Lord of Hosts, Father of mankind!
“the heavens declare thy glory,” (Psalms 19:2)
the material universe perpetually proclaims thy omnipotent will,
the wisdom and immutability of thy government;
mankind’s history, the realized plan of a benign Providence,
solemnly testifies the wisdom, justice, and goodness
of thy everlasting laws;
the human heart, the work of thy hands,
is pervaded with love of liberty
and desire of happiness:
Thus Thou hast taught us to be thy sacred will,
that man be free and happy,
and governed on the principles of justice,
goodness and true wisdom.

But the ambition, egotism and avidity of men
have been more regarded than thy words,
than the voice of nature,
and a few tyrants usurped the liberty and happiness,
which is the just due of every human being;
justice and equity gave way
before the iron rule of tyranny;
and the genius of humanity
loaded with insult and covered with shame,
mourned under the heavy chains of slavery,
and mingled her tears in the flood of injustice,
which threatened to extinguish
the brightest luminary of heaven,—
the sun of liberty.—

“And God said let there be light,
and there was light” (Genesis 1:3)
and the venerable fathers of our own republic
invited the genius of humanity
to these western shores,
and hither she came,
and unfurled the glorious star spangled banner,
and chastised the tyrant,
and refreshed the land
with the mild zephyr of liberty and justice;
but yonder nations she had abandoned
because of their misfortunes.

And again “The Lord spoke, and it was done;
he commanded and”—the illustrious Louis Kossuth^[1] The English name of Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894) a Hungarian nobleman, lawyer, journalist, politician, statesman and governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848–1849. Kossuth’s bronze bust can be found in the United States Capitol with the inscription: “Father of Hungarian Democracy, Hungarian Statesman, Freedom Fighter, 1848–1849.”  was born
to dash in pieces the heavy yoke
which selfish despots loaded
upon suffering nations;
to reconcile the genius of humanity
with the government of nations
to reestablish the empire of justice
upon the immovable columns of liberty,
goodness and true wisdom.

May doubt and mistrust bewilder the mind of those
who do not comprehend thy goodness, O God of Love!
but we have confidence in thee,
and we are sure, that thou wilt assist and strengthen
the indefatigable apostle of liberty, and justice,
that he accelerate the regeneration of yonder unfortunate nations;
for the time has come
when despotism knows its curse
and liberty knows its blessings;
we know that liberty and justice
are the expressions of thy sacred will;

and therefore we have assembled here this evening
to hear the words of thy will,
from the lips of him whom thou hast chosen
to execute thy will;
which, we are confident, O Lord,
is as pleasing in thy sight,
as if we chant sacred hymns and psalms in thy praise;
and therefore thy humble servant is encouraged
to entreat thy benign blessing
to the performances of this evening.

“May the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart,
be acceptable in thy presence O Lord,
my Rock and Redeemer.”
Amen.