He
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ? '
Little reference is retjuired to the history that rendered
needful or expedient the important constitutional change,
of which this day is unto us for a memorial : and if a
cursory glance be cast on affairs prior to 1867, it is less for
the sake of imparting information to those who hear, than
simply to recall details with which a majority of the au-
dience may be familiar. Previous to that era, British
America was a disjointed region. The scattered settlers
might swear allegiance to the same sovereign; prejjonderat-
ingnumbersof them might have kinship in ancestral lineage :
on questions of creed, fundamental harmony might prevail.
But the dislocitcd districts from sea board to bac k-country,
or from ocean to ocean, were sui)|)osed to have rival in-
terests ; and often when traders and leaders of tiie terri-
tories met, their sectional jealousies appeared to trample
on the advice, * see that ye fall not out by the way.' Su( h
irritations were socially sui( idal, wasting the strength that
should have been husbanded for mutual profit, playing
into the hands of enemies watchful to pounce on a self-
weakened i)rey ; and the growing risks which unfraternal
actions or agitations spread through our borders, constrain-
ed the more patriotic of citizens to yearn after some plan
for the burial of all conflict. At length, a measure was
proposed, discussed, confirmed, to bind the various pro-
vinces together in the cords of common government,
without infringing on their peculiar privileges. And while
not presuming to judge minutely of il.s merits ; while neither
asserting its acce[)tableness to every class, nor alleging that
improvement of items is improbable, we count the Alliance
an accomplished fact — a league which has abolished certain
artificial lines, which spurs us to concentrate our energy
on compacted aims, which knits us by ties of common weal
to guard our new position against possible foes, and which,
nerving us for still nobler deeds, may lay the corner-stone
of a mighty Empire on our allotted heritage of the Ameri-
can Continent. Doubtless, the head, and heart, and hand
of fellow-men are traceable in the welcome result. Thanks
to them for the foresight with which they devised, the la-
bour with which they pursued, the patience with which they
achieved the coveted end. By no means would we
blot from our memorial the worth of pure-souled benefac-
tors who helped the consummation. But beyond the mere
instruments, we look to the Ruler over all, and seek to
recognise His decree in the arrangement. The document
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which proclaimed the decision may resemble the book of
Esther in this feature,, that it is a register of God's provi-
dence, without explicit mention of His sacred name : yet
from first to last, discerning through its clauses the supreme
will of the Rlesski) Only Potkntatk, we desire to use its j^
advantages for His praise, as in this place to day, we grave
on our altar of remembrance the gratefully devout inscrip-
tion — " Kbenezer, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
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Duly alive to our debt for mercies bestowed, we cannot ^
fail to regard the memorial of this day as " a shadow of )
good things to come." The architects of our national f
fabric, with all the wisdom of their scheme, or all the
thoroughness of their toil, were ' building better than they
knew;' and though aware that no mortal, however saga-
cious or laborious, can forecast the future of a country, we
are safe in predicting bright issues for the land, if in a spirit i
of dei)endence on Divine law, its occupants walk Circum- '
spectly. For a season darkness has rested upon our
borders, nor can we tell when the gloom may be ui)lifted.
Yet out from the thickest cloud w expect a voice of the ,'
Most High, summoning to ascend the Mount : and then •
called to closer communion with Heaven, after temporary [
reverses, may we not anticipate that, like Moses, when he '
left the cliffe of Sinai for the tents of Israel again, Canada 1
shall be seen with a lustre on her face, to dazzle the nation, "
and with tablets in her grasjo, to show the people the road •
of rectitude ? A lofty ideal this ! How shall we discover •
the steps which conduct us to it ?
We begin our answer at what some may rate, the lowest
9
point: and urge on all capable persons TfrE Formation of
Industrious Hap.its for Matfrial Suhsistenci:. Our
bodies demand support, — nourishment for their appetite,
raiment for their exposure, shelter from wintry wind and
sultry sun. Prompted by such wants, we have agriculture
and manufactures, freighted ships and busy stores : and
when the breadth of our fields or the de[)th of our mines,
— the vastness of our woods or the extent of our waters, is
considered, there is valid reason for prizing the realm as an
ample sphere of honest diligence. Not that 'a man's life
consisteth in the abundance of the things which he possess-
eth.' There are treasures greater flir than i^roductive
acres or invested stocks : and we must take heed lest the
cares of this world tempt us to forget eternal interests.
Alas ! that the worship of mammon beguiles so many
votaries in these times ! Alas ! that even among groups
of those who wish for ' the good part which shall not be
taken away,' there is much eagerness to make gold their
hope, and fine gold their confidence ! Tiiis is a sore evil,
against which a loud protest should be sounded. If any-
where the caution tells with emphasis, it is in a young com-
munity like our own ; because here, unfettered by customs
of older date, we strive for gains as though * money an-
swereth all things.' Beware, therefore, /of covetousness,
which is idolatry. Beware of the grievous error, that 'to be
a good man is nothing, to be a skilled man is something,
to be a rich man is everything.' Beware of treading in
the wake of myriads who yield to 'foolish and fleshly lusts'
which sink their starved souls in the most disastrous of
bankrui)tcy. And anxious to avoid the unremunerative vo-
cation of " heaping up treasures for ourselves," which can
only be a " treasuring of wrath against the day of wrath," let
us practise the maxim : ' get all we can, save all we can,
10
give all we can." Then proi)erty will prove t^ friend of
piety. Along with outward bounties we shall have the un-
speakal)le ac([uisition of a consc ience ai)proved unto God :
and (juickened in enterj)rises of industry by the laudable
ambition to stand well in His eye, the tenor of our earth-
bound labour will echo the strain touched in " the ('hristian
Year."
Laijj[ely Tliou ^'ivest, j^r.icious Lord,
Lfirgely I'liy gifts sliould he restored ;
Freely Thou givest. and 'I'hy word
Is, "Freely Give."
lie only, \vh(j forgets to hoard,
Has learn'd to live.
Further : when contemplating the formation of solid
character in society, we urge the Culturk of Sterling
Principle relative to its Public Affairs. The charac-
ter of a country is a plant of slow, steady growth. Those
who eat of its all manner of fruit, or lodge securely beneath
the cover of its blooming branches, should feel a patriotic
pleasure in contributing to its fertility and stability. What
forefathers did in sowing the seed : what legacy of com-
])arative develojjment in the tree of freedom they have
bequeathed : what benefits of order and discipline and
l)rosi)ect they have transmitted to their successors — for
these we owe an offering of filial reverence. But let not
our homage dwindle into vapouring talk or boastful parade.
The truer our estimate of their services, the more zealous
will be our endeavour tO complete what they commenced.
If without self-laudation, yet with proper self-respect, it is
a glory, that through their heroic hardihood we dwell where
under the even canopy of heaven, an equal platform for
the exercise of talent and the increase of virtue hg,s been
11
set, let us ai)preciatc the advantages by determining each
in se[)arate ahiHly, or allincombined resi)onsibihty, to main-
tain and mature that Righteousness which exaheth a nation,
])rags on popular j^rosperity we dare not be, if we would
quit us hke men. Idlers at our respective posts we must
not be, if we would serve our generation according to the
will of God. And let intkience be large or little, the chief
concern of loyal hearts should be to promote in some de-
gree the public-spiritedness which has made us what we
are.
What then ? May we take part in politics ? Yes : but
let us rise above the level of political partizanship. Par-
ties are inevitable, where law is our ruler, and speech is
our teacher. We regard them as socially healthful within
due limits : and can scarcely conceive of their expulsion
from our midst, except at a sacrifice which the alternative
of dull uniformity could never repay. Choose some side,
therefore, we must, if our minds are turned to current
debateable (juestions : and when for success of legislation
it is necessary to move in concert, we entail no blame, be-
cause conviction leads us to join with a party. But a
mere party man — one who moves, machine-like, by the
beck of a master — ^one who pants for the patronage of
office-holders, when conscience forbids any mean sale of
his suffrage — one who scales the slopes or sucks the sweets
of power, by decrying the designs, or maligning the motives
of opponents— if such is the picture of a party-man, then,
among men who thirst for the title of parliamentary or
municipal representatives, he is the most pitiable speci-
men. To be of this type : or to abet the too frecjuent
examples of it, what (lod-fearing man will dare ? And if
an aspirant for public service in city or ccxmtry would do
credit to his station, let him show before all witnesses the
12
more excellent way. Holding opinions, he is not ashamed
to express them courteously, or defend them courageously.
When those with whom he generally agrees do what vio-
lates the right, he refuses to commit wrong for the sake of
pre.serving a superficial consistency. When those from
whom he commonly differs do what deserves approval,
he resolves unhesitatingly to evidence his view, even
though for sturdy straight-forwardness he may have to
confront the charge of being a traitor or a turn-coat.
With him it is a very small thing that he should be judged
of man's judgment. To have his heart fixed by trusting
in the Lord, is the Key of his conduct : and as in private
he follows the instruction of Truth, so in Senate-hall or
Council-room does he shai)e his deeds by the solemn
thought — " Thou God seest me." Give us such public
men -men who fear nothing but sin — men who are ready
to be martyrs, rather than degrade themselves by consent-
ing to aught that draggles their country's flag in the dust
— give us such men for our rulers, whether provincial or
imperial : then with our officers peace and our exactors
righteousness, the land should be spared the canker of
internal corruption ; and the measure of its destined sta.
ture be proportionately hastened. " Happy people, that
is in such a case : yea, happy is that people whose God is
the Lord."
Let no one accuse us of travelling beyond a ministerial
commission in alluding to those aspects of citizenship.
'Preach the Word,' that is our vocation : and we are not
forgetful to herald with distinctive clearness the glad tid-
ings of salvation. But of that Word, which embraces all
human interests within its scope, we must keep back neither
jot nor tittle that l)ears on the world's welfare. We would
press on every listener the comprehensive code, — 'do justly,
13
love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.' If, then, mat-
ters of public moment come under so wide a precept, why
should not Gospel messengers attend to the problems ?
Our incompetency to deal with tliem is a freciuent verdict
of populace and press : we are advised, sometimes by
sapient multitudes, sometmies by sarcastic editors, to shun
an arena, for entrance into which our ui)l)ringings totally
unfit us. How shall we. receive the condescending sug-
gestion ? Thus — that while not avowing intimacy with
the devious tracks over which the car of politics is driven
by prominent managers, we surely do know the royal road
on which it should be run, if we have education enough
to apprehend the Scripture : and granting our aptness to
declare what the Lord's mind prescribes, we are not neces-
sarily vain babblers or rash intruders, when, clothed with
the spirit of Him who uttered the Sermon on the Mount,
we unfold and apply the infallible Truth for guidance in
the life that now is, as the avenue of glory in the higher
life to come.
Nor, breathing a similar spirit, may we omit the ser-
vice of citizen soldiers in an enumeration of aids toward
the consolidating of a country's character. War is, even
at the best, a dire scourge. Horribly heart-rending are
the tales of misery which start from the battle-grounds of
antiquity. Not less revolting are the accounts of atroci-
ties, or the stories of struggles in Danubian Valley and on
Armenian hill-side, with which the papers are filled.
Mournful, too, that ere long the divers nationalities of
Europe may be trapped in the snare of sanguinary strife :
and by gamients rolled in blood deny almost their nomi-
nal subjection to the Prince of Peace ! Yet let our detes-
14
tation of ui^gresswe armies be unstinted, we have other
estimate of defensive forces. The commands of our
Hible tally with the instincts of our nature, when a people
are held in repute for contending earnestly to save or
guard beloved homesteads : and if at the root of the
volunteer tnovement this purpose abides, with what a
dignity it insj)ires- -with what a panoply It invests — all
members of the corps ! Not for iJomi)Ous parade— not
for silly sentiment, are they enlisted. They engage to pro-
tect their kinsfolk when adversaries assail — to unsheathe
the sword for justice when no blunter wea])on will suffice
to gain the victory and should life itself have to lie spent
in the combat, they will not shirk death as the seal of fide-
lity. That is the standard. Let nothing short of it
satisfy. Animated by such an impulse, those who raise
the l)anner or don the attire of martial troops will receive
the blessing of neighbours whose bulwark they prove : and
distant though the hour may be when occasion shall test
their valour, yet // n<er it does stri/^e, let us pray for them
that they be strong to con(|uer : till by each stride of
triumph, they become pioneers of the day when ' they
shall beat their swords into i)loughshares, and their spears
into pruning-hooks' — when ' nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'
Much as the methods already sketched may assist, they
cannot perfect the structure of national character, unless all
our effort wears a wreath of vital godliness. '• Re-
ligion of some kind is indispensable to the welfare of a State,
and he is an unwise prince who permits his subjects to do
without it." So spoke Frederick the (Ireat of Prussia : and
seeptic-scorner though he was, his sentence contains a
15
profound truth. lUit more than a, form of reverence is rc-
(|uisite : the reality of worsliij) sliould pervade the inmost
life of a country — leading all its citizens along their
march, and pointing to a blessed end in the rest
above. For such a pilgrimage with its ultimate rewards,
we reckon the means of divine grace worthy of all accep-
tation. 'I'he word of (lod with its enlightening beams:
the day of (lod with its refreshing re])Ose : the house of
(iod with its elevating influences : the throne of (lod
with its satisfying comfort — these are precious to those
who have tried them : and if in the deepest sense we
adopt the axiom of iMigland's present Premier — " that all
nations wither who reject the cross," then should we
cherish dearly every ordinance of which the religion of
the Crucified is the Alpha and Omega. Woe to our coun-
try if we set at naught the line upon line of His love !
Better to lose harvests and fortunes and estates around, than
the sunshine of His smile. Retain it, and in their absence
we are not paui)crs — while with their presence we are pros-
perous indeed : remembering that He whose we are,
claims our existence as a reasonable service, and persua-
ded that the more such worshij) is offered on His altar,
the more liberal recompense from His treasury will attend
our pursuits. " Jloliucss io the Lofui.'' i.et that be the
motto stamped first on our souls. Next on all brain-work
and hand-work proceeding from that sanctified shrine, let
the same letters be legible : till on bale and balance : on
plough and platform : on desk of the merchant and deck
of the mariner : on floor of the jnipil and chair of the
tutor : on seat of the law-maker and bench of the law-
keeper : on literature in every sha^ie and activity of every
name : on ctll \v<tK ^vhich wt <^aft:be'busie^:and bettered
10
— till on all such, the inscri[)ti()n he visihlc — '* they are
the Lord's."
W hether any of us may have toiled after so commenda-
ble a fashion, (lod and our consciences know. Jf we have
helped His jiian wlio has appointed our iiabitalion, let
Jliin receive tlie praise. If ind(jlent hitherto, let the time
past suffice for sloth, and the future find us vigorously vi-
gilant. To this retrospect on one hand, to that resolution
on the other, may the Memorial of this day prove a stimu-
lus : and whether our years be many or few, when they ter-
mmate below, i)erhaps survivors shall venerate our names.
To earn their gratitude will be to us a joy. Hut to receive
the Well Done of the Omniscient Judge to possess the
immunities of the Celestial region — to jjartake there of
communion with the bestof every clime and expect in their
endless fellowship a ceaseless addition to our bliss — to em-
ploy our increased delights for the honour of Him who is
the hountain of life, and to cast our fairest crowns as
troj)hies of redeeming mercy at Kmmanuel's feet — that will
be the sum of pleasure ! For this we look. Nearer to the
goal would each step bend : and not lost will this domin-
ion DAY prove to us or our kinsmen if it lead brothers in
position to be brethren in prosi)ect — as all take up the
pilgrim's language : " Wc are journeying to the place of
which the Lord hath said, I wnll give it you. Come thou
with us, and we will do thee good : for the Lord hath
spoken good concerning Israel."
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