The common-school system
had been in operation more than a century and a quarter, and under its
influence the patriotism of the Revolution was highly intelligent.
The clergy generally were warm supporters of the war. Most of them
were graduates of Harvard College, whose influence was always on the
patriot side. The influence of the clergy was very great in New
England; hence the two most powerful springs of human action, religious
and political enthusiasm, were blended in the breasts of our fathers.
Some of the clergy, like Emerson of Concord, gave their personal
services to the American cause; while others, like Adams and Clark,
made the points in controversy with the mother country themes of
religious discourse. The religion of Massachusetts was patriotic.
The Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenburg, in a sermon preached during the
war, uttered these prophetic words: "To encourage us to persevere, let
us anticipate the rising glory of America. Behold her seas whitened
with commerce, her capitals filled with inhabitants, and resounding
with the din of industry. See her rising to independence and glory.
Contemplate the respectable figure she will one day make among the
nations of the earth; behold her venerable for wisdom, for counsel,
for might; flourishing in science, in agriculture and navigation, and
in the arts of peace.
Pages:
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229