them, such institutions can scarcely be secure for a genera- 

 tion ; with them they may be immortal and perpetual. 



The way is open, if we will take it, for a higher, a nobler, a 

 more glorious future. 



But frankness to you and justice to myself require that be- 

 fore closing I shall say to you, that there are perils before us — 

 perils of a serious and alarming nature — perils which agita- 

 tion, excitement and passion will aggravate rather than dis- 

 pel — perils which require all our firmness, all our prudence, 

 all our wisdom to avert. What they are and what are the 

 remedies, it is not for me, here and now, to say. Their dis- 

 cussion requires a confiding, if not a sympathetic audience. 



May God in his gracious Providence be to us as to our 

 fathers — give us wisdom according to our need. 



