paim (SDNDAW ixoirraD.)
W. FORNEY.
li * sU sol/TH FOURTHSTREET.
f r» ff -
PRESS,
* F» W»SfC, payoblo to too O wrier,
f'"'“fibers on! o f too Olty «t 8« 00LLM8
J'OO* DOIUBS to* UIOHT RIOHTBS,
ii to* Six Mosttbb— liiTarisWjr to «a-
Ball 4 *"
f*’ ordered. -
' *HS TBI-W EEKtY PRESS, .
T « c Morlt)ora'Ont or too Olty at Tsmaa Dot-,
lo ;
,j t Jl rm.
tlilpA l, NOVEMBER 28,1862.
DAY.
Day was Observed in this City.
jjfilllCES IN THE VARIOUS CHURCHES.
, in-Kevs. Messrs. Ilutter; Crowell,
jjPll? v i
iiilH’rs, Eddy, Sntphcn, Seiss, Board-
ffcv/lon, Carden', Barnes, J. W.
niatlaek, Wylie, Darling, and
■. scenes at the Hospitals, on the
f |W .. „ ' ‘
‘ „i s *c., Asc-
Sic* 1 ’
,s(is something so hearty and universal
of our Thanksgiving Day that
Ural ha remembered for years to oome. Hot
‘"’b Pennsylvania, but in nearly every loyal
lbs people of this'Republio united to give
[(, (lod and honor to his name. The depress
j' e jtof vat seemed only to sharpen and iriton
jj'gonflrat fetling of devotion and good will
our cite ns. The weather was exceedingly
: ,nd ploasant—a fair type of a beautiful Ho
d»y. There were vary few olouds and a
of sunshine. In the morning the streets
(lied with crowds oMevout ohuroh-goera, and
Ksfiornoon bv gay and merry throngs of men,
end children. Chestnut street seemed to
‘ ,i,sorted the combined population of Phila
k,ftud our Quaker City, in prim and dainty
poured along that highway a oeaseiess, lively
multitude.
,;l oi our ohurohos there were large eongre
ti asswbUd to take part in the customary
The various ministers seemed to be fa
iths groat theme of loyalty and nation
! $ Ihe addresses of the men of Q-od were
'iilfuiiy interspersed with noble and patriotic
ijjKslj. The theatres were also largely at
niri, wi thousands enjoyed themselves with
e drama- We give in ■ onr paper, to-day, a fair
mil of "tat uas done yesterday by our citizens
,js celebrating our Thanksgiving Day, and
ibiufc it is a oause for congratulation among
, tll p;e that there exists suoh a noble spirit of
.jjiby with our oouutry and veneration for
liriiyOod. .
5( soldiers bad a merry time. Their friond3
urnybody is a soldier’s friend) took a special
pin ministering to their enjoyment. At -all
isjspitals kind ladies overwhelmed them with
a! and delicate food, and the number of tur
itd chickens, not to speak of accompanying
tstaU, which were sacrificed to martial ap
ai!,ii beyond any moderate effort of the ima-
The firemen drove them areund town in
I'jjt'i!, and many, a private oitizen gave the
i -ta of his chariot to wounded and oonva
i! minors. Altogether, they bad a gay and
cm, and they found in Thanksgiving a
itvsrd for the toils and privations of the
lie field, and the hospital,
ffIMOK BT REV. E. W. HOTTER, • ;
kicJ in tin' New-street Lutheran Church,
1, Via.i-lri'et Eulheran Church, the pastor, Bov.
Inns, pi eacbed to a numerous and appreciative
. Bla Ibt me was tbe appropriate one of •< Hong
10 lions Duties.” The text was taken from the
tiitg ckoie of St. Duke, 24th ohapter, 47th verse,
isiltt the simple words:
'•Beginning at JimscUem.'’
imßtii : peafeur commenced his disoourse by re*
11 ;i v. the ppeclfio arrangement for the inaugura
te Goiptl scheme in the" Jewish metropolis, was
t& mogipts now accidental. Various reasons
ettiiiiei for it, everyone of which might furnish
to tin annd of the 8 ivitur. Tbe one mast largely
m »es liile, viz: Tlut the oummand given to tbo
litre, "to £.o into all nations and preach the Gospel
Kf ersamre." uatorally would «xoite in the prlmi
’tiotca the lcfiiOßt: and Host self-sacrificing enthn-
A ci-nmlieior, so vast and so comprehensive,
'with inch a sublime grandeur, involving as it
igsfhiyp m iTi ment on distant peoples and terrf
•• iceccp ible or perversion It might lead to a
sht> rqnailj Important and etinsllr imperative
c»i rming on the disciples nearer home, among
.•aW/ftl aid people. The exuberant zoal of
; Ictl-Hans hence needßd to be kept within the
tt white and sobriety The deßlga of the ar*
si, to biffin preeohitig at Jerusalem, was to
St (std the lesson should not be lost us) that
tniiisi i,j Is .o Interpreted as to lead to asub
,dite utttnal affections it fa misinterpreted, and
i lint!) ti much rather to elevate and roll bo them,
list ibini, with delightful consistency, Into right-
:>! cwisyMnanalva principle of home feeling,
u July, settee the speaker as the basis for all the
JMttia-ii-lV.wtd. He said, that in order to dia
ocmsloot fir lomnt thank utterances lo the
iy, It was not Eecaeary to asoet d on hfgh, nor to
fete the rftejuor to prueecue pilgrimages to
l afliiegea. if we would but open our eyes, we
Itccnr dwt oar blessings .lie soattered in thick
ililti iiroiiisinn at our very doors The outgush*
sei thus ot thanksgiving should go forth, but
iktde rake their rise*
Jitff'eiwjce was to our bodie?, with their curl-
Maf, au-3 taeir oi :t ad »pifttton td uUIUy and
***■ bad been kludl? preserved. No acci*
• Mood, had despoiled them of their
Sy-'/ibru ibcrnof their strength. Oshfra have
' »bir tifcri. nee Their bodies were either
Mil their kindred dust, or else bearing the sot
raitfe/alala of ravaging diseaso and desolating
connection tbo preservation of ths mental
tawioM fhoa'.tlea' was : addnocd. Neither the
'feta n, nor of Immunity, bad been obliged to
l( l l:s hearers up In hospitals and asylums, but
hKI competent to ohoaae and pursue the vari •
U 3 inttllrctiif.l delights,
ii print introduced was that of the Family, a
aistn, the circle of so many endearments, nay,
ail onrjoys and sorrows, and to which
nwitotlons were described as subsidiary. Ths
“! "ipsits terce to the plough I and the scythe,
‘Mdiusul ths ai b, were stated not to be mere
•sis, Mr jet more love of gold, but the appeals
sec Millin'!.. Tho audience was exhorted to
■mint iho hare homos—honsos to dwell in—
if esa tot t, en eonsruried by fire, nor devastated
■f' 1 Dor hnwed by hostile feet. They should
hi" lory were not wandering exiles, bat
iwi wr, imbimllons, and many of them ban
“l? stj ituiiptnoos boards, and slept nightly on
■ , ar ” t<is i and were being greeted constantly
wai wfic-nta.
'Uvliiiich was referredfto—another Jerusalem,
■ uitteij aco»e. Whatever else of comfort and
taken away, our- religion! tustitu ■
'•. tiipjjlj continued. Their eyes still eaw
i.iejs aui oo4'a statutes were still their songs
>i!? 1 'Mr pilgrimage. Despite all hindrances,
T ? had seen the banners of King Im<
”tita fonvaid in triumph. The. prospects of
(usecousregaiion were adverted to asds
,V, . t hsnSftilnese, on aooonat of the pros
;:!<*iifc Gm had bleseed them, ■
•'itset tte Country were next adverted to, and
6t'i>,'n™ er ’ 9 Wf l> , hoown warm devotion to the
littv^ Whilst we had been favored with
ilm,.- t *’ ftnd 6in *«lar exemption from epide
''“efe w « had once enjoyed light and peace,
i'tI'** 1 '** darkness and trouble. The speaker
»»notions,, that the . war, with all Its
wo s ajndgment from Sod upon
» ?:r.B e aonundiog wickedness of ita inhabl
i */,**»' men never present war in a different
I ( “ ,e tailed to perceive in it the bronsed ter
»;eus;d Omnipotence, we would have to be
n , 11 7 1,t ’ M iw moot emphatic inoalcationß. But
•- fi ai h c uud, he said, there was aßilverltm
1 ivlsDged (he cheering oonsolonsness that the
■ t Of out aetking—that we had Implored
irnobt upon hooded knees, to spare the nation
“>< until misguided and infuriated asalots had
’>•' camion almost at onr door-sills,. Oar own
1 n noiatod State—-the keystone of the arch
il a Penn, a Franklin, a Bittenhouss, and a
* cttriPh with filial lore. Bn tare never had,
;;’'i annii, io contraveDtlon of all logic and
‘tfk to merge the greater In the lesser,
* )nra dreamed of elevating onr State
’‘toon far lest rf placing a stiletto in her hand
, !»ir(n to b-oime the nation’s bold and bloody
riueni ri u«a bad sought to beleaguer this
“ ni 110 alternative had Been left
bui m beat them book To its, Mr. H.
e to ihs tide me espouse—men of peace and
I'-wlongs ii w consolation, worth more than a
Ilf,, * tu ’’ ,!>a< we have not sent forth onr sons
, . 'in soy errand of hate, or Inst, or conquest,
, v,r , laondce, to preserve the Bepnblio
, d Bnd valor of onr forefathers.
Ultd i„ A ‘ terrible as they hod been, we were
the n ° oli r-1 ‘ , > or ivnobly surrender the Snip of
Hi h™’, 1 ’ 1 ' fl the storm. Onr mission had not
i 0 i ! P “live; not to destroy, bnt to fai
th,,l". “If righteous phariseelsm, but as a
Ibtli tHihe claim that the voles of
us ? l " ,re Period of onr history, wonld
.4 ’ tteantio crime of having tom
c Bin „' 1 I s dost the gorgeous banner of the
u wsii ». , tl,s North had to answer for, of
h sod a* „ of the South—sine many and
'‘inaM o rf.f'Hog the penalty of them now.
•Hiluu J-Vk 1 , 1,w * constituted ne part of onr
till’v o3me the parricides of Liberty
'■•tat , r '’wiids. Hie confidence in the tri
-1 Sl i cadi, , 6 | "* s ’‘.““batedl Besting It upon lit
L a Wtftet eiinlty of Jehovah’s moral
lilt eld I , £i ' Jtl »fed, from his heart’s surcharged
„ » aomsn maxim, «• Hover despair of the
;^J?H oa^ llDn >B l) >»tt<#> ! ’ waa now taken
Stan, % ,! leB0 > likewise, .began at home .
11 Minin,,, Loa,>t, he> w (noted, who, when
•tlotil,* 0 u ! 8 ca n*e Of the Greek*, then
»«ur " re Phed, “ Madam, the Greeks are
fr!’*'v 0w Scripture* told ns, that
•ir-s n.„„ ‘, ur . h . is own hath denied the faith,
s ! eftut?/'i tI S? eI A ’ Not that be would di«*
««t, ; 1 Gospel tonnevasgelizol n&«
'•i»n'i T Wfl had our hands very full at
k “> hi ), 1 , 8 , a o,rclfl oaueed by the Blogiag
of water. It radiated from the
oe, r ® the agitation was greatest*-
1 *'f/v 4 to tho field of its own ex*
?***«»■•»., *** hftd preserved dor bodies, we
' r , him, » living sacrifice. iFoor
t! ;:f s ’- 1 ? been preserved, they sboaU bo
st, .. and patriotic end*. It He had prc
h*t,,' "'- l b rjooubled atol should wo pra?
'.^inon.,""l,! 01 her extan don If we ha l
tll li 0 j j, '■•O'tfti*, then Bhonld onr study be to
[lir "' 1 '" If God had prospered onntn
."’'tiadanoe wo ehonld oommuriicate to
s “*'s 1 1. , , con »try was in peril, tha more
i'!i, |" ‘ llB Government, and tha charter on
nj lnletry to the kick and wounded
*a-iitjj. 1 Weary, deeming no Sacrifice ot
■ f t»d!ri» r Boai!8 ) in their behalf, too great.
18 Ms'* v “ “Ported, •* the dotlee of good
£***, n.. 8 virtue* of the patiibf and the
~’h( n,,) ' ,?® ,9 f enemle* we have to fear are
. !' W! "H'ini, ‘ tu 7, bnt lnxary > venality, idle
i/httte t WbWi l" ‘he ond, to
M >«ihtwl,? ’ d)Bgraoe ‘he nationalohsrao-
Xr > genera! ruin.
‘O-Msv ~
So , Kl '-T. BE WITT TAEMAGE,
b - S»!ll!! t fc l, ! !0 “ a Bclormert Dutcli
Si( l[jte lth *lreet, above Brown;
!lma honored naage, the three Bo
•BUt,. of lhla olty nnU « a 111 totlr thanks-
HII„ , " ! “ on *» pteaohed In the Second
Cti < miration, Seventh street, above
flliftll beat their swords
ft ««Penter (nconrißßd the fold
u ,.* vratketb with the hammer, him thjt
that handle the pen of the
VOL. 6.—NO. 101.
The preacher announced as Ms subject, “The oon
«naat# of the American plough, hammer, and pan."
Under there heads he disoursed the agricultural, me
chanical, and literary Interests of the oouatry.
Thanksgiving Day hat come 1 diva ua a full organ to
day. Pull ont all the glad-stops, and while we preaoh,
and while we pray, and while we sing, « Let us mtke a
joyful noire unto the Bock of our Saivatloi.” Gather
your families together. Tnough other days be robbed o
it, let your table to-day look like banqueting. and long
absent boys come home to the fatted calf. r.Bt the chil
dren bo apparelled In their best robes, and crown all the
rases wilh garlands. In the moroing, let the temples of
God ring with Boeasnab, and all yonr homes at night be
filled with congratulation, laughter, and song. Turn on
alllhelights—bracket, and ohandelior, and candelabra,
Throw another armfnll on the hearth, and let the fire
blazenp right cheerily, Thanksgiving Day has conm!
Many thlnlc the proclamation for Thanksgiving
inapt for times like these. But the whole uuivorse is not
out of johit. The same fountains gush out from the rook
to slake the wayfarer’s thirst, and pour dawn through
eauednets to cool the throat of oitles. The same sky
overspans ns, bright with flocks of fleecy clouds straying
on heavenly pastures, and the night Btands Its sentinel
stars on the outskirts of heaven—tho advanced pickets of
a host which no man can number Tho winds are laden
wilh balm and heatih, and li tempsred to the shorn lamo.”
The corn of full ahoofcs 1* : tessing np from the hashing
pegs, and the Bhcaf binders arc singing ‘‘Harvest Home "
Hot* for the head, coats for tho back, shoes for the feet,
mu fliers for lie neck,, staves for tottering limbs, and
glasses for failing eight, and easy beds when eur limbs
ache, and good doctors to take eare of ns wh*n we are
slok, end friends to laugh with ns when wa langh and
cry with ns when wo cry, and a whole world paokod inti
of joy from the deepest cavern all the way up to the far
thest star. The country has not utterly gono to ruin.
There has been no recession of the seasons. The Apala
chicola and tho Arkansas are not in battle with the Hud
son and Androicoggin. There is no war between the
Bine Mountains ana the idiroudac. The same waters
which wash the Ohio wheat fieids go down to help grow
tho Louelana sugar cane, The same groat mountain
range la admitted Into Federal and Confederate linos.
The storms go anywhere without flag of trace. Thus the
most of the country is at peace, and while short lived
perishable men jostle each other in combat, the moun
tains, and the rivers, and the lakes are loya’; and, over
all, in calm Altnightlooss, the Lord reigneth: let the earth
rejoice.
God is good. Eoraei.hiug higher than the American
plough hath cultured tho harvests; something sharper
than tho Amerioan axe hath hewn down the forests:
something heavier than the American hammer built
the cities. He who walked .Genesaret hath tra
versed onr lakes. He who helped Simon Peter with
hie Bet ha'h blessed our fisheries. He who plucked the
ears of corn, rubbing them in his hands, hath heiped ga
ther onr harvests. He who planned Jerusalem hath
helped build onr cities. He who tarried at Bethany hath
set all around about us the villages. Hot a ship’s keel
but be helped set it, or a wheel’s tire bat he helped rorge
it, or a buckwheat’s blossom but ho grew it, or a robin’s
wing but ho tinged it.
Let ua he hopeful. Ton have heard the tramp of a
mighty host. From the granite hills of Hew England
they came down an avalanche of strength and heroism.
Tho West has flamed with enthusiasm like their own
prali ies when autumnal fires blaze over them, and
twenty millions of men, with thtir right arm lifted to
heaven, lave sworn in the nano of Him that livsth for
ever and ever that onr instllutiocsshall besnatohed from
under the hoofs and gun- carriages of insurrection. Starry
flag! Gloilong flag! Dear old flag! God bo praised
that we’have a Burnside and a Banks, a Heintzelmah
and a Hooker to oarry it. Forward may It march, and
high may it wave, long after the rebellion, and insurrec
tion,' and demagogulam, and fanaticism, and slavery
bar e gone down In flat rain, as though all tho thronre or
hell bad fallen in one wild crash!
Go homo now to your sumptuous repasts. And, oh!
as you gather yonr families together, if thero he one ab-
Bint from you, and absent from earth, a chillish voice,
that was moat gladsome last Thanksgiving day: or If you
miss a father or mother from the circle, who always re
joiced over .their children and grandchildren oneuch fes
tal days, du not let the Borrow keep you from thankful
ness; but when you are seated at the table, and merry
■pikes are lraßhed, and your heads are bowed for the
blessing,“Oh, giye thanks unto the Lord, for he is
good, for his mercy enduretb forever.”
SERMOS BY DR WIIXIAM MORRIS,
Delivered at tlie__AssemWy Buildings, Tenth
and Chestnut streets.
A discourse of characteristic power was preaolie4 yea
today morning at the Assembly Buildings, Tenth and
Oteitrnt atreets, from the passage jjf Scripture con
tained in, Ist Timothy, It, 1-8, of which- the following
is a brie! synopsis:
The twelve apostles were “ ambassadors for Christ.”
They received their commission from the risen Lord; and
their credentials on tho day of Pentecost. Paul was the
embassador extraordinary for Christ and His apostle to
the Gentiles. He received his commission from the glori
fied Lord; and his credentials were the same as those
which attested the commission of tho ,twelve.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit—and with the oloae of his
own ministry in view—Fan! gave written tostructioas to
Timothy the evangelist. These were for hlsguldausa In
teaching the saints; and of these, the passage just read
is a part. The relations of the passage are manifold.
1. The natural relations of all men towards God are
involved. At first the relations in which God was known
were those of Creator and moral Baler. After tne flsod,
Ho was known in the additional relationship of the Pre
server of men.” When Hoah had offered sacrifloe, God
premised that the water! of a delage should no more go
over the earth; and thdt, “while,, the ear,L remains, ■
seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer
and winter, and day and,night, shall not cease.” The
token of that covenant is the rainbow— the hieroglyphic
pledge of the foithfnlness of God to the absolute promise
He bad made.
The natural relations of man towards God include
certain particulars: Men as the creatures aud the pre
served creatures of God; the subjects of His moral go
vernment, and the recipients of his providential mercies;
without any deserving, and without the capability of
making any return. Out of the natural relations of men
towards God certain moral'obligations arise. Apart
from all reference to grace, salvation, and eternal life, all
men ought to confess to God thoir sinfulness, add their
need of Hia mercies AH men onght to ask God for the
bounties of His bund; which He has promised, and re
ceive the snppltes of His providence wtch a sense of tra
wt.rminess; giving thanks continually for the sunsljtne
and the rain; for fruitful seasons; for every form of the
.mnnsßcence of God: and for the preservation which His
power affords. All this, and much more, all men ought to
do. But ibis is what mankind does not They do not
glorify God, as God; neither are they thankful. Practi
cal atheism has *• ruled the ascendant,” from the days
ol the tower In Shlnar to the present time
Men’s natnral relations to God include the boundan
duty of the nttlons, as such, to confess G)d and to glo
itty Him. Kings and Presidents, and “ all who are in
authority,” ought to confess and honor God; snDjscts
and citizens ought to do the tame The nations, as such,
ought to confess their iniquities, and the bountiful mercy
of God. and His protective power, and, especially, His
sovereign rule. But this the nations have not done.
They have rather assumed a right to sunshine and rain
and fruitful seasons. They glon in their resources, and,
in effect, assert that Power is God. Ia effect, they say,
with Pharaoh, “My river ia mine own;” and, with
Nebnchadnezzep, “Is not this great Babylon that/have
built lor the house of the kingdom and for the glory
of tny majesty 2” All this was, from the beginning,
known to God.
In the ordered ways of His moral government, and in
Eubi trvioncy to the purpose of His grace, God has given
all dominion over the nations to Bis son, Jesus Ohrlat.
"He is Lord of all.” Jeans Christ is King. Ho ha,not
yet asserted His right to reign, but He will do so in due
time. He will tike the kingdom. The world does not
like to retain God in acknowledgment.
2d. Therefore, God has constituted his saints and sons
the priesthood of this lower creation. AU tone Chris
tians are priests—God’s priesthood—“a holy priest
hood,” a 11 royal priesthood.” To deny this, and assert
a clast priesthood instead, is virtually to den; the priest
hood of Jean?, the Bon of God, the High Priest of his
saints, whom He lias made “priests unto His God and
Pettier.”
All tone beiieverß in Jesus, “theOhrist, the Son of the
living God”—true God and real man, in one person for
ever—are priests by divine right. They are therefore to
offer supplications, prayers, and thanksgivings, for kings
(chief magistrates), and all who are in authority, aud for
all men. God will be acknowledged on the earth. There
fore He lias ordained His priesthood, and their priestly
relatioi sand service. Priests are “ordained for men.”
The priesthood of the s lints is heavenly; but they have
an earthly history. They are pilgrims on earth, as Jesus
was, While here, they are commanded of God to be sub
ject to civil government. They are to be thus subject, on
the principle tbat “the existing authorities are ordained
of God,” :Thetr temporal subjection to civil authority ia
involved in their heavenly priesthood.. Sedition, insur-.
rection, treason, rebellion, on the part of a Christian,
would be a great and daring Bin against God. Ho Chris
tian, knowing hia priestly standing, and exeroisiag its
functions, conid be a rebel against “the ordinance of
G. d”—civil government. He could not pray, as Gad’s
priest, far ail who are in authority, and at the same time
rebtlagaiDßtthe existing authorities; and he could net
refuse, thus, to pray, without disobeying God, and virtu
ally disowning his heavenly standing and priesthood.
Civil rulers have no right to command the children of
Gcd and servants of Christ to pray for them, and for the
support and maintenance of the civil government. That
would bo a usurpation on their part. Bnt it would be a
great Bin and shame to aChristlan to furnish a pretext,
on the part of civil rnlere, for such a daring usurpation
of the rights of God.
3 The spiritual and the temporal objects to be sought
by prie«tly praj era: That God’s saints and priests * ■ may
lead a quiet And peaceable life in . all godliness and ho
nesty,'” Ibat, while exercising spiritaal TirtP.es, they
may enjoy temporal and civil quietude; that, while en
compassing the civil authorities, cities, and citizens
With the protection of theirs, they may be under the pro
tection of Goa’s ordinance, knowing it to be of Gad, and
that they may please God by doing His will from the
heart.
•1. The moral and providential relations of God toward
men, as Bis unthankful creatures and disloyal subjects,
are sustained by the sole mediation ol His Son, ‘'the
man Christ Jtsns,” All the manif.ld mercies of God’s
providence to men and to nations are bestowed and con
tinued through the mediation of Jesu3 Christ, and on the
basis of the fact that He gave Himself an adequate
ransom on behalf of all men to this end. This is “ the
testimony in Its proper seasonthat is, whea the pre
serving care and providential bounUfnluess of God are
the theme. By virtue of his benevolence, God desires all
men to be preserved, and to come to acknowledgment of
the truth that He is the trne God and “the Preserver of
men.” To tbit end, all saints are enjoined to offer np
praieiß and thanksgiving. God, their Heavenly Father,
commands His children, His priests, to “ pray every
where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and dispu
ting,” and to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all god
liness and honesty—doing good nnto all men, that they
may be, manifestly, the children of their Father who is
in Heaven.
SJERMOS BY REV. X. J. SHEPPARD,
The two congregations worshiping in the Buttonwood
street (N. 8 ) Presbyterian Ohnrch, below Sixth', and the
Central Church, on Coates street below Fourth, united
yesterday morning at the lattgg edifice to observe the
day, the sermon being preached by the pistor of the for
mer, IPov.T. J. Sheppard. There was a largo congrega
tion in attendance, and the sermon was listened to with
interne interest throughout. The Bev. James T, Mit
chell, pastor of this church, was also in the pulpit, and
took a part in the exercises.
i* The text of the discourse was Acts xxil., 25—29—the
socccssfoi appeal of Paul to Boman nationality for pro
tection from the suffering and shame of scourging. Upon
this incident in the life of Paul. the preacher based a
discussion of our country's nationality as a ground of
thanksgiving, Be defined nationality as the spirit or
life ol a nation ; the sentiment which hinds the many
together and makes them one; the feeling of common
interest and common sympathy wbloh takes form in com
mon institutions. He showed this nationality is properly
onrs i first, from the war of Independence; next, from
the political institutions which, after the close of the war
of Independence, the people, from Hew Hampshire to
Georgia, framed; and next, from the still fragrant me
mo) ies of those great men who achieved our independ
ence and framed our institution*;' Coder this last
point of the argument be adverted to the for
midable attempt to destroy nationality now
making, but contended that they who make the
attempt and they who. resist it hold in equal reverence
’-the tames of Franklin, Adams, Hamilton. Hancock,
Jifferson Madison, Morris, Carroll, Trumbull, But
lidge, and, peerless above all, Washington. Be ex
prrsnd his conviction Jhat there were few men, in all
the land—South, North, Bait, West—who would not
recite with equal enthusiasm tho story of *nr revolu
tionary struggle, and who would not claim with equal
pride tbo glory of descent from that brave generation
which made our revolutionary struggle: a magnificent
snocess. He argued from all that a genuine Bentlmsnt
of i ationality is the common sentiment of the whole land
'tbo preacher then paastdto ft spaciflcalioa of tho uori
live bet cuts of nationality. The first benefit, protection,
was illnitrattd'by the esse of Korz’a, the Hungarian re
fugee The second benefit, the stimulus which nation
aliy give to a nation’s growth and greatness, was
illustrated by our country’s history, since the memorable
day when colonial dependence was th own off The
tbiid benefit, the resistance which nationality offers to
disintegration and decay, was illustrated by ihe daman
hiratioia which the millions of loyal ones are now. making
in opposition to the nation’s death or dismemberment;
The list benefit specified, the imperative demand which
natiovahtgmakeefor union, was illustrated by a num
ber ot confederations bearing on the point, that two con
federacies must of necessity be hostile ones; hit the
censes making two confederacies would not cease work
ing with two, hot would go on until the two were twenty,
and that discordant States would fall an easy prey to
Foreign Powers. In this connection, he quoted the
striking words of Mr. Oobden, of tho BritLh Parliament,
in a late speech to his oonatltnents. The conclusion was
the utterance of a strong oonviotlon that the Nation
would live and not die.
SPEMOfi HI REV. 3. M, CROWELL,
Delivered in the Penn Square, (0, S.) Presby-
terian Churclii Broad st., aboVc Chestnut.
Text —Kpheeians, if, 20.— •* Giving thanks alwars, for
sit things, unto God (he (other, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ,"
The Bbtubh. —This annual occasion of Thanksgiving
to God for the blessings and meroies of the year, finds us
still under the shadow of dork and threatening oionds.
As Ihe long and weary months have been rolling on, there
hae been growing upon the minds ot the community at
large the feeling of disaster and distress. Already have
the people been gathered for the penitent confession ot
sin, and for the humble acknowledgment of the hand of
God in judgment, but the troubles that brought'them to
gether arc silllupon them; the same dangers threaten,
and the same perplexities yet surround our troubled
land.
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that as the re
suit of this long-abiding calamity, the sentiment has
been graduaily.tettling down into the naiads of maay.
that tberors but little call for thankfulness ttf-day,in the
midst of the evils which encompass us. The feeling of
Eome is that the dirge of lamentation, and the sigh of
fasting,-and the subdued strains of melancholy, ara
more In keeping on this day than the jubilant songs of
our gratitude or the glad voices of our praise
I But the Word of God gives no sanction to such a
thought as this- The injunction of the text prescribes,
directly, that the giving of thanks shall be a part of the
daily life. Anticipating the fact in human history, that
its experience Is varied with alternate joy and grief, it
then gives the specific direction that in all, and through
oil, there shall be the giving of thanks to God. How
wide-sweeping is the language: “Giving, thanks always,
fer ail things.” Thankful all the . time, and thankful
forallevmtsl
It is to this Scriptural sentiment that I wish now to
call attention, as we are met in ths house of God for
thanksgiving. I would not dwell upon the oalamiHsa
that-are upon ns. Alas! the eye of every one sees
enough; and the ear of every one hears enough, and the
imagination of every one conceives enough, of the was
and bloodshed that have filled our land. Bather would
•I inculcate the simple practical Scriptural duty of seek
ing alter a eubdned and thankful eplrit, even in thess
da' sox gloom. Bather would I urge upon your notice
the injunction of Paul, in the text: “Giving thanks
always, unto God and the Father, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ ” Observe, then—
I. The roas.ns for thanksgiving, whioh are afforded
even new; and,
II The desirableness of having the thankful spirit
which tho text enjoins.
As to the occasions for thankfulness, let us notice:
1. That the evils which we deplore are the direct result
o/ human fin and infirmity God has led us, as a people,
iromour earließt history, by a good, kind hand, giving us
the virgin toil of this new continent, whtn the old world
was sinking into feebleness, ami granting ns: a pure
Ohristisrity, and a sjstem of govern meet framed under
the light of divine revelation. And yet, in, re urn, we
have only abused this divine kindness. Oar very pros
perity has bred oc eruption, and its deleterious effects are
felt tbre ugh our whole national system! # * * *
We are not,:however, to blame Gad far this; and, there
fore, even in the midst of our terrible national strife, we
bavereason to give thanka to God.
3, then, on the other Band, when we turn to the tm.
mediate gifts of Gtd'x great bounty ve find that they
have been poured down profusely upon us: Lai ua not
fail to count tor blessings, even in oar fiowning day.
Jim as the sun is more beanttrnl when he glancisttp-rn
na from cut the bloods of the wintry day, and just ag the
starß gleam in brilliant glory amidat the darkness that
cover all the earth, so tho mercies which have come
directly tone from odd, should appear to naia a radianoe
of beauty only made the brighter by tho darkness which
we dread.
(a ) Bow wonderfnlly, for example, have onr per
eonal comforts been preserved to na amidtt all onr
national turmoil! Axe we not leaaatnng and wounded to
day, by these calamities, than we feared two years ago
we would be ? Itlstrue the air has been laden with the
groans of the dying and the criea of the wounded. Ths
roar of cannon, the bursting of shells, the hail of bullet*,
and the clash of steel, these have all been heard, but we
have heard in them only the voice of divine retribution
fot human sin, while all the time, calmly, peaoifnlly,
steadily, God's golden harvests have been ripening The
tramp of armed men has shaken the trembling land; but
silently and with a steadfast majesty of glorious munifi
cence Nature has brought her yoailr tribute rviih an
overlavish hand to stock and crowd the bams and
granttrifßCf undeserving man; *
(S ) Then again; afar from the scenes of bloody war
God has evoked , the beautiful spirit of benevolence! and
started the tenderest sympathies of onr nature tn behalf
of the brave and generous men who have been brought to
our doors diseaeed and wounded, to be comforted, and
healed, and helped towards Heaven. ' 1
(o ) And can any one fair to appreciate with gratitude
the illustrations which have’been afforded, even in this
melancholy war, of the moat generous spirit of seit
stciifice among the tens of thousands who have gone
away to suffering and to death? Ah! what multitudes
of crave young heroes lie bnried to day In obscure and
distant graves, where no loving friends can ever go to
plant a flower or to shed a tear! And fn the ranks of the
private soldier, as well as among officers of every grade,
there have been examples of noble endurance such as
the angels would admire, though the world should never
know it. The pure spirit of patriotic devotion which has
been manifested is certainly an exhibition of the better
side of onr nature for which wo may be thankful.
(d.) Besides this, has there not been a tendency in'all
these calamities driving ns nearer to God’s throne, as the
only-one that can help ns? Has He not been teaching
ns lessonß which we should recognize as meant to do ns
grod? Just as in the case of the commercial disasters »-f
165 T and ’6B. may it not be possible that onr whole na
tion is swept by the eartbonake, and the storm, and the
fire, only that we may hear God’s still small voice coming
after it 1 Oh, may it not be that JSo imiownrHls mys
terious providence openings new entrance for Ills truth,
and new paths otpower for His spirit, so that wa may be
blest—in a different way, indeed, but bleat for alt; so that
out of the cloud, and the smoke, and the din of the
struggle there may result a series of blessings which
shell sanctify ns ail. -
(e } And who shall estimate the countless mercies of
pur boutehold and daily life? What shall be said of the
abundant bitesing in the means of graoe, the sanctuary
and the open tible, the place of prayer, the mercy of
Calvary, and the hope of glory f Ob, we must not for
get these uniet inlets along the shore, into which the
storm-tossen waves have not been permitted to enter; we
rjnst, we will be grateful for these mercies ofour shel
tered Jives which the temprsts of national tumult have
wholly foiled to toneb or blast ~
II But the text implies that a thankful spirit is a de
sirable attainment. It is eo—
1 Because it is in harmony with that humility whisk
becomes us all . If it be the trne sentiment of our hearts
that ‘-it ts only of the Lord’s mercies that we are not
consumed entirely,” then shall we not be thankful If, in
stead of being thus altogether consumed, we are only
somewhat harassed ard burdened? Lowliness of miad,
hading ns to demand bnt little and to expect but little,
will certainly tend to make us thankful for what we
have. * * * # * #
3 A thankful spirit is to be desired because it draws
us into a generous mood. It is the very contrary of that
exacting Bpirft of r elfishness which takes as a matter of
course every good thing in life, and then chafes and frets
when one unwelcome element is mingled with the cup of
blessing, *= # * * ..
, 3 The spirit of perennial thanksgiving la desirable yot
again, because it is such an effectual antidote to sadness.
Sometimes this is the very charm 1-y which cares are
driven away and tronbles are ended We all need to
brood less over onr evil things, and to sing God’s praises
more. Who of us has not discovered this secret, that if
we take wbat seems to ns a painful trial, and lift it up so
as to see it in ths light ot God’s countenance, it becomes
transformed into a blessing? Oh, that we oonll extract
the sting from sorrow by our happy, cheerful spirit of
gratitudeland praise!
4. The spirit of thankfulness is to: be desired also as
the best preparation for prayer. # # #
6. Ana in the last place, it is the best basis of faith
and hope as to the future. Lifting up our song of thank
fulnessrwben beneath the rod and down in the shadow,
may we not cherish some glimmering of hops that God
will yet remove His stroke, and lift us up again 1 Oh, If
the heart of tbis tom and bleeding nation but repose its
confidence in Him, He will show ns his meroy.: He on
whose will tbs life of nations is suspended, and to whom
all the shields cf the earth belong—onr fathers’ God—is
Be not onr God, and shall we not trust Him, and adore
Him, and love Him, and wait, with meek thanksgiving
and in patieDt duty, for the day when He will deliver ns
out cf all onr disircssee ?
SERMON BY REV. ALBERT BARNES,
Delivered nt First Presbyterian Church.
The Church of Bev. Albert Barnes, Washington
Square, was comfortably filled yesterday memlng, and
an eloquent, earnest, and patriotic discourse preaoh
edby the pastor. The Bermon was one to which no
synopsis conld do jus .ice, characterized, as it was, by
loftiness of eloquence and depth of thought. It was
such a discourse that would be willingly listened to with
interest and profit, were it ten times as long. He select
ed no particular passage of Scripture for his text, but
dwelt immediately ou the topics suggested by the day and
the occasion.
He truthfully remarked that there never .was a period
in the history of onr country when so many topics and
reflections euggested themselves to a speaker on an oc
casion like the present. Involved In a war, such as has
never been witnessed in any other nation, with nume
rous enemies of the Government all over the land, with
no manifest. sympathy in any portion of the earth, and
while European countries are rejoicing at the probable
breaking eown of our Government, under these circum
etsnces this thanksgiving la held.
We meet to- day to inquire what we are to be thankful
for; what there is to encourage us Id our gloom; and
what can yet be done to save our afflicted land. He
would venture to make some suggestions, which occurred
to his mind when reviewing the past, and considering the
awfnl crisis of the present. Altheugh he had reached ah
advanced ege, he still cherished a hope for his country,
liberty, and mankind. He would venture to'diiate upon
what seemed necessary for the restoration of peace to our
land. Bis remarks would be loyat and free. He bad
always been a warm friend of the freedom of speech.
When that is destroyed liberly suffers. We have, he
said, one of the best Constitutions in the world. Yet it
has imperfections and evils, and until they are removed
we cannot erjoy permanent peace. Our present war
shows the extent of that evil; shows that it is necessary
for ns to return to righteousness. The past of our wholo
history., is secure. There are Saratoga, Princeton, and
Yorktown, and there they will remain forever.
* The world knows by heart the kind and character of
the men who settled this country. We all know why the
Pilgrims left old England. Neither Greece nor Borne,
cor any other nation, can boast of such principles as
thore which obtained in our land when we esta
blished ourselves a nation. The War of Independence
wBb not a war of barbarism; it Was not stained by bad
faith or dishonorable deeds. No revolution has been
weged to give so little offence or to shock the susceptibi
lities of mankind. No clause of our Constitution was
put there st the point of the bayonet In securing the
adoption of the Constitution there was no vote given in
its iupporton acoonnt of threats. That the Oonstitutiou
could not have been made better it would be absurd to
deny, for that same Constitution provides for amend
ments to itself, The fathers clearly perceived that time
m'ght render change necessary. It was one of the best
ibe world ever produced. It has oreated us a great na
tion. It bos mede the North what it is; it has made the
.South what it is ; and what neither section would have
been without it. lihaa stared us from border wars;,it
hes lncreasid our commerce, added to our intelligence,
and caused lidnstry to flourish.
Mr. Barnes contrasted the course of ,our nation in re
fefence to intei vemlor, as compared with that ef ether
nations. We had never interposed in the wars of other
nations. We have never interposed in their affairsi ex
cept to relieve thtir sufferings and miseries. We inter
posed when Greece was suffering from starve ion We
Interposed when Ireland called for help in Per famine,
end rendered that aid which Ireland never forgot, but
which England has.
The part is fixed, as to the growth and power of our
own resources. We have shown the world that we are
great in the development of untold wealth. No other
nation has manifested inch resources—not England,
not France, not Spain, not Greece, not Persia, not
As; rla. No ancient or modern country can shew such
progress as the world has witnessed in our laud.
We inherited from England our great evil. It
was forced upon the colonies without their consent,
biavtry was introduced here in British ships, under
British laws, and with British aid. Toe evil was en
tailed upon ns. It struck Us roots deep, and we have
i ot yet been able to remove It. Now,' when it is lisely
-bat the removal shall be accomplished, England looks
upon the spectacle with an enthusiastic pleasure. No
word of syn pal by cornea to us from her, but rather a joy
at our troubles. Yet it is consoling to know that to -day
i hero is no land where there is so much peace, piety, and
'Trietianlly asinthis,
We meet to-day, said the speaker, to be thankful for
ell the blessings of the past-year. It has been such: a
PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1862.
,j ear ns we never experienced before. It will give more
wcik to the historian than all onr preview history.
There have been deeds, indeed, to fill the land with
sorrow. The central portion of our land Is one great
hospital. If tbis were a d,y for fasting, humiliation, and
prajer, we would probably see more about which to
appropriately descant: But there has bsen much
for which :we should be thankful. Our land, even
In the deiolations of war, has yielded abundance;
The fields have never yielded richer harvests., Sever
In onr history has there been so great an export
trade. The past year has been remarkable for Its health.
Our land is still a prosperous and happy land, Our
schools and seminaries of learning have not closed. Our
churches are prosperous. There 1b not now, on the face
of he'globe, aland whore there-are : so many evidonosg
of prosperity and life. We have maintained peace with
foreign nations. The Southern Confederacy had not yet
been recognized by any of, the Powers of Europe. The
power of the Government to sustain itself has been im
mense. Notwithstanding odr reverses, the rebellion has
not been succesefal. The North is still united. No par
ties dare be formed here to raise, an issue of the over
throw of the Government. The year just closing may be
one ef the most remarkable of years. It will Bottle for
ever the Question of self-government, and show to the
world that republican institutions are destined to live
forever. The year will be remarkable because it wijl
brook forever the bonds of servitude,, and advance our
nation etill further in the progress of the world. We
hove Diready abolish'd slavery la the Dlatriot of Colum
bia. The territories are free, and as territories are free
forever. A blow has been.giyon to the dave trade this
year which it never received before, and one man has
expiated with his death that great crime.
Hr; Barnes eloquently touched upon the progress of
the national cause and I ho.victories of the national arms,
and predicted an early and happy termination to the
struggle for the Union. j-
DR. SEISS’ SERMON,
Delivered in St. John’s Lutheran Church,
Race street, below Sixth.
Text: Ex, xii, 26 —“ What mean ye by this service?*’
Dr. Btiss commenced his discourse by reading the
Governor's proclamation, recommending the observance
ol theday. He then said that a few reflections and
eervations, in connection with the general objsots of thb
proclamation, was aii that he intended to present. I
Fint, he said, it was assumed intherooODMDendatioa
of the Governor, and it was the desire of those respond*
itig to it to witness the eftmo at their belief, that there
certainly is a God, a personal Almighty Being, to whom
praise and worst!p are one from ell States and alipeople.
We cannot teli, he said, all that this God is, nor how He
is, hot are satisfied that He is Wo feel that he mu it be,
and, therefore, we believe it. The turning of the needle
to the magnet pi ovee the existence of the magnet, and so
the inspect which inclines universal man to the recogni
tion ei some worsbipfnl superior Power atgoes the ex
istence of inch's Power. Man, with all his wondrous at
tribntesof body. heart and mind, could not be a mere
accident, and this grand universe of worlds could nqt
have been the result of > mere fortuitous concourse of
things. There must be some First Cause , embodying in
itself the force of all- causes, the Intelligence or all in
telligences, the power of all powers, the good of all
goodness, eternal, incorporeal, invisible, filling all
space, supporting all ixistoncs, infinite, absolute,
and forever unsearchable and unknown. Everything
on earth—its mountains, its coeanß, its Islands, its
continents, its high relations in the sisterhood of worlds,
its eoniplix motions, its thousand million of human
inhabitants, its ninety thousand distinct-orders of vege
table productions, with their curious designs and unend
ing beauties, tts countless kinds of animal orders—when
cbnlemptatcd fills with adoring wonder at the inteUi ■
geice that contrived, the goodness that arranged, and
the power that sustainsand directs all theße things. We
look up, and the wonder increases, A. boundless ex
panse surrounds ue, peopled with myriads of other
mastive in sit?, more exalted In character;
and donbtiesa more numerous and glorious in their popu
lations—all moving, ail in harmony, all eubrorviont to:
each other, and all woven together as one infinite, eter
nal, living Poem celebrating some great Maker’s praise.
The wing of thought grows weary in the attempt to sur
vey it We are overpowered by thß very anblimity of
our contemplalicn But above, before, beyond all this,
and embracing it as the sea embraces the fishes that swim
in it, there is a hidden Unit,, comprehending in himself
the forces that produced, and tho wisdein,'goodness;-and
pewer which built, arranged; supports, and governs,.all
this vast, living, incomprehensible mention; -and, when
we thus move ontinto the stupendous wllderaers of God
head, we feel that we would be “/colt” not to' believe
tfcat jHe is , and that there cani be no plainer duty,'no
higher happiness, no snbßmer glory, than for States and
nations great men and small, to oast themselves humbly
at his feet, and cry bis name in fathomless adoration for
6ver and ever. •
- Second, be said that it was in some Benae assumed in
the Governor’s recommendation, and a scriptural truth,
which it was intended to acknowledge in,these services,
that government is an ordinance of God, and that He is
the prater Governor among the nations. This,'he said,
wss a great fact, often m-siaken. Political philosophers
hsd attributed the origin of government to the efforts of
mm to protect themselves against eaoh other. This was
not Ibe exact truth. _ Man never, was that wild and iso
latid. independent being which he is represented to'have
been by some or our writers on law. History contradicts
it. It Is a mere fiction. Man was made a social being,
and had recial relations and responsibilhies from the be
giißtog. His subjection to law was not a mero measure
of expediency on his part, hnt,Uke his nature and his
religion, it came direct from’God,- The Bible is our best
authority and exponent in the matter. It traoas society,
and an order to regulate it, to the Creator himself." The
man isgo re ation involved rulership and subjection ; for
it is ordained that “wives submit themselves to their
, own hntbands ” The rcla-ian of parent and' child in
volved the seme. and amplified it still further as genera
tions widened, bringing forth the patriarchal rnlo, which
presently resolved itself into the monarchical, whioh was
limited again by revolutions; and so camo all pailticai
rule snd government of all forms, in all the earth, down
even jfot everything in.a'government
ia divine. Man has power into evil forms,
and.need Ivto bad account;
belongs to God, it is under the control
God. and we are under obligation to see tsodin It; - and
to enbmit to it with all becoming piety and oboe
diecct. The power is of God, the necessity for it, and the
right to ejercUe h, assise the moral prlnstplaswhioh"
are to govern both it and its subjects;'but the
•precise mcdea in which its varied functions, are to be
exercised are subject to many modifications that take '
their rise in the choice, passions, or peculiar eironos- 1
stances of men in particular, pieces and periods. The
greatest misfortunes that hare ever befallen states and
kixgc on.s have originated in absence of the propsrjreodg-'
nil ion of God as the proper governor. He mu»t tho
roughly pervade our public ministrations with His laiws
and spirit; or they assume a character which dooms them
to destruction. . Hence the wrecks of empires, and drifss
ol broken greatness, and graves of kingdoms, thrones,
and dynasties with which thewaysides of. time are strewn.
Men have taken authority and ignored God, or set as 'de
Bis rule, aidspeedy desolation wsb the result. If a people
will snbmit to the government of God; and this world's
rulers exercise their powers as from Him and in His fear,
and states hold to Him ob the proper Herd, and Master,
■there is blessedness;'for “ happy is that* people whose
ged is the Lord ” But tyranny, and usurpation, and
the disregard of His supreme authority, whether in rulers
or subjects, is the herald of certain ruin. It is a great
mistake in subjects to suppose that they can disregard
the public authority as they; please; and it is an egaaliy
fatal mistake for men in office and power to suppose that
the same moral laws do not bind; them officially which
hind them in private life.. This having of a double moral
code—Okie for the private conscience and another for po
litical conduct—is 5 foul heresy, and the bane of liberty;
it is the trtatnre-henseof national run. God’B law fa one
as He ia one, and He must rule by that law, or there ia
no other help.
Third, he said, that it was assumed in the case of the
Governor, end a truth which the observers of this ap
pointment desired also to acknowledge with becomingde
votion, that we have much reason for thankfulness for
the blessings of government as Providence has dealt them
to ns. Tbe apoßtlo Paul had given dlrection thatgining
of thanks be made for kings, and for all that are in au
thority ; that is, tor the blessings of government -There
ate few g< Tenements which are not a blessing. What
our blessings in this respect are, cannot be reckoned tip
in words. They are as vast and great as civilization it
self. Government is not the mere officer, hor the mere
power with which he is clothed, nor the mere law which
he istosee. enforced; but the whole,economy of appii
atots, agreements, convictions and customs
the community is pervaded, moved, and held together.
It is not mere lawifhat determines our social life, makes
us seeju-e in our pursuits, and breathes upon us the spirit
oi harmony and happiness. Written codes and constitu
tions alone could never do that. Wo are governed by
traditions more than by statutes. There are histories, aod
natural features of the territory occupied, and many hid
den Bprings of influence which ente r into the composition
of tbo government of a people, additional to what is writ
ten in their lawbooks and official decrees, or embodied in
thefr public arrangements. It is a ipirit, whichmoulds,
distinguishes, and controls, by many secret workings,
,in the family, the neighborhood, the school, the church,
the circles of holiness, the court, the legislature, up
td the highest official authority. It is the written and
the unwritten aggregate of the reason, faith, traditions,
and common sense oi a people, determining as well their
modes of business, and their manners, as their public ar
rangements and national institutions. And, located as
we are. in the very heart of the world’s progress, sur
rounded with oil the best results of its great advance,
rnentr, the blessings which have thus come to us are suoh
las have seldom come to any people. We have hot been
without minjiings of evil In our cup. There have been
.errors, weaknesses, .wickednesses, disorders, andinierrnp
tions td peace, breeding disaster, and thraatenihg"aaar
cby; but, with all, we have had a good, government,
competed with human governments generally. We have
been er joying an elevated civilization, free consciences,
and exalted privileges. Even with all the triais-that are
upon nr, the sun shines not on a more highly blessedand
•favored pit pie. We have to lament misunderstandings,
and a schism which is entailing much pain, anxiety, be
reavement, and gloomy apprehension upon many; still,
our lot is in a pleasant place, end God has given U 3 a
: goodly herilage. For what other would we exchange ii !
Bow long it will be continued to us, we cannot
foretell. But, whether the etripes and stars are to
fleet on in glory, or droop to be trampled fbreverin
the 'dust, for the present we have’great reason for
thankfulness. We still are free Odr enemies
have. net been permitted to triumph over ns, or very
materially to disturb the repose or our homos.; And it is
due to God that we should give thanks and praise to Him
for that good providence of bis to which we owe It all.
There be those who Beem to think we have no causa for
thankfulness; that, -when we: consider lho desolations
which are on many portions of our landltheijijpujguds
of lives and millions of : treasure'tnat are being eacrluctd,
the amezing depletion that is going on in aft the re
sources of the country, the unnumbered homes in mourn
ing over their dead, their wounded, and their abßent
ones, the failing of confidence, the fearful trial which is
causing all the beams and timbers of the government to
creek and bend as if ready for their fall, and all to no
fur lher purpose than to show ns that we have reached
the brink of a precipice whose dark abyss exhibits no
bdltcm as yet, we have need to go and weep in sackcloth
and ashes rather than Bing songs of praiss and
gladness. But, if for nothing .else, ought we not
to rejoice. that matters are no werjol “No cause
for thenks I” And where, oh ungrateful man, :
didst ihou obtain the breath for uttering sucffunhbly !
wordi 7 Who gave and preserved unto thee that beating
heßrt. which i ceases net to send the warm life-blood ca
reeling through thy body freighted with health and bless
ing to every pi rtl Who hath lurnished thee with thy
bread by day snd thy piece of shelter and rest by night,;
and still upholds about thee the protecting pillars of so
ciety and Government ! Who hath provided thee with-:
thy Bible, with all its preoious consolations aud immortal
hopes, and the blessed sanctuary and its privileges '! What,
it thou haßt seen thy substance wasted, thy houses te
nsntkee, thy income diminished, thy bnsinesa prostrated,
snd thy husband, son. or brother, led forth to the battle
field ! What if thy daily fare has lost some of its sumptu
ousness, and thy gay, God-fargetting self-suffielonoy bro
ken snd destroyed 7 What if thou hast been called to
follow dear ones to the grave, and found the joy, or the
prop, or ibe light i f tby house removed'! Is It not some
thing that ihou still art here, with God’s pure heavens
cv<r thee, and His good providence pledged lokeeptheoso
long es thou dost cling to him 7 “ Ho cause for thanks !”
Think how Almighty God has watched- over all
tby steps; with wbat a careful eye has guarded thee
fre m death; end shielded thee and thine from danger j
bow, unseen to thee, His band has gnarded thy course
through the wild and thorny way of youth, and led thee
on in safety until now! Think how tempests oft have
burst above thy head, and descended in blighting deed
.latlou by .thy aide, whilst the same watching God has
warded off the thunderstrokes of death, and kept thee
walking, 10, these many years, upon’the beauteous earth,
spanned with pleasant' skies, watched by shining stars,
girt with mejestio seas, and visited thee every evening
with gentle slumbers, and every morning with the day
spring from on high! Gaust thou review all this, aad
with it ell. and ten thousand blessings more confronting
thee, aud ssy thou bast no cause for thankß f Look out
and see bow earth’s many voices send up their ceaseless
songs of grateful praise to Him who waked them into life;
bow, morning, noon, and night, on every side around
thee, swell the notes of joyous adoration; how the lake,
the greve, the valley, and the Mil, add to the loud
chorus; how unnumbered blessed harvest fields waving
with golden grain, and barns and garners overflowing
with the plenty of Jehovah’s kindly gifts; pour in their
notes of thankful gladness; how the old Constitution of
our blessed country, though threatened,' tried, and
Bhsken, still waves its brilliant stripes and
stars, keeping time to the glorious anthem; aud how the
birds and flowers,' and all the handy , work of God around
thee, each In its way, has lifted up its voice In sweet and
• grateful joy In their common Lord, and say, oh, cold-
hearted ingrato, la there still no cause for thankfnlneai
for thee 1
Fourth, he said that it wsb assumed in the proclamation,
and a truth which the people who observed this day do
sired to realise, that it is a good thing to employ ourselves
In the woik of devout thanksgiving and saorod praise.
Festivals are foretastes of heaven—something of celestial
life begun in the heart on earth. Litanies and penitential
psalms belong to a state of imperfection and of sin. They
oame with theTal], and are only foaad where its effects
are felt. Praise is the worship of Heaven, and is the
most perfect in the highest wor.ds. .The.moro we school
ourselves to it, tlia more we imbibe of the spirit and joy
of the glorified. And the homage whioh God delights in
most, and that whioh all dispenfKtions and administra
tion* here are meant to do for us, is to bring us forward,
with ail the stints and holy ones, in one unbroken eucha
ristic oblation to the sli glorious God—to the everlasting
festival of thankegivtog end praise To live in the spirit
of complaint aid sadness is a .subterraneous life, where
the sun never gladdens and the breezes never fan; bat
to live in tho spirit ef praise is a life as near to heaven as
earth may rise. Nor is this spirit without: its relieving
comforts, even under the greatest adversities of this
world. lt is not limited to periods ot sunshine and pros
perity. ;To the coarse, and s.ensual mlnd.it may be para
doxlcal' to be glad In mißfortnne, and thahkfal under
affliction and gloom; bnt to the soul that is taught of
God, and has learned to seo a Father, in the All-ruling
Power of Heaven and earth, no ! earthly misfortune can
crush out the holy composure and spiritual peace in which
it ever lives. Everything which sin has not utterly de
stroyed is' full of the spirit of praise, and nothing can
Quench it The heavens: declare Ihe glory of God, and
lhe firmament showetb bis handiwork. Day unto day
uttereth: speech, and night unto night ahoweth know
ledge of Him The morning stars sing together, and all
the sons of God sbdhtfor joy.' she mountains and tho
hills point up to Him who crowns them with 'riouds add
snows, and body forth in their magnificence the majesty
and purity of His throne. • The Bowers in the valleys lift
themselves up from the earth and even the humblest
Ehruba and weeds copy after them and spread open their
most beautiful tints, and wave their censers joyously be
fore Him who' gave them . their being and their precious
odors. The mighty sea preaches forever of the omnipo
tence of God, 1 and in calm delight reflects upon its bosom
the glories of His dwelling-place. The little birds of the
weod seek the topmost bombs, and there sit and sfng to
Him who keeps them every night and feeds them every
morning. And even the little rills that jet over ths rocks
laugh ana are glad in Him who giveth them their waters,
and<flael£ willi every leap, some new glory to the praise
of the great God ot ell. : And who that will put himself '
in the midst of this eternal harmony and bliss of things
without if ding the trnth thrilling through all his soul,
ihat “It.is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
end to sing ptaisCH unto the Most High!” : >
. SEKM«S BY THE REV. DR. THOMAS,
Deliver edlat the Fifth-street, M. E Church.
The Fifth, street,, Bev. Dr, Kenney’s; the Twelfth
street, Bev. B. W. Thomas’, and the Groen-street, the
Bev. STr.ietephen’s, united In holding their relfgions ser
vices. The beautiful church was comfortably filled in
the lower floor, while the galleries also presented a very
respectable appearance in respect to numbers. "
The Bev. S. W. Thomas, pastor of Ihe Tweirth-stroet
Ohnrcb, preichbd tie sermon, taking for his text the
fifilh chapter of Job, 10th verse. -
B e commenced by saying, that, In the strange events
which surrounded ue as a people, it would be most like ly
presumedly many that the causes of thanksgiving were
not sufficiently great .to cause a public acknowledgment
of the mercies we enjoy. The lines of Blihu to dob will
best embody the feelings of the people of Gpd at the pre
sent time. . .The scenes which enrronnd ns as we walk
abroad and behold the works of the Almighty in the hea
vens ere cautes of gtaitful acknowledgments from‘the
true.Ohrisiian.... In them be . baholdß the evidences of a
greater being than man, whose works are perishable, and
through g contemplation of them*his heart is lid from the
things of earth.to the contemplation of the goodness of
Him who isthetoaker of every imperishable object Jobi
in bis tfine, though greatly afflicted, gave evidence of the
genuinenets of true religion as self-sustaining in the hour
of trial; and, even amid all the difficulties of the times,
could .find ample grounds of thankfulness; so should it
be with the distiples of Christ at the present time, when
things appear dark, and the presence of the Cord appears
to hsve been withdrawn from thoOhuroh and the nation".
Infidels may. laugh, yet it is a cheering fact that the
President- tandß big her tc-day in the eyes of the world
than be did before the late proclamation in reference to
the" observance of the Sabbath. Good men hailed with
joy the. announcement, aid from all oar land exclama
tions of confidence rang from the Bps of the people. This
is a cause of thankfulness. Wo sea in these national
troubles events which; will ariose the loyal’men of the
nation. . In. the Sonth, among the loyal men, are evi
dences of future greatness for the nation. * The shackles
of .the bondmen will toon fait, and the sir of Southern
climes^will be filled with the joyonß exclamations of the
liberated mattes. ' * ' ' - - ■ V * '
Tbe season of night gives songs to the believer. The
psalmist, being thankful for the evidences of the good
ness tf the Lortf, gave vent to his rapturous feelings in
exclamations well defining his .position, as a:Ohriatian.
Our own Mitchell, who has lately fallen in ihe service of
his country, saw beauty in the workß of the Creator, and
was often led,'!® expressions of gratitude whilemedltatlng
on the greatness of the Creator, os displayed in hi, works
ef.-goodliest to man’ifts they appeared In the planetary
system. But the natural night is not tha only evidence
of ibe goodness of God. The works of mercy as displayed
in the Grose, in the sufferings of our Saviour, gave
abundant evidence of, the goodness of God towards us.
The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head,”
.was a declaration of good news to man, which is being
felt daily in the blessings he receives through the pur
chase-made for him by the Saviour.* :
This song in’the night hascheered:the:dyißgsalntas he
looked forward beyond the freubhe of time to the scenes
of the upper world. Wickllffe, Wiiberforce,Baxter, and
Bunyan,<;with hosts of others,, bio now experiencing tha
reaiities of the blessings purchased by the Saviour. In
the political night God glved songs,'as is the case in our
own history. -The night jhrdnah which we are passing
will bj-tTWher us iote brtgßtsreffolgonoeornaUonal proi
—2^»4ra^W^saheard in our land ....
"The ills of life, laid the speaker, discipline the true
Christian; to him in the dark hour of trlbnlation, when
friend s ere few, end the prospects of the Ohurohand the
State ase low, God appears more' prediouß, and the
cbcraw 'of the Croßihave a greater beauty. ' We are
now passing through a season of national trial. Let ns
all stand hr the truth, hold up the OroS, and as good
and losaUfitizeiiß ojpey the calls of humanity made on us
by the events transpiring about us ‘ The channels
through which we are passing are like clouds which send
mercies. : The experience of Jobcomesdown to 11s to-day
shcwihg. the bipefit reeniting from the sorrows .'of .-life.
tEaith has her songs of cheer, even amid the tumult of
( tbe scenes which are now, surrounding us. ’
lb ihe'eMuia of spiritual despondaucy there comes to
the Ckrtstian the remcmberancs of former scenes of de
solation, when, after the dark cloud, came the bright
Ejnsmne of proßperity. _We are the objects of God’s
mercy ;■ end in :kindneas,eveh in our night of sorrow,
God permits ns to have songs of joy and.gladness; ...
• The speaker; in concluding his discourse, exhorted his
'hearers to go to God for consolation ia the hour of their
grief. He would cause them to have songs in the night,
’and bring : tbem ont of all their.troubles. The season of
, Thatkegiving is marked by much that is. the cause of
gratitude. Our garners have been full, our religious
services uninterrupted, and the health of our city unim
paired. _■ ' .. .
The services of this occasion were closed by the Her.
Dr. Kenney, of the Fifth- street Church, who offered a
fervent prayer for the blessing of God on our institu
tions during Ihe coming year. The choir sang a beau
tiful anthem; afier which the congregation were.dis
missed with the benediction.;
SERMON BY, REV MORRIS ,C. SRTPHEN,
Delivered at the Spring Garden Presbyterian
Church
Ttxt: Pbiiliplaua iv. o—*» Be carerni for nothing;
but in everjthing by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, - let your reonegts be made known unto
God.” .. .-.A,
The Beverond speaker introduced his discourse with
the remark that the text contains three injunctions ap
propriate to the unhappy condition of our land. ,
First. That we Bhould avoid dis'reßßing and'distraet
ing anxieties about the destiny of onr oountry. ‘
Second. That of idle and gloomy forebodings
we should address ourselves to prayer in its behalf.
Third. That onr snppliaations should be accompanied
'with thanksgiving for the Divine goodness.
The speaker then annonneed that he woo'd confine
himself to the lait of these injunctions, as being specially
appropriate to the present occasion, and that he would
consider— '
First: The essential importance of prayer, accom
panied with thanksgiving, in securing the’ blessing of
God. This importance he argued from reason, -
Our own minds instinctively declare that the Almighty
cannot consistently with our good, and His own glory,
answer, favorably ucgratefnl prayers.
Revelation, also, both by precept and example, deolares
-that gratitude is necessary to secure the Divine favor.
Instaocoa of prayers, accompanied with thanksgiving,
were fuiriished from the histories of Moses, and David,
and Solomon. Experience, it was urged, confirms the
testimony of reason aod revelation on this point.
In proof of this, alloßion wbb made to the first thanks
giving, held in New England.
Before the celebration of that day, the colonists were
continually in want; after it, they were in constant and
■uninterrupted plenty. i'
Having shown the Importance of accompanying our
prayers to God with thanksgiving, the speaker announced
as his ■:
Second topic: The grounds which exist for such
thanksgiving. Some might be'disposed to Question what
national mercies we have to remember before God. The
first cause which we have for thanksgiving Js the mercies
shown in cMen time to onr fathers. The Jews were com
manded to observe the Passover to all generations, in
memory of their deliverance from bondage j and lu all
their wanderings thi y fail not to keep this national fes
tival, ho, even tbongh now we m ere languishing as poli
tical outcasts in some foieign land, we should remember
the wonders of old, and the years of the right hand of
the Most'High
The second ground for thanksgiving was declared to
he the blessings which, amid onr trials, we are at present
enjoying. ■
Thus, abundance of bread, and that while nearly a
million of then have ceased to be prodneers, and while
wgr is devastating'large portions of the land. While
starvation is staring, other portions. of the world in the
face,' We bfjvei-nongh.uot only to feed our immense
isray.ssa our ten a of thousands of defenceless families
at home, but also sufficient left to bring the tyrannies of
Europe under an unwilling obligation to ns.
’ ’Freedom from,war with foreign nations is another
blessing for which we shonld he thankful. Thridespotlsma
or the Old W«!d are anxious to have demonstrated, In
the overthrow of our republican insHtuHons, the impos
sibility of a democratic form ,of government.
, Oor freedenafrom collisions among ourselves is another
grcriDd for thanksgiving. How terrible if, throughout
the whole land, neighbor were arrayed against neighbor,
brother against brother, and fathers against sons!
Another cause for giatitnde is the magnanimity with
which all paits of the. loyal North have rushed to the
support of the Government. Had it not been for this
noble response, our homes might have now been deso
late, and we made to submit to a Government based on
principles belonging to the barbarous ages of the world,
and bnllt out of the ruins tf free institutions and human
rights. . . , : , ,
, The third end last ground for thanksgiving was alleged
to be the judgment! now abroad in the land. This war
is not a calamity sent upon hs as an incorrigible, God •
forsaken pi opie, but a chastisement intended to save us
frem ruin. We should, therefore, be thankrul for it, and
"even for'ibe ieverses%hich we have experienced in its
< prosecution. The purposes of the Almighty have been
rolling on, as well when onr army.waa fleeing in. dismay
as when advancing to victory. Indeed, the cause of
liberty and humanity has advanced most in our hours of
deepest darkness: Our defeats will yet be seen to have
Shortened our days of tribulation. If our army had been
victorious at Manassas, in a few days the rebellion might
hive been overthrown, but then we would have cried
“ Peace, peace,” when there was no peace.
In conclusion, the speakerurged compliance with the
injunction of the text—namely, prayer to God for the de
liverance of the land, accompanied with thanksgiving far
our mercies, and especially those above mentioned; Then
would our free Institutions be preserved a joy to future
generations.
The discourse was eloquently delivered, and was list
ened to throughout with rapt attention. -
SERMON BY REV. H. A, ROARDMAN,
Delivered lit the Tenth Presbyterian O. S
Church. *'
This church was filled to overflowing by a largo audi
ence, among whom were many of onr molt prominent
and influential citizens. The reverend Bpeaker selected
his text from the 19th chapter Beoond Ohronioleß, 6th,
6th and 7th verses. Subject—*• The Jndiciat System of
the United States.' ’
After a few preliminary remarks, the speaker said,
among the problems submitted to that assembly of great
men. the convention-whioh framed the Constitution of
-the United States, the question of the Judiciary-was
’found'peculiarly embarrassing. As there was no pre
cedent for such a Union as they proposed, a confedera
tion of States in principles which consolidated the people
Into a single, compact, nation, without sacrificing, the
independence of the, several constituent sovereignties, so
•history failed to supply them with any model in framing
a judicial system suited to the exigencies of so unifies a
political structure It was indispensable that the judicial
should be made 00-extensive with the legislative power.
Its jurisdiction must comprehend the entire country,
yet without interfering with the supremacy of the State
uourts in their respective spheres. More than this, It
was necessary toprovide. an umpire to whose authority
the States themselves should do homage. They might
Quarrel among themselves, as oh questions of -bondage,
•i„i.. Jarlß i*J Uon ' .°r . of oggreaaion upon personal
They might enact laws in ' contravention
or _ the Federal compaot. In the absence of a com
itlbu,n,Bl „ to adjudicate these controversies, both
f j 1 to arms, and tlio Union would soon
perish. The embarrassment lay in tho fact that the jndi
™ Bo so organized as to reach and oontrol
rot lndividuale and corporations merely, but large and
flourishing States, proud oi their traditions, j salons of
!«? . nnder rostoaint. It must go
Etill further than this. The government might be sub
verted as well by its legitimate autboriUes.aa by tbe ac
tion of the States. It was as needful to protect the Oon
strtu Mon from domoaiio asfrom foreign invasion—from
the usurpations of the legislative and executive depart
ments at the centre as from the encroachments of the
State Governments. There must be a tribunal clothed
with power to annul the formal statutes of States and of
Congress, and in certain cases to pass upon the constitu
tional validity oftb'e acta of: the Chief Magistrate; To
say that other nations supplied no example of such a
judiciary, is to state but a part of the truth. No such
tribunal was ever beard of. Every Christian country
has its high courts of judicature. But,,however ample
their powers,- they have no mission to Bit in judgment
npon the acts of the crown and the legislators. Each is
supreme in ilaown department. Grave questions may
arise ,as to the assumes prerogative of the throne, or
os to the assumed competency of the legislature to pass
certato enactments.. But; it is not for the jadges tossy
to them, this is constitutional and, this, is not;
here the subject must obey, and there he is absolved from
obedience. om»Oc*etitution herein is as much a novelty
in the science of government as is tho court whioh ex
pounds it. It is literally our fundamental law—as bind
ing upon the President, upon Congress, and upon the
Btatcs, es it is upon the youngest midshipman of the
navy. < There is no power in the nation which may con
travene it. It is tho embodied Expression of the will of
the whale people, the entire population of the Union; and
H is also a solemn oompaot between the several State* of
the Confederacy. These two attributes make it our law
of laws. ..They enthrone it within its sphere (which its
own terms define) over ail other powers, and over alt per
sons To explain and apply the principle* of this sab
llme instrument is iho province of onr Sapremo Court of
judicature, and cofuDotioss so august were ever before
eonfided to ahuman tribunal. '
How much; we are all indebted under God to this ar
rangement can be estimated only by one who is able to
sum up the benefits whleh the Constitution of the United
States has, to the course of seventy years, conferred upon
onr country and the world. For it admits of easy de-"
monalratk®, that the preservation of the Constitution,
and by consequence of the Union, and all that the Union
comprehends, is dns to the judiciary. 1 The Constitution
is ihe depository and oharter of those rights and privi
leges which; prior to the outbreak of this rebellion, had
conductcd our country to an unexampled pitch of pros
perity and happiness, and of the Constitution the judlol
ary has been the faithful guardian. Numerous are' the
instances In which its provisions have been violated,
eometimes by sets of Congress, more frequently by the
State Legislature, or the State Courts. And, if there had
been no court of eminent jurisdiction to annul theao aots
end decrees, the Constitution must havr long ago been
scattered to the winds.
The speaker dwelt at taegthupon thiabove points, and
his discourse was listened to, all through, with marked
attention.
SEK WON BY KEY. DR. RICHARD NEW
. • TON, •-
Delivered at tire Church of the Epiphany.
.The speaker selected his text from Job ii, 10.—“ Shall
we receive good at the hands of God, and Bhall we riot re
celveevil?” ;
He commenced by say log this was Job’s reply to h's
wife, after the bccoml blast of affliction's tomprst had
swopt by him. He bore this, not only without murmur,
but with a spirit of cheerful acquiescence. He was still
again and again afflicted, but with his unbroken confl
uence be still clings to hie integrity as a believing child
of God, and nobly BBks, Shall we receive good at the
band of Gcd; and shall we notreceive evil?” If we feel'
as if we really deserved, aridhad a right to expect, all the
rood things that can be showered upon us, then we shall
be tempted to muimur if anything is withheld; hut if we
feel that we deserve nothing, then we shall be thankful
for whatever may be bestowed.
Our annual day. of Thanksgiving has again come
round. How sadly different are oor circumstances now
from those which have, for so many long years, bsen
wont to surround ns on the return or this gladsome day !
But still, amidst all our t'lsls, we have yet muchltft for
which to be thankful. In dwelling on the words of the
text, there are f»ur several points from which we may
contemplate them. In the first place, they lead us to con
template, in some of Its most striking aspects, the good
which we, es a nation, have received. There is our no
ble territory, not another on the face of the earth to com
pare with it. Look at tho Government established, For
the harmonious ndjusiment of its complex powers for the
freedom it secures, at least to the free, and for the re
spect it has compelled from other nations, it may well be
reckoned as the wisest, the most enlightened, the moat
iiberalitand, taken altogether, ihe best government, of
mere human' organizatien, that the world has ever
known., The speaker also alluded to pur religions pri
vileges, and the gigantic stride, we have taken In our pro
gress towards material manhood.
The second point suggested by the text—the evils that
ere row upon ns. As a nation,.we are now oppressed by
fearful evils. Bebelifoh has lifted np its horrible -head
in the midst of ns, and marched- with desolating strides
over one- third of onr territory. The Bnpreme law of the
land has been set at defiance, The Constitution which
Washirigten’and ihe wise and goo* men of his day were
the instruments of framing has been trampled in the
dust; arid the glorious banner of our Union has'beenin-
YTbia is si
grem evu, txpoptuai ueimaon; me srrongest wmcn tbo
annals of history dieeiose has seized upon the minds or a
large portion of the nation. Our brethren at the South
have tekej. np arms against the Government of the land
as though it had oppressed and defrauded them, while
jet they cannot put their finger npon a single act of that
Government from which they have Suffered any wrong or
oppression;".-' That they have had much to bear from the
violence of partisan bitterness In the North cannot be
denied But at .the bands of tbs C-OYOriifncnt, a,r„mst
■trbioti they havd arrayed theinsehred; they have sriffersd
no grievance. And yet,’they have acted as though’th’ey
had bee n the subjects'of the most overbearing and ont
regßGUß tyranny. This is a sore evil. Between one and
two millions of men are under arms. Among these are
fellow-citizens of the same oountry, friends and acauain
‘tances, neighbors and relations, arrayed against each
ether in mortal strife. Bants arid homes have been made
desolate, - and- the, hospitals throughout our land are
crowded to-day with, perhaps, net less than 300,000 slok
and wounded sufferers. 1 Tbeie are our Burroundiogs to
day. It reaches no argument to prove; that these are
evils, i - . . -', 1,-..-.-
Thirdly. Our sttention is dirooted to the Providential
source of these evils, when it speaks of them as evils
which are received from the hands of God, The speaker
said that there never was any scene enaoted on this
earth in which God’s creatures carried out their own
designs and purposes with more perfect freedom than
when Satan and . the powers of darkness combined with
the blirided and infuriated rulers of the Jews to crucify
the Son of God. And yet we are distinctly assured that
iu every act and movement which-then took place they
were only doing what God’s hand and God’s counsel had
determined before should be done. And it was precisely
so with the origin of evil in the universe. : He main
tained that evil did not enter the universe because God
had no knowledge of its coming, or no power te prevent
it. Its entrance was by his permission. It formed part
of his « eternal purpose.” God saw that on the whole
a greater amount of good would eventually result
.to' the universe from the entrance of .evil into it,
and therefore He permitted it to enter. It is easy to
think of nhmeieus contingencies any one of which might
have availed to prevent this war. . Bnppose that Wash
ington could have been in the council halls of the nation
during the month which preceded the outbreak of the war,
can anybody suppose that It would not have bsen avert
ed 1 Or suppose that those noble patriots Olay and Web
ster bad been spated a Tew years longer, arid that with aU
the garnered wealth of their wisdom and experience, aod
with alt the magic chorus of their eloquence, they could
have thrown themselves into the breach, think you there
would have been any warl Or suppose that the liori
heerted hero of New Oilcans had been at the bead of our
affairs when this rebellion began to raise its hateM head
in that wilful, wayward, braggart capital of the proud Pal
metto State; and suppose that he had come down upon it
with vigorous, well, directed, iron-handed bio ws, as he
was ready to have done thirty years before, can any one
Bnppose that it would not have been orushed out at the
very beginning! But here the-war Is upon us as an
“ evil from the band of God ”
And this prepares us, in the fourth plaoe, to contem
plate the practical lessons we may gather from this sub
ject.; It teaches us a lesson of quiet confidence for the
present. In times of public trial and calamity it is
especially desirable to have this feeling of trust brought
into play. This subject also suggests a lesson or oheer
icl hope for the future. We are strongly tempted to give
way to the feeling of general apprehension and dis ■
quietude. And yet it is our special duty then to keep
alive in our hearts the feeling of cheerful hops. We
should hope not In ourselves, or in our soldiers, or our
generals, or our statesmen, but in Gad , His hand has
been on us for good thus far. Though the dark clouds
have gathered in our sky, and are even now bursting in
desolation npon us, still our dot; is, in the midst of ail
that ti suspires, to cultivate the feeling of cheerful hope
for the future. Quiet confidence for the present and
cheerful hope for the iuture—these are the feelings which
should fiU our hearts as we wait before God with ourgljd
thanksgiving to-day. The speaker concluded by saying
that peace and. prosperity would soon be restored, and
spread . their cheering beams throughout all the'borders.
SERMON BY REV. JOHN CHAMBERS,
Delivered in the First Independent Presbyte
rian Church, Broad and Chestnut streets.
The church of which Bov. John Chambers is pastor,
in Bicad street, near Chestnut, was only partially filled,
by a very intelligent and attentive assemblage ofpsopie,
y estxrday rooming. The services wore opened by sing
ing a hymn, when the pastor read for instruction the
136th Psaim, after which he offered up a prayer of
thanksgiving to the Almighty far His great mercy in
Bpaiing our . State from the ravageß of the sword; from
pestilence and famine; for success in our business pur
suits ; in plentiiul craps; iu our ineli aliens of learning,
science,literature ai-d religion; for the many Sabbaths
we had enjoyed in the worship of God, and innumerable
other blessings. The petitioner Invoked the blessings of
God npon the Governor of our State especially, and upon
all in authority generally. He implored forgiveness for
our nstiorial sins. Bad we but obeyed our Oonstßußon,
we would not have been in the trouble, affliction, and
war, that is tow upon us. The blessing of the Almighty
was asked for the frestdenaand all otherß in authority:
upon the incoming Congress and that which is to meet
during the coming week; that they might legislate for
our country with much wisdom and prudence, to extri
cate ua from our present woe; upon onr soldiers in the
field; upon the great American, nation; church and
heart; and upon Ml the people. He prayed; finally, that
the day might soon come wheD Gcd would issue his pro
clamation for “ Peace, Peace, Peace,” for our distracted
country.
The oboir sang after the prayer ihe hymn commencing:
>• Great Gcd, beneath whose piercing eye ”
After which a collection wob lifted in aid of the Doroaa
Pociety of the church ; announcements were made, and
Mr. Chambers gaye out his snbjeot, as the “ Duties of the
Hour,” accompanying it with this text from the 4th verse
of the ICOlh psaim : •’ Be ye thankful unto Him ”
The duty of the hour was to'give thanks to Gcd for his
many mercies and bletslngs to man. It was right and
proper in the authoriiies to Bet aside some particular day
to be devoted to extraordinary thanksgiving and pray er
(although it is our dutj to give thanks and pray every
day ), btcauie it Is a public recognition of God by those
who administer the laws, as our servants in authority.
We ate Indebted to Him ior all that we have and all that
ve are, and onr thanksgiving should not he merely a lip
offering, but should be impelled forth by and from the
heart. We ought to give tbenks for onr health and pro
sperity, and; for , the blessings God is bestowing in our
families.' Our minds ought to be fixed continusliy on the
happiness of our own homes, anti' every individual man
and every community of men, were happy and contented
just in accordance as they recognize God in his many
mercies by continual and hearty thanksgiving and
praise. Bnt we tco often write the report of our
blessing upon the Sand, and onr affiio’lons ripen
the rock, with the doubly-steeled stylus! We for
get the first, and prate continually In mournful
strains of the latter. We are not grateful tor the pros
perity, health, happiness, and content around us. We
can neverforget to sorrow and complain that God has
bereft usof a dear relative, but we beed not bis mercy
in leaving with us in health and happiness, the many that
we love and cherish. The farmer sows his Beed, and
reaps fine crops, and forgets to-pour out his soul in
thanksgiving to.the Giver.of the increase and plenty; if
.behasbad crops, he grumbles, arid hla complaints come
forth continually; and with a remarkable earnestness.
Not one-twentieth of the population or this great city
are giving thanks' to-day. Nineteen-twentieths of the
people were: disregarding the: proclamation of Governor
Curtin, and neglecting God. The speaker declared that
this was anirißUlt to our Chief Magistrate, apart from the
grievous: Insult it was to the. Almighty. V Although a
.public servant, we owe to the Governor ail due respect
and obedience; and in neglecting to accord this, we
merit, .and will receive, the just chostfsement of God
TWO CENTS.
Our policy ef action should bo ohanged; wo Bhould write
ourbl«.i D g B indelibly upon the rook, and tnr afflictions
KL.SThe testimony of St Paul was, that his
Obnauanity taught him to be contented and happy in
whatever condition or state he was placed. We
should not . meddle with, or complain of, the
operations ot the oontrclliog power. To-day, the
speaker Hafd, this would have Mboon a great,
happy, end peaceful nation if we had left the
principles which oontrol and govern ns atone! Rations
werelonlyblessed as. they progressed in the light of the
Word But we oughtto bo thankful to God for plenty in
these times; for tho Church of Christ, tor Christianity,
and tho eifeoßion of its iofluenoa, but, abova alf. for the
Saviour. Wo want earnest prayer and zealous Christian
action to btieg our country together again, never to ba
disunited, if it Ib God’s will. ,
Tho sermon was followed by an eloquent prayer for the
Almighty to come to our relief la our present national
afflictions* that we might soon have peace with our pros
perity. After the prayer ft hymn was sung* and the con
gregation was dismissed with the benediction.
SERMON BY REV, R. A CARDEN,
Delivered at - the Church of Intercessor
(Episcopal)
Quite a large congregation assembled In Bev. R, A,
Carden’s ohurob, Spring Garden street, above Thirteenth,
yesterday morning, to listen to that minister’s annual
Thanksgiving eermon. After the thanksgiving exercises
of the Episcopal Church were concluded the reverend
gentleman said bis text would be found in Deuteronomy,
chap' xxiv, y„ 19: ** When thou cutteth down thine har
vest in thine field and ha&t forgot a sheaf In the field, thou
shalt not go down to fetch ii ; it ehail bo for tho stranger,
for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy
God may bless tbeo in all the work of thine hands.”
. Since our last Thanksgiving Day, said the speaker, we
have witnoEsed many end sights, many scenes of woe, and
our thoughts, have bo been engrossed in these that we
have scarcely had time to think of any thing, else. This
was natural; but God grant that wo may never have to
do so again—that we will have a speedy eampafgn, an
honorable and permanent peace, and a glorious and ever
lasting Union.
A day of thanksgiving is hot a day of hilarity and
mirth, but one of solemnity. While we have been called
together by the civil authoritiei, we are not expected to
dheuss politics, or deeeciste the pulpit by criticising tho
Administration and its subordinate officers, and cavil
ling at its measures, but instead, to render thanks to the
Almighty God for his mercies during the past year, and
toe bieeslngs showered down upon ua. It witlbeadtnifc*
ted by evtry believer in region, that God moves not
only in a mysterions way in cases of individuals, but
also of nations ‘ The same power that rules the
glory also oontrols its downfall, and be that raises it to
the highest pinnacle of fame, can reduce it to the smallest
degi ee of degradation.
The providence of Godwin case of nations, is often lost
eight of In the discussion of political affairs, and for the
din cfconflict. There iB no nation that has not a provi
dettial as well asa national hißtory, and we do well to
ponder on the former in times like this. The history of
the Revolution proves that our email oolohy waa succoaa*
ful in spite of the large odds that were arrayed against
them. This was undoubtedly the work of Providence.
Many years have rolled away since then. The great and
good men who lived then, Providence has mercifully
spared from witnessing the present civil war. Our com
mercial, egrfcuUmal, and religious progress is well known
to all, end has never been surpassed if equalled, by any
foreign country. Here, pauperism, with aU its attendant
horrors, is cot legalized, nor are there millions compelled
to be the recipients of cold charity. Here, education,
uninfluenced by any qualification of birth or station, is sa
well conducted that many of our soundest scholars are
far better educated than those who hold high posilion in
foreign countries. Tho commercial and agricultural re
storers cf the country were next referred to, and the
speaker said that the present prosperity of our country
wee wonderful, considering the difficulties the nation ia
now entangled in.
Admitting that there are tew religions p«op!e in Hie
worw, v 'o still most not look on the dark'side of the pic
ture. The practical piety ef this country will bsar com
parison with that of any nation on the globe, and the
bequests of our citizens are not to be despised- And what
return have we made Tor ail oar benefits, and what re
am pease have we given? Have we, ever thought that
the Bed that gives bountifully to a nation has the power
to take away ? •There can be no denial that the trials of
this nation during the past year have been severe, yet
they might have been woise. Our barns are fail,, and
finances good and safe. While many ef our erring
brttbrcn have been the witnesses of woe and,desolation,
we have been spared all this, although at one time it was
very near to onr doors. • Oar crops might have failed,
epidemics.might have been prevalent, yet God, in his
mercy, has prevented sU this.
_ There mnet, indeed, be heartfelt praise rendered to
God lor all the blessing- ho has showered down on us.
Our patriotism and loyalty must notehd in words; God
demands practical proofs of our assertions—thankfulness,
There we many sick and wounded soldiers* poverty
si ricken families in oßr midst, and they call upon yon for
sid, Bbali.we refnse It?, No. They must not be con
sidered unimportant; they demand help, and if we wish
to fce thankful to God for past kindnesses to us, we mask
give it to them.
Mr. Garden, then made an eloquent appeal In behalf of
the Episcopal Hospital in this city.
Pray God, brethren, that be will send the blessings of
a permanent ard honorable peace. We exhort yon to re
member that He was withoUr Eevolntionary fathers,
and He will be-with yon if yon honor-Him and return a
recompense for His blessings. .
The exercises were concluded with singing and prayer.
The congregation was then dismissed. 1
SERMON BY REV.DR. D. C. EDDY,
Delivered in the First Baptist Church, comer
Broad and Arch streets.
Ibis church was filled with alarge and attentive con
gregation, yesterday rooming, to listen to the Thanks
giving Bermon of the Bev. Dr. Eddy, which was eloauent,
patriotic, jad-really edifying. Dr. Eddy invoked God’s
blessing n»nn nm uiik:in„the : i>rosecntion of a holy war
for the right, and hoped for the restoration of the Dnicm
with the obliteration of the baneful cause of the rebellion—
slavery; and that now is the time to strike it out by con
stitutional means. He desired not to have the « Union
as it was, bat the TJcion' as it should bei 5 ’ under ear
laws find Ooßßlitation, This alJuiion to the war created
an enthnsiesm which came near breaking forth in an
lilatisein tfca flAßoto.ftjgg,. • 1 .
--TLjie'poiata of the eermon were: > a
Ist. Icy alt) to country does not require ns to bo bUnd
to the faults of our public men.
2d. loyalty to country does not require us to be silent
te any organic defects In the structure of onr Govern
ment, or to any hationaferimes that may exist.
The Doctor then stated what was the duty of all loyal
citizens— :
let. Tomake this Government as perfect as a human
government can become.
2d, The other claim which Christian patriotism de
mands is the hearty, generous, unwavering support wo
should give to the Government in this time of peril.
Dr. Eddy’s text was found ’in 122 d Psalm, 6;h and 7th
verees: “ Prsy for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall
prosper that love thee. Peace bo within thy walls and
prosperity within thy palaces;”
At the dose of the sermon a hymn was anng to the tune
of “ Old B'undred,” and as the congregation dispersed,
the national anthem, “Star Spangled Banner,” was
given on the organ.
SEIIMOX BY REV. DR, WYLIE,
Delivered at the First Reformed Presbyterian
Church.
The text selected was from Acts xxyiii, IS. —“He
thanked God aod took courage.’*
The words express the feelings of a poor shipwrecked
prisoner, as he wee about to enter Imperial Same. There
was much in the circumstances which surrounded him to
cause depression, but the sympstby manifested by the
Christian friends who came to meet him, fi led his heart
with gratitude and hope. Appii Forum and the Three
Taorons may possess an interest with some, because they
sre mentioned by the Boman,orator or theyßoman poet,
bnt to ua they are remarkable placeß because there the
warn greetinja of Ohtialien loye rerived and refreshed
the Eplrit of the great apostle.
The speaker did not design to make any comparison
between onr condition just now, and that of the Apostle
Paul It is sufficient to refer to the great principle they
preaent, which is, that our apprehensions for the Insure
mßy be allayed by the encouragement afforded by the
past. B< cause we have so much reason to thank Sod,
we may take courage,
I. Let ua thank Sod.
Tbe Scriptures direct us to “ give thanks always, for
ail things.” A wide field of obaerration here presented
itteli. We may jay, in, general, we should thank Gad
for what we enjoy, for what we endure, for what we es
cape. The good thiogs he bestows upon us should cer
tainly eicite our gratitude! and even the afflictions we
endure, which, like the storm of a sultry da; in summer,
produce new life, and joy, and strength. When, too, we
consider what: we escape, what reason is there to he
tbanklul. “Who knows the power of God’s wrath I”
When we read in the Apocalypse the dreadful woes de
nounced against the workers of iniquity, we may, indeed,
be grateful that these have not been iufiicted on us.
When wo think of the sufferings of the lost, In the place
of never-ending torment, how thankful that we have as
yet escaped, and that through faith in Jesus wo may es
cape forever!
We deiiie, however, to refer to the reasons for grati
tude, more particularly es regards our race, our
nation, our church, our households, our own per
sons. Let ns be: thankful that God has given us
a position so dignified in the ranks of being—now
a little lower than the’ angels; perhaps hereafter to
be even higher than they are; and that when we had
fallen from our high estate. God provided a Saviour, and,
by the It fineness of Bis providences and His ordinances
and Bis Spirit, brings ns to repentance and Baivation; and
that thus we may escape hell and may gain Heaven.
Surely, we have reason to be thankful.
Again, es regards our nation : While now involved
in a lamentable war, even at. this dark hour we may
“thank God and take courage.” How gratifying the
unanimity and cordial the co- oreratlon throughout the
loyal States in sustaining the Government! Then, too,
that we have In the Presidential chair a person in whose
honesty of purpose men of all parties have confidence,
and who has, to so remarkable a degree, secured the
support of the entire people. - While he may not have
gone fast enough or far enough for some, he certainly
has gone sb fast and as far as the nation coaid go with
him. Whet gratitude to Heaven for the proclamation of
(mancipation, from which it is declared no influence
ehall induce him to swerve 1 ir the slaves already Hbe
rated intend, as-we have heard, to spend next Hew Tear’s
Bve in thanksgiving that liberty is on the day following
to be proclaimed to their enthralled brethren, we, too,
should remember then to express onr gratitude that the
sin and Shame of slavery is to be removed from onr land.
The slaveholder as well as the slave should be thankful;
for. Indeed, we would ourselves rather be the slave than
bis master, Bor should we here omit reference to the
recent proclamation in regard to the Sabbath, in which
the President takes such a Afghjand Scriptural position,
and places the obligation to observe that sacred day, not
merely on the advantages it produces to man and beast,
but on “ a due regard to the Divine will.” This is
taking the Bible as the supreme law ; for it is the Bible
which reveals a Sabbath and requires itß observance. ’
It is a recognition of’the great principle for which onr
ancestors suffered so much i a Scotland : the principle
that the civil magistrate 1b bound to administer govern
ment according to God’s holy and perfect law. How
gratifying, too, that the position the Beformed Presby
terian Church has had for sixty years in regard to
slaven Isitsow so. generally, adopted! How remarkable
t e charge, even in the manor; of many here! It is not
msny yea’s since, to express Bnch sentiments as now
prevail would have exposed a person to mot late. How
they have the sanction of our best statesmen, and of the
higbist authority in our, Government, It would occupy
too much time to dweii on such subjects, and-we merely
refer to tAp present condition of our forces, both mili
tary and if aval; to the success with which the proud
thn at a of the rt bels have been baffled; and the progress
made—Tor there has teen progress in subduing
them. We. may he thankful, too, that foreign
intervention, which would only have embittered and
it tehsified this lamentable war, has been thus far not
attempted. Sven the calamities of war have already
cone ns good. The arrogance, the avarice, which were
so excessive with some Americans that they were as
turned to be our national characteristics, and rendered
uscdious .to the rest of'the world, have been greatly
abated.’We have shown that there is something dearer
lo us than the do!lar--that we love liberty more than
we love money; and, while we no longer depreciate the
people and the Governments of other landr, we prove
how much we love onr own, v
We will not detain you by suggesting auoh rircnm
'etssfes In our households In regard to onr own persons
-as ihould elicit onr thanksgiving to God. Let these be
Ibo subjects of serious thought. “
. In view of the Maine goodness, then, we should
JI. Take courage. ~>■
We merely mention that all which ocoura
' Dt mooßtrotea the Divine power ; ,
- M aoifesta the Divine love ;
Cnfoldr the Dtiitne purpose ; .
Promotes the Divint glory ; end
Ehttliliehts tbe Divine sovereignty.
We may, thereloro, “take eonrage.”
In conclusion, we* may anticipate future struggles.
But we have adequate support, and we are certain of
»complete ancceaa. Were it bo . that our glorious Union
thould be disintegrated," a “ more perfect Union" shall
succeed. Were It eolhht our pretent admirable Oonaii-
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tuHon £hcnld cot be again established in ail our land a
better .we shall take its place, with a recognition of the
existence And providence of God, and an acknowledg
ment ot his law and no slavery. Were it so that nuny off
ns should pass away ere our country ehdli become poaoe
ful and prosperous as It was before, others shall take
our places and gain the conquest, but we shall rethloe as
well as they in the result—thay on earth, but we i®
heaven. The oath of God eball not be broken. Yioo ia
all Its forms shall vanish from onr world; all false reli
gions and all irreligion Bhall give place to the gloria os
Gospel. Oppression and slavery shall cease the t/orUL
over, man shall become holy and happy, and Jesus sbal
reign from theristng to the setting sun. »As truly as I
live,” aaith'the Lord, “ all the earth shall bo ailed with
my glory.”
SERMON BY REV R, €. MATLACK.
Delivered at the Church of Nativity
The speaker selected h;s text from* 93d Psalms, let
Terse: It Is a good thing to give thanks onto the* liartL
and to sing praises nnto Thy name, 0 Most High
' c ®*““ e,1 oe4'hi* disconrse by saying, hew
bf leTOthe ““ertlon which Sod make*
In the text, that it is a good thing to give thanks, and ta
sing praises nnto the Lord. All Christians, and muiy
otbersßlDg Bflu M&ke their watts known onto the Lord * -
very few offer thanksgiving and praise, when tta£
prayers are answered, and their wants are eapnliei
When a day of f hauksgivto* aud praise is appointed hr
the civif authorities, it la looked upon more as a dayfer
extravagant feasting, vain talking, and rude lasting; tka*
.as one of aerioue, solemn worship—one in which we are
to review the mercies of the past year. Crowd the courts
of our God, and lift up your very souls to hear us in oat-,
gushing thanksgiving and praise. ... ... .. ;
We should consider the duty of cultivating a thftHkftft
spirit and giving expression to our feeling.’ God has en»i
joined this doty and it is reasonable for him to expeot fix
performance. He feared that many of us look up*»
thankt giving and praiie as an unimportant part of wor
kup. aa that which may be dispensed with with imoanUr*
Those who would feel a pang of conscience In'omittihg
n'l e^ r ? e I S .x,? t v? om ?: or ltt Wly Inking aboat tS
Church, and thinking of other things during the anppU
cations cf the congregation,, seem to have no each feeliaa
when they omit their thanksgiving and praise.
Our time foils ns before onr subject is folly unfolded,
we can do no more to-day, however, than ask jonr most
prayerful consideration of the points we have suggested,
let ns ohdevouilyreflecf upon these points, pray for a
double poition of God’s spirit to aid os, express what.
ever we feel in word and deed, and we shail be able ta
say, It is a good thing to give thanks unto ihe Lord, and
sing praises unto Thy name, 0 Moaht High.
SERMON BY REV. DR. DARLING,
Delivered at Arch Street Presbyterian Church.
The text selected was from the 95th Psalm and second
veise: •> Let os come before his presence in Ihe thanks- 1
giving.” The theme of ihe .speaker was a genera! on,,
and not national. His topic «as that which he thoogU
most fitting for, the day—religions thankfulness. Thank
fulness Implies the recognition of a benefaotion. It see*
a giver in every blot sing. It is a cheerfulness mingled
with gratitude, and a joy of heart that turns the soul up
ward and Godwsrd, The min who, imagining that the
many good things he enjoys are the results of his own
prudence and foresight, icannot be thankful. She
speaker considered tho ways how men should express ta
God the gratitude which at heart they feel for his good
ness. ’ •
This sermon was truly a thanksgiving dißconrse. nnS
was written with care and ably delivered. The speaker,
all through hie remarks, was listened to with rivetted at-,
tention.
SERMON BY REV. J. WALKER JACKSON,
Delivered at St. Paul’sM E. Church,
The-text selected by the reverend gentleman was from
Job xxxvii, 21—” And now men see not tbe bright light
in the clouds.’’ ..
He commenced by aejing that the obscurity of tl»
Divine Government—the mystery of its administration
oftentimes confounds unbelieving men. , Parts of Ged'ir
ways conflict with our notions of justice and of right
eousness ; we fesr for the succrts of the oauso of Omni
potence in the world, and would presumptuously Btretoh
forth the hand to steady the ark of His government. At
anch times Faith stands still to see the salvation of God.
and when the Divine voice says go forward, presses
toward the mark, obeys the Divine iajuuctionio find tho
eea, whose threatening billows forbid all progress, di
video, a wall on cither band, or marble beneath her
feet. “ Olonds” are here used asthe emolemof the ob-
Bonnty or of the mystery of the Divine Government.
The expression without figure is as if Eilhu had said to
Job: Men are confonndedby the appearances of things
they would seem to indicate that ih« moral government'
of the world is a failure, that its ends axe, in a way fas.
conceivable to them, thwarted. They see the clouds,
but they see not the bright light which' is in the clonds '
Incapable of judging the future, the real issue, they
tremble and doubt The lesson of the entire speech of
Elibu, of which this is a part, is trust, confidence la
Gcd. We cannot find, him out; onrfinite understand
ings cannot comprehend His infinite perfections. wt«
way is in the sea. We cannot put the sea into an egg
shell. We cannot trace the Bteps He takes in His Provi
dence. We should reverence and trust Him, as the all
wise and the dust. And now men cannot-see the
bright light in the clouds. How prons we are
to tube the wont possible, views of the world's fu
ture! How apt to suppose' lhe clouds all blackness*'
To day there are clouds abovo us, whose black shadow*
are on our pathway. To, the unhopeful these cloud*
have no silver lining—no . bright light. A thanksgiving
was never to them so sadly misplaced. Betterfar a day of
humiliation and prayer; of sackcloth and ashes, rather
than one of_ feasting and rejoicing. I shall not attempt'
to persuade yen that there are no clouds, against the in
telligent convictions of your judgment, or to say that,
there are no evils to bemoan. There are clouds: there
are evils; but saynot that the clouds are ail btackneiu.'
There is light, bright light, in the clouds that hang over
the present and future of my country. But I am her*,
this morning, to tlifins 0,-o — direct jott to Itieooc
sions of thankfulness, not to exhibit the dark side of tha
picture, but the bright; to point you only to the cloud*
that I may tecure for you and myself a stronger faith in
the brtghtltght In the clonds. The light iu the cloui t»
tne harbinger of comiag brightness, or future days all
sunshine. It says the clouds are not gathering for a
Answer wise ends ; be
futureva b'icht lnteS>. .■» ror conafaw-vWe '-Ur-m
The upon which we gazo to-day, are of war, Of
debt,'of, spiritual declension.
I; tHe Cloud of War.
It has been but a very Utile’ while since, in our
natieial history, if : a prophet had been oommisK
sioced from God to describe what is now so familiar
to us ell; a line of fire running hem east to westJ
with, miiiions of men , arrayed in deadly conflict;
villages burned, farms deserted; neighbors at variance j
industry Etai ding still in many of our States, or only
employed in works essentially military; the sky red at
night with camp fires, clouded by day with the smoke of
artillery; the earth trembling with the tramp of armies;
hospitals, everywhere, crowded with sick and wounded
soldiery; mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and chil
dren weeping for sors, brothers, fathers, whose bone*
lie bleaching on this autumn day on so many battle
fields— oefore such a picture, in words faliing from the'
lips of tbe Heaven-commissioned prophet, a vast m tjor
ity of the people of this nation would have started bask
in horror, exclaiming, 11 We be brethren. Aro.we dogs,
that we should do such things!” And yet, from the
origin of this Government to the breaking out of this
wicked rebellion, what we now see and feel has been an
ticipated, ban been long since foretold by the ablest of
“our statesmen, as they have looked sorrowfully into the
future; snd for the East twenty-five years how persistent
have been the efforts of tho rebellious South to bring on
the dreadful issue, and how patiently, persevarisgly,
eelf-sacriScingly, has the Worth endeavored to postpone,
if Bhe cculd not ultimately prevent, the terrible calamity
of civil war j
The Union of there States—the national Federal mo
istence—has been to us an idol. How we clung to it the'
world is witnetß How we sought by couceßsion, com
promise, appeal to save—without this most desperate of
meabs, an appeal to armß—the life of the Nation, God
is witness—the world fa witness The world will yet ac
knowledge the truth.
Oh! my bretbrer, war is a cloud of such terrible black
ness that every Christian must bitterly lament its exist
ence; every patriot mbit bitterly lament its devasta
tions, bnt it is for cs s matter of thanksgiving; of grati
tude to God upon the part of the citizens of the loyal
Elates, that the lawful Government can appeal to rite
Goverror and Judge of the Universe, and to all right- "
thinking men, to bear witness that for no purposes of
oppression, no mere territorial aggrandizement out or
so jealousy. Is this war waged; but for the defence and
perpetuation of interests as sacred as wete ever commit
ted to the keeping cf any nation.
The bright light in this cloud of war is, that it ia a war
of national self defence.
A war upon the part of the Government for the salva
tion of the imperilled life of the Nation—to assert and es
tablish the broken nationality—for this grand aim-the
war is prosecuted. The citizen dies that the nation may
live. Other results may and will incidentally flow from
this war: but for this end alone the nation accepted the
war, with all its undeniable evils. The conspiracy has
for its object the extinction of the Bepnbiic Its efforts
have been and still are to take away all power frem the
National Government to proteot itself— to tie the hands
of the Nation, and then murder it in its defenceless cen
dition.
To its allies in the North has been , committed the ta*k
of disatming and fettering the nationality. And while
onr brethren are in arms to keep back those whose
bloody task Is death, it is our duty to prevent the
stealthy preparations that have, been thwarted, hut
are now being made , again to secure the unre
sisting death. It is onrs to .see that Sampson,'
when he slumbers, although he may be bound
with green withes, shall not be shorn of the locks wherein
bis great strength iieth. Those who are opposed to thli
war of self-defence upon the part of the North have only
wanted ob to Buffer the nation to die without an effort to
preserve its life, and only desire now that we shall cease
all (ffoit while the national life shall pass away, while
the living child shall be divided. We cannot, we dare
not, do it If the nation should be doomed to death, it is
dying in the only way that a brave, strong nation oan die,
with agonies too terrible for description. Should onr
enemies succeed—shonld the nation be shorn of its locks
by Northern sympathizers with rebellion, then let Samp
son’s death be the emblem of onr approaching dissolu
tion. In taring the life of the notion by war, we are set
tling the Question of itß strength. Ido not mean it*
strength of material resources, its strength of men, and
money, and munitions of war, but its strength of Con
stitution—the strength of the inward principle of the
national life, by acting on which alono its existence may
be presetved, its powers developed, the objects for which.
God gave it a piaceln the family of nations accomplished,
and the endß of its being attained. It would seem a
strange proposition to make, that we have been settling
tbe question whether the whole is greater than any of ita
part E—whether the Union is tovereign, or individual
States. /
The doctrine of State rights, rightly interpreted, is
true, and Massachusetts is a much better exponent of
that doctrine than South Carolina For in Massachusetts
the doctrine has fruited in her love of the personal liberty
of her citizens, intelligent, comprehensive, and unvary
ing, and is visible in the immense efforts and enormona
j early expense of the Old Bay State for the civilization,
education, and refinement of herpeople What has been
the result of South Carolina’s perversion of the doc
trine 1 What but constant and continued plottings how
she may cut the threat of the national Government, while
the: education, civilization, and refinement of her com
mon people have been systematically and of eat purpose
neiJected 1 The laet ia,.tbat the true doctrine of State
rights has been unknown atj the South, while a mere
pretence of State rovereignty to override and contral the
rational Government baß taken tie place.
Wes roi Gen. Jackson a State rights man, and what
did be do, but in maintaining the » sovereignty of thd
naiitnal Government;” pnt down nnlllficationjby sending
Scoitwbh a force to commend the harbor of Charleston,
thus preparing by force of arms to maintain that provi
sion of the Constitution, which says that: “ This Coni
sritution, and the Jaws of the Untied States which Shall be
made in pursuance thereof; and ail treaties which shall
bo made under the authority of the United States shall he
tie supreme law of the land ; and tbe judges of every State
i hall be bound thereby, anything In the laws or Consti
tutions of any Stats to the contrary notwithstanding.”
If that provltion of the Constitution does not tear up the
doctrine of State .sovereignty, not Stale rights, by the
r olßj.wbat does it do T Itmeanß that,oritmeansno
tbing: it does that, or it does nothing;
Tbe Constitution 1b the supreme law of the land, and
the bright light in this cloud of warls that onr struggle
is unmistakably for its supremacy and for the enforce
ment of the laws. If Icouldl would have preveuted the
s bedding of one drop of blood. From the very first the
horrors of war have appalled me for I anticipated
a long, bloody ; struggle, as yon well know. If I
cculd I. would have .caused the laws to be .respected
throughout tbe entire dominion of this Government; but
T could not, yon could not, nobody’ could, and I maintain
now, as at first, the same reasons exist now as existed
that sliil this war must be prosecuted to the suppression
Imoffen’ce oisme. Ths' Constitution has been spurned,
■the sacred-purpose for which the Constitution weeor
dalnef—“a more perfect Union’.’—traitors have endea
vored to bring to nought; and this Government, holding
in ‘fust for ail future time the territory or tbe Union,
Kcd‘tbe principle of self government, dared not tamely
relinquish the’ 'one* or the other. It being onr duty
unitedly,end,with the utmost,energy, to ms'mUiu tha
•ntegrity cf tbe Union, it is a cause of thankfulaess, that
we did not resort to am until circumstances had plabed