The press. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1857-1880, November 27, 1863, Image 1

TINE! P11ta3238,
miasma) DAILY (SUNDAYS SXOSPTIDL
IST JOHN W. FORNEY.
L 1110 . 11. Jo. 111 suns VOITBZH STEM
'DIM DAILY PRIAM%
1 1 01,1111 CINNTS pHi WIEN, payable to the anion
nailed to Bat:Northers out of the City at Sava! DOILLAIN
net ANNOY; TERNS DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS PM Mx
11101ITIM; OIN DOLLAN. AND SEVENTY -MB ONNTEI 102
rinum Nonni. Invariably in advance for the time or
dered.
Sir Advertisements Warted at the usual rates. IRK
HAN sonstlints a Innate.
WOG lIMII-WEEKLY PRESS,
Milled to Subeerlbers out of the CUT et Petra Domani
Sts Astraa. la adman..
MERCANTILE LIBRARY.
Steekholdere wishing to have their shares duplicated
Fire requested to leave their Certificate of Stock with the
Librarian. and to register in a book, now open for that
purpose at the Library, under their own signature, the
name of the person to whom they wish the new certifi
cate made out. Persons will receive their stock in the
order of application. Those who have lost their certifi
cates may have them renewed. Any peraon who shall
own a share of stock on the let of January, 1864, will be
entitled to an additional share without charge. Persona
purchasing at once will receive all the benefits of this
measure. On shares purchased at the Library no tax
Will be charged for the remainder of this year. Price,
$lO. A share of this stock would constitute a valuable
and useful Christmas Present. no2l-6t 1p
RETAIL DRY GOODS
COOPER &; OONARD,I
NINTH AND MARKET.
,TELDUR•CLOTHS.
FROSTED BEAVERS. -
FINE CASSIMERES.
BLANKETS.
BROCHE SHAWLS.
LADIES' CLOAKS.
BOYS' FINE CLOTHING.
noig..f •
818 OPENING, 818
AT THE
ARCH-STREET CLOAK STORE.
A HANDSOME ASSORTMENT OP
LADIES' AND MISSES' CLOAKS.
nob-tt
SKIRTS SKIRTS I SKIRTS !
RI. A. JONES'
CSLURATHD
NE PLUS ULTRA SKIRT
out oily hi band at
No. NORTH EIGHTH STREET,
'/EILADZLPHLt.
OVER THE WAX FIGURE
Nem genuine nnless stamped
K. A. JONES'
NE PLUS tuaisA.
17 Ix srawrir Errxxist
ull•bats
GENTS , FURNISHING GOODS.
- REMOVAL.
IrYNFORD LUK E NS
HAS REMOVED
FRO6I
No. 31 SOUTH S IXTH STREET,
W.,CODNER SIXTH AND CHESTNUT,
Where he now offers a
LARGE AND ELEGANT STOCK
GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS,
Embracing all the latest novelties.
PRICES MODERATE.
ije- The attention of the public is respectfully so.
Hone&
SHIRTS MADE TO ORDER. 0c28.8m
47 1 ,ENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING
` Ol . < loops.
LIcJNTIRE & BROTHER,
No. 1035 OHESTNUT STREET.
EN ENTIRELY NEW STOCK.
SUPERIOR UNDERCLOTHING, HO.
BIERY, HDKFS, CRAVATS, &c.
mar Stooge and Napoleon Ties made to order.
air An elegant assortment of Kid Gloves.
Nfir Gentlemen's Dressing Gowns in great variety.
MP The "MODEL SHIRT " always on hand and
t made to order. 044.3 m
TORN 0. ARRISON,
NOS. 1 AND 3 N. SIXTH STREET,
HAS NOW IN STORE
•
FINE ' ASSORTMENT OF
-IitENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING GOODS
rob
FALL AM) WINTER WEAR.
urp,Manatadnree from the Bed Material and In a
~.aaperfOr Manner by HAND:
Irate SHIRTS and COLLARS.
..43bAker Flannel SHIRTS and DRAWERS.
Heavy Red. twilled Flannel SHIRTS and DRAWERS.
Ina& Canton Flannel SHIRTS and DRAWERS.
31ttakektn SHIRTS and DRAWERS.
Cloth TRAVELLING SHIRTS.
'WRAPPERS, STOCKS, TIES, &o.
_ And sold at the most moderate otiose. 0.7-6 m
FINE SHIRT MANIFF.A.OTORY.
The Subscriber 'Would Invite attention to hie
IMPROVED CDT OF SHIRTS. -
Whish he makes a specialty in his business. Also. sok
etantly_receiviek
mOVELTI.4B FOR GENTLEMEN'S WEAR,
J. W. SCOTT,
GENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING STORE,
No. 814 CHESTNUT STREET,
Four door, below the Continental. ,
LADIES? YURS•
LADIES' FANCY FURS.
SOHN FAREIRA,
No. 718 ARCH STREET, BELOW EIGHTS
titiporter and Manufacturer
LADIES' FANCY FURS-
NT assortment of PARITY FD-ES for Ladles and Ml
dren h now complete, awtthubrntinn over/ varlet, : that
Aleill. be fashlonablee-thit the present reason. All mold
at the mannfeohtfers' prim, for mash. Ladles, please
lite Ins a e ot3-4m
9 0PO , NING OF FANCY FURS.
JOHN A. STAMBACHI
IMPORTER AND 111ANITPACTURER OP
LADIES' FANCY FURS,
FO, 820 ARCH STREET. BELOW XINTL
HN now open a'splendid stook of
LADIES AHD CHILDREN'S FURS,
Which will be sold at the
LOWEST CASH PRICES,
FURS! FURS!
GEORGE F. WODIRATR,
NM 415 AND 417 AEON STRUT,
HAS NOW OPEN
A FULL ASSORTMENT
OP
LADIES' 33 1 TJR14,
iro Which tha attention of the nubile le invited. se9s-414
PAINTINGS AND ENGRAVINGS.
ELEGANT MIRRORS,
A LARGE' ASSORTMEtPr
NEW ENGR AVINGS,
FINE OH FLUTINGS,
JUST RECEIVED
EARLE'S GALLERIES,
818 CHESTNUT STREIT. no2o tl
riCEEM3=
IABINET FURNITURE AND RI&
A., um) TABLES.
MOORE & CAMPION,
No. Sift BOOTH SECOND MEWL
Ll eonnection With their extensive Cabinet business, is
usw mannfastorina b. 'mintier article of
BILLIARD TABLES,
azd have now on hand a full sly Antal:Led with the
MOORS At CAMPION'S IMPR O VED CUSHIONS.
' , Which am pronounced by all who have used them to be
dittperior to all others.
Nor the quality and Antch of these Tablet', the mann
lecturer* refer to their nurnerone patrons throe hoot
‘tite Unten, who are with the character or their
week. mal3 Rr
MILLINERYGOODS.
1141 MRS. M, A. KING HAS CON
STA?.ITLY on hand a beautiful assortment of
Street. WINTER bIILLINEIIY, at 10216 011E5TIVIT
oc3o-Im*
,110 FRENCH FLOWERS, 1863.
FEATHERS ; LACES, RIBBONS, &
NEW -STYLE HATS,
JUST lIPENED AT
WEIOS. KET TN - BAY db BRO.'S,
mg CHU CIUT StruGt, below Math..
1110-8 m
CARRIAGES
1863.
WILLIAM D. ROGERS,
Clench and Light Carriage Builder,
and 1011 OHEIMXUT MEWL
Pl/1141)8LPSUL
. --
- --- '' ' ' - .-- ' - -•- " ' - „%• 11. ‘ , 1 I. r 7 - ' '
. - -..,,_•1!, .
,
.....
-.-- • -, \.,-•.,..- -, / '''''-
„\, .t
4 . ,: - : , ' - -''_.., e - ' i. 14;.- .•
.. .
C
. ..
„,7 , il, ~ , 111 Ao ' ---- - -, ,,:` , ;. , - , .. , --.. 44-.,- - . r.
t. '
:!...za „
: .- : : r .'''' ::- 5.-- ' '' , - - -- -- --:z , ' • 5 ' 1,..../" .. 1 e i1l - 7
.."..,_;,- . 4. . 4 :l'il.;:'," : : : :At . A..” ''' A ~•., .
• ..
. ' ..
. •E - -i_ - - - s ...- . . ~ , c -q.,- . „ .-2- -.. ~ -.;,: ••.,,- ~, - _.. 1 !...ii i•— , -- • ~,- 4- , ; , .;,_,•._ :I' . :if'.."•' l '..,±:'` .. - . ..-=: ? ' -, . fit 1""--- , - .7; . .. - ~ , _ • , .
. .
. ..".! - .- . :7' •ft , .• : ',,: '22 ' • ~- ...2..1, ' N„w ---- ' . #; , l ', ii:c.K r ' r-- ; . 1 - 4: • ~' liift4 ' .4 ?49:e -- lll i , g - 1- -4 - ‘'/" -- V. 4 7,\.,; , --,,. _ ...f.: - H I .
_=-:-:-_....- :: . ~,;;1.0.,7.-......-, e „ - .. -- -..:-0,:...,-.,,. * : - . , -- , - 47..6,:mi k , a 7r , .-ter a i L- 1 1 ,-,---- ?;-- - i..-`7,-. - ; ''•- —; I
. ,
. ... c , `t - ,,. , 3,.= -- - -, A..„,.,,-',4t,,,,i!,4-4:,:zir,:,:,3t,,-..:,,,, .-' -7-Li..-4-,..A1.1,-.-ir.-...-,
. , - ... ,, - - 4,.'1,- ,- ,...14 , -',. - .:-. t. 4,1:'...%;:, 44 , -1 , -.4.4.1, - .-TA.v.?•&•A N i t i...., , ...--.,.., 7 -...., 7 ,.. 7 ,, r ..,.. , ,,,„ :17 ,,,...,„„...,„..-,,... 1 ,•_-__.,, ••,. •• ; •,„ 4 .,,,„, t 5 , .,_ ._._. .
__ ~___.......
•••
, - - - - -•
•• - • •----'-,-,:',------ - , ,t:.;0 „ ;; ' -:" .-- -e li-'-. - - , i 1 :... :-0 . ' s * i -- %; -- i - t .'. L - __-_-_...-
,--.-.._--. .. . ..• .....
":„-'•(.:..„.i c- -...;., .
... . / • • 1 .,.. t .,- :.---- • , ...• E f. -- •
a -•- 4 .,•.`p.. -
- —." I . •-" I - 7..-1:----- - ' ''' --= ' - ""' - ' 7 ' - ------- •-z: ,- .. - •-...!..--..... - ...,._ -. 7" - V• -,. 4'.. ? ' - .. , —:-• --._-- ' .. '-•—•- _..., ... •
. :
*
.
.—..r..12 .
• 7-, ' , .
- .
._....--.......
VOL. 7-NO. 101.
JEWELRY, PLATED WARE, dcc.
TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT.
SAVED BY PURCHASING YOUR
WATCHES, JEWELRY,
SILVER-PLATED WARE,
D. W. C
602 CHESTNUT STREET.
Where may be found a fine assortment of the following
Goode, at Twenty-five per cent. less than at any other
establishment:
Gold Watches,
Silver Watches,
Plated Watches,
American Watches,
English WatChee,
Swipe Watches.
Biacelets,
Setts,
PlllB. .
Ear Rings,
Finger Kings,
Sleeve Batton,
Studs,
Medallio ns `Neck Chains.
Guard Chains,
Chatsline chain's,
Vest Chains,
Pencils.
" Thimbles,
Pens and Cases.
Tooth Picks,
Cents' Bosom Pins,
Gents' Scarf Pins, .
Cents' Scarf Kings,
Armlets.
Charms.
Watch Keys,
Watch Hooks,
Watch Bare,
SILVER-PLATED WARE. &c., dm
Tea/Setts.'
Wine Castors.
Dinner Castors, -
Breakfast Castors.
Cake Baskets.
Card Baskets,
Butter Coolers,
Sugar Bowls,
Salt Stanellads.
Call B.
' Goblets.
Chips,
&mon Holders,
Napkin Rings.
Sy rap Pitchers,
Cream Pitchers.
Table and Dessert Spoons.
Tea and. Salt Spoons,
Egg Salt Spoons,
SPOOIIII.
Dinner and Tea Forks,
Fish and Pie Knives.
Tea and Dinner Knives,
Oyster and Sour Ladles,
Childreres Knife and Fork,
Butter Knives.
&c., &c.
One call will convince the moat incredulous
that the
cheapest place in the city to buy Watches. Jewelry, and
Silver-Plated Ware, le at
D. W. CLARK'S.
6011 CHESTNUT Street.
N. B.—Fine Watches and Jewelry carefully repaired
by the most experienced workmen and warranted.
nol&tde3l.
CLOTHING.
OUR
WANAMAIER iSc BROWN,
OAK HALL,
S. E. CUR. SIXTH. AND MARKET STREETS.
EDWARD P. KELLY,
JOHN KELLY,
•
TAI LORE,
142 sorra. THIRD STREET.
IMAR TUB BIMEANGII,
- --YOfl SLY MIESTNIEIT ABOVE SEVENTH,
Rave now In store a LARGE STOCK and complete as.
mortment of
FALL AND WINTER GOODS.
TERMS CASH.—Prices much lower than any other
Iret-class establishment. oole-tf
BLACK CASS. PANTS, p.m,
. At 704 MARK.Er Street.
SLACK CASS. PANTS, SAM At 704 MARKET Street.
BLACK CASS. PANTS, $5.50. At 764 MARKET Street.
SLACK CANS. PANTS. SBA, At 704 MARKET Street.
SLACK CASS. PANTS, $5.50„ At 704 MARKET'Street.
ORIGG es VAN OIINTENT, No. 700 MARKET Street.
eRIGG a VAN GIINTEN'S, No. 704 MARKET Strut.
GRIGG % VAN GUaTEN'S, No. 704 MeRSTT Street.
GRIGG a VAN GIINTEN'S. No. 704 MARKET Street.
GRIGG a VAN GDYTEN'& N 0.704 MARICIT Street.
ee24-6m F.
SEWING HA:CHINES. I
LONG -LOOKED FOR
COME AT 1-,A6T
tßi PERFECTION OF pENKNG HACKS $.
THE CELEBRATEP EZVEESABLE ,FEED
nagraor PAINING XACIIROOP,
WI CHESTNUT STREIT;
mbers all , *
none interested in sewing maehines are !a
'ma s o on and examine this wonderful Machine.
Sell been the object of the FLOILEMOS SEWIPI2I
sacHHIRE COMP.A.II - ff to supply a machine free from
'fie objections attached to other first-class machines, and
attar the patient, untiring labor of year' itud a liberal
rspgnditnre ofiispital in securing the flrit mechanical
talent, their efforts have been crowned with success. and
the are now offericuto the public the MOST PERFECT
SEWING MACHINS Ili THE WORLD. among its
way ad vantagesover all other machines, may be mars.
'done& ,
let. iMnakes /our different stitchte on one and the
lame machine, each stitch being perfect and alike op
both sides of the fabric.
Ed. Changing from one kind of ditch to another, as
well alale length of the stitch. can readily be done while
the maeMne is in motion.
Ed. Evergistitch ft perfect in itself. making the seam
inure and uniform, eombining elasticity. strength and
keanty. -
4th. It hat the rreererrOte feed motion, which enables
the operatort to run the work to either the right or left,
sr stay any Part of the ream, or fasten the ends of seams
without turning the fabric or stopping the machine:
ith. It fe the most rapid sewer in the world, making
ITO stitches to each revolution, and there is no other
%outshine which will do so:large a range of work as the
FLORENCE.
6th. It does the heaviest orfinest work with equal fa.
ditty, without change of tension or breaking of thread.
7th. It hems, fella, bind., gathers, braids, quilts: and
gathers and sews on a ruffle at the same time.
igh. Its gimp/kit!, enables the most idexperieneed to
operate it. Its motions are all positive, and there are
po gne springs to get out of order, and it in adapted to
all kinds of cloth-work, from thick to thin, and is al
most naiades&
9th. The FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE is unequal
led in beauty and style, and must be seen to be apple ,
slated.
Call and see the FLORENCE. at No. 630 CHESTNUT
Invest. sel-Ses
■AS FIXTURES, te.
-517 ARCH STREET.
O. A. V ANIIIRIC eb 00.
XIII/V7AOTUTOILS OP
OH/DELIEREI
AID &THEE
GAS FIXTURES.
Ifreneh Br;Ingo Times and °mamma,. roreelata
and Mies Shades, and a - variety of
FANCY GOODS,
WHOLESALE .AND RETAIL.
Florio mil and eramtna woods
WATCHES AND JEWELRY.
T E. CALD WELL (t, CO.,
.
8 1 22 CHESTNUT STREET,
Have received a large assortment of Inch Goods, of
heir own importation, comprising
NOVELTIES OF THE PRESENT SEASON
OPERA AND FIELD GLASSES.
RICH FANS, entirely new designs.
COWS, in Gilt, Shell, and Steel.
ENGRAVED GLASS VASES AND CARD
RECEIVERS.
SPLENDID DECORATED FRENCH PORCE
LAIN VASES, CARD-RECEIVERS, AND
FLOWER STANDS:
DRESSING CASES for Ladles and Gentlemon.
RICH JEWEL CASKETS, GLOVE BOXES,
WRITING DESKS, LIQUOR CASES, &c.
CORAL. TORTOISE SHELL, AND STEEL
JEWELRY:
BRONZE STATUETTES, ANIMALS, INK. ,
STANDS, MATCH SAFES, CANDELABRAS,
MANTEL CLOCKS, Marble, Bronze, and Gilt.
RICH JEWELRY, Diamond, Pearls, and all the
Precious Gems, GOld and Enamel.
SUPERIOR WATCHES, Amertcan, Swiss, , and
English. • laP
SILVER WARE, of every.description.
PLATED GOODS, American and English.
nol4-tde26
a RUSSELL, 22 NORTH SIXTH
Street, has just received a. very handeoiae assort
ment of PINE SEAL RINGS. not-3ma!
apFINE WATCH. REPAIRING
attended to . U 7 tbo mod experienced werkmen.
an evary'Watch warranted for one rear. _
- .
G. RUSSELL,
22 North SIXTH Street
-MUSICAL BOXEs'
TN SHELL; AND ROSEWOOD CASES,
•A• playing from Ito 12 tunes, choice Opera and Amerl.
mit Melodies. FARR & BROTHER, Importers,
sea-6m 3214 CHESTNUT Street. below Fourth.
g FfPRRY WINE.—VERY SUPERIOR
Sh - erry Wines of different trades, In bonded ware.
bonen ror bi
CIIAS. S. & JA9. CARSTAIRS.
oeiS • 146 WALNUT. and eßearmx Street.
Ettttss.
FRIDAY: NOVEMBER 27, 1863.
TAI +' N~.'LICONC~L
THANKSGIVING.
•
Yesterday was observed throughout the
United . States as a day of Thanksgiving and
Praise. In Philadelphia the observance was
universal. In all the churches services were
held— every branch of the church, every
sect, and class, and belief uniting in its own.
way togive thanks to Almighty God. As is
our custom, we give a greater part of our
space this morning to an account of the
manner. in which the day was observed,
paying more particular attention to the
religious portion Of the celebration :
EPISCOPAL.
Rev. Richard Newton D. 33
The discourse of which the following is a synopsis
delivered in the Episcopal Church of the Ept.
phony, Fifteenth and Chestnut streets, by the rec•
tor, Rev. Dr. Newton, from the test:
' 'Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires."--legiah.
24:16.
This is one of the moat awe-inspiring chapters of
the Bible. It pictures forth the scenes of Judgment
that are to come upon the earth' in the latter day.
In the midst of It, while we almost hear the thus.
dere roll, see the lightnings flash, and see the earth
tremble, the exhortation of the text' comes in:
" Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fire." What
is it to glorify God? It means to praise Him, to
give Him thanks, "in the fire." The duty becomes
most express when we read the following injunction
of the second lesson : "In every thing give thanks,
giving thanks always, and for all things rejoicing
ever more." This shows the obligation of thanks
giving to be universal. We take the text out of its
connection, and apply it to the present occasion,
We meet in the sanctuary this morning to offer our
thanksgiving to the God of nations for all hie mer
cies towards us.' This is the first occasion on
which our annual Thanksgiving has become truly na
tional. It is certainly cause for congratulation that
the President has set the example of making it na
tional. We have been accustomed to regard Thanks
giving.day as a New England institution, but hence
forth we may hope that it will belong to the whole
country. And, before this day shall come around
again, we should pray, my beloved brethren, by the
mercy of Almighty God, that the sounds of war
shall have ceased in the land, and the blessings and
smiles of peace shall have gladened all our hearts and
blessed all our borders. For the people of the whole
restored Union to unite in thanksgiving will indeed
be inspiring. It will be a sight such as earth has
never yet seen, anti such as Heaven will look down
to ace. God hasten in his own good time, and let
all the people say amen.
We meet again to-day under circumstances of
continued ntifional sorrow and affliction. We are
in the third year, of a calamitous civil war. It has
brought with it stern experiences. "In the fires" is
the position we occupy. No figure or imagery in
the Bible is more common than the comparison of
affliction to fire. We may apply The figure to the cir
cumstances of our present national affliction. War
Consumes property, and so does fire. - War takes
away human life, and so does fire. I now hear the
name of Vicksburg, said the reverendispeeker, paren
thetically, without a painftil remembrance of a be.
loved and noble-hearted brother who fell in one of
the assaults on that now ever-memorable stronghold.
And what a shrine of patriotism and valor has just
been consecrated within our own border, the Na.
tional Cemetery of Gettysburg, where sleep thou
sands of brave men from every. State of the North
and West, who nobly fell in successful attempt to
roll back the tide of invasion. What a classic spot
it has become! Thermopylae and Marathon have
never been more famous in the annals of the world
than this famed spot. All honor to the names of
the heroes that will be graven on ever-enduring mar
ble there ! May they rest in peace, embalmed in
the affections of a grateful country !
Fire spreads great desolation and inflicts great mi
sery. Yet it is not generally an evil without com
pensation, Frequently it is an element of good.
London, so often desolated by the plague before, has
never been visited by that terriole scourge since the
great fire in Me Now, it the great fire in London
burnt out the seeds of theeplague, which in the pre
ceding year destroyed 100,000 lives, who will deny it
was a blessing, indescribably terrible as was the
scene of its ravages? And so we may hope it will
prove with that geeat calamity now pressing upon
us ears nation. God has baptized the land with
blood, in punishment for our wickedness. And yet
the judgment is mingled with mercy. The cloud is
very dark, but it is not without - its silver lining.
That this fearful war will result in blessing to the
land I feel perfectly asiured. God is his own inter
preter, and He will make it plain in what shape the
good shall come; for it is his prerogative to bring
forth from seeming evils certain good.
This, then, is our position: We are " inthe fires."
What, then, is our duty? Evidently, to "glorify
God," It is not to glorify ourselves, our army, our
country, but, in the midst of our afilletions e to glo
rify God. What are some of the most- plain and
manifest things for which we should render God our
grateful thanks? We shall all agree that we enould
glorify God for the general health with which He
has blessed us in the year past. We should glorify
Him for our abundant hat veste 4 We should glorify
Him for his merciful agency in warding off interven.
tion of foreigePowers in our domestic troubles!. We
should glorify Him, finally, for ed the influences and
agencies of a nee e ea li e i ng ebsracter which He has
called into operation in the progress of the War.
War is at best a tremerulems evil. The wiekedness
and demoralization devsioped in its onward course
are absolutely tenitee. And yet there are things
conrected with it mat greatly relieve its gloom, and
light up its darkness with hope's cheering ray. In
this connection the reverend gentleman read an
anonymous letter from a soldier, received a few days
since, enclosing $2 6 as A contribution towards tne
fund for hae benefit of the widows and orphans of
soldiers who • have fallen for their country, and re
peated the following prayer :
God bless - the writer of this letter !. God accept
the offerieg of his gratitude. God protect him
e at i n g the residue of the war from all its dangers,
s e s e uectual, ohs sical, and moral; and thin restore
l e tei to his loved ones at home; and, finally, bring
Alm and them to the Heavenly Kingdom, for Jesus'
sake. Amen!
As another evidence of the ameliorating influence
of the war, look at the labors of the Christian CoM.-
mission. This is an agency for good, I believe, pe
culiar to our own land. The treasures of the coun
try have flowed forth, spontaneously, like water to
enable its operations to be carried on. It has now
more than one hundred active, earnest, and devoted
Christian men, who are engaged as its misaionary
agents with our armies. On one Sabbath recently
fifty-seven religious services were held by ten of
them at and around Chattanooga. "You Christian
men are doing a.great deal of good, and taking the
bitter out of this war," exclaimed one of our weary,
fainting soldiers, to one of the agents after the bat
tle of Falling Waters, How should we thank God
for raising up an instrumentality like this to temper
the edge of our present calamity!
One of the agents of the Christian Commission
was lately requested to call at'a private residence in
this city, where he was introduced to a venerable
lady dressed in deep mourning. Her nameds well
known in the country and that of her gallant eons,
but Ido not feel at liberty to mention it. She had
given her sons and six grandsons to the army. 'One
of them distinguished himself in connection with the
iron -clads, and met his death on the Mississippi last
spring. She said "My daughter died some time
since, and left me ft charge, which I desire to fulfil
towards you." She had ordered to be disposed of,
for the benefit of the Christian Commission, two
India Shawle worth SGOO each, and the shawls wore
handed to him. The gentleman remarked that he
thought a lady who had lost a son and grandson in
her country's defence had made sacrifices, enough,
and was not called upon to give so freely of her pro
perty, She rose to her feet and said with emphasis:
'Sir, if I had twenty sons I would gladly let them
go forth to help save nimountry. If I were a man,
and twenty years younger, I would shoulder a mus
ket myself. IVIy feelineis, sir, that, at whatever
coat, the Union moat be preserved." No more illus
trious example of pure, exalted patriotism can be
found among the pages of Roman or Spartan his.
tory.
To-day, while we thank God for his mercy, let us
pray that He will remove his judgment from us. In
mercy, Lord, cut short this war, and restore to us
speedily the blessings of an honorable and enduring
peace. For the cultivation of the spirit that shall
lead to such results we shall glorify God,
I=fM
At Trinity Church, Catharine street, above Se
toad, the Rev. D. Washburn, rector, in presence of
a numerous and highly, intelligent congregation
deliVered an able discourse from the 47th Psalm, 7Ch
verse.:
"For God Is the king of all the earth; sing ye praises
With. und erste ndi ng-
The original occasion of these jubilant words was
assigned to the time of .Tehoshapriat, amonrothers,
(see 2tl Ohron. xx. 19), when all Judah "stood up to
praise the Lord God with aloud voice on high," in
b'erachah, the valley of Blessing; and the king
went in the forefront of them to Jerusalem with
joy, because the Lord had made them to rejoice over
their enemies. When the war first begun, Jehoshe
phat, with all Judah, their wives, and their children,
had observed a solemn fast in the house of the Lord.
* * * * Their prayer was earnest; their
danger was imminent. Their enemies were already
in their territory, on the further side of 'Jordan's
gulf, threatening their very capital.
Knowing how we all so lately felt, with "a hostile
army this side the Potomac, we can the better ap
preciate the prayer of Judah when their enemy was
encamped at Engedor, not forty
miles from Jerusa
lem. Unprepared for such an invasion, they cried
to the Lord in their distress : * "0, our God,
wilt Thou not judge them; For our eyes are upon
Thee."
Then, as now,
the Spirit of the Lord dispelled
their fear, with the assurance of all who trust in
Him with prayer : "The battle is f not ?our's, but
God's." And suddenly this great truth, that God is,
indeed, the Sovereign Arbiter of the nations of the
earth, received a signal con firmation in the maddened
destruction of rhose.Confederate invaders. After
tracing the parallel furnished,the reverend gentleman
continued : Dien of understanding, who breathe our
liberty ; Christians,. worthy of a Saviour whose
truth makes free; patriots, worthy of brethren who
have died in sour defence, the song of God's chosen
people, first heard in the valley of blessing,
or at
the enshrining of the ark of mercy, sacred therme
forward in the temple service, and evermore rising
from Ohristian churches, at the ascension of the
earth's Redeemer to reign over all; that song of tri
umph, through God's mercy, that song of gladness
for deliverance_os yours to-day. Yours is the privi
lege, as never before, to join your voices with thou
sands upon thousands who sing this day, from ocean
to ocean, the anthem of the free. The clouds of "so
much dread " are proving " big with mercy " beneath
a brightening thy. Old familiar words have a mean--
log ever new as the world moves on: A youthful
people, before GOd tb-day, my country, lift opyour
nations have fallen, lint thou ari still young,
Toy ban is tint rising when others hive set:
Though I:Lawry's clouds o'er thy morainehave hung.
Meridian freedom shall beam on thee yes.
"Sing praises to God ; sine praises. Sing praises ,
to cur Krug; sing praises. For .God is the King of
4111111 c earth ; SIM ye praises with understanding) ,
Mr. Washburn then proceeded to sketch with
glowing colors the prosperous condition of the land;
showed the dependence of all other calllngsand in
teresta upon the agriculture of a country, as their
basis of , development; give large statistics of—the
produce of the soil this year of gran 3, 1S61; specified
the remarkable health fulnese of the year, anthill
strueted the audience in relation to Christian
thanksgiving.
The 'description of the battle of Gettysburg, dia•
playing a graphid power of rare occurrence, thrilled
every hearer, The masterly discourse, which we
regret the want of apace to give in full, closed with
a historical account of the surrender of °slats, in
134/i to Edward HI. A liberal thank•offering was
then;made to the Episcopal Hospital.
F..THOMST EFISCorAL.
Rev. Franklin Moore.
Rev. Franklin Moore preached a sermon in the
llnion Methodist Episcopal Church from the folloiy•
ing text :
"'lle Lord reigneth: let the multitntles of isles be glad
thereof "—Ezekiel. :3: 13.
Then the Spirit took Ma top, and 1 heard behind me' 'a
PHILADELPHIA, TEMA Y, NOVEMBER 27, 1563.
voice of a treat ruching, wring, Bleserd be the glory of
the Lord from his place. "—Psalms. xeyll :
. The times are full of strifes, are as the sea when
its breast is boiling, and its waves are banked in
wrath at the bidding of the tempest. The nations
Of Europe are as a cauldron which is simmering pre•
paratory to that violent seething which results from
the. active presence of heat through the swelling
mass. The whole European continent is shaking
under the influence of struggling social forties, whilst
trampled Poland, like a volcanic crater, is hurling out
fire and blood. In our own nation we have witness
ed years of the collision of thoughts and principles
succeeded by the Mash of arms. . .
The land has been rocked with the storms of civil
war for now more than two years. The results of the
conflict have been in some respect. frightful. The
land is clothed with blackness And grief. The bleach
in g bones and the long funeral ridges of many battle
fields, with thousands of widely. scattered graves,
prepared by home affection, tell how very many of our
iellow•citizens have fallen in defence of Liberty and
After some further remarks in this 'strain, refer
ence was made to reasons for gratitude in the
midst of our sorrows. Citations were made
from the Proclamation of the President, anti
Govetnur of Pennsylvania. A wider sweep of
thought was taken, however, and attention directed
to the reign of Gai
Gail in the earth as a sense of joy
through ali the ages of time. Some remarks were
made upon the existence of Divine Providence. It
was urged from the nature of matter of the animal
mind, as under the control of, instinct; from the
moral nature of men; from the retributions and re
wards interwoven with the nature of things. It
was also stated as taught explicitly in the Bible,
and as wrapped up in the duty of prayer for the
coming of God's kingdom in the earth.
Admitting the actuality of Divine Providence, we
are presented, with an astonishing episode—a tempo
rary departure from the mode of its administration
for eternity. It is now conducted by the man Christ
Jame, in whom dwelleth the fullness of the God
head. The goal to which the many events embraced
under this Providence tend is the enthronement of
right in the earth. This enthronement Will take
place when the heathen are in the inheritance of
Christ, and the uttermost parts of the earth are his
poseession This government of the Divine man
was anticipated in the vision of - Ezekiel. That
vision was assumed to be not only of the Divine
glory, but, also, a vision of Providence. It was said
to illustrate certain features of the Divine govern
ment in the earth, and which will, indeed, mark it
forever throughout the universe.
Reference was here made to three thoughts :
First. The display of power is a feature of Provi
dence which challenges praise.
Secondly. The - progress of Providence is often
made through tumult and struggle.
Thirdly. It was urged, with some detail, that there
is always, throughout all ages, a real progress in the
plans or Providence towards a sublime issue. The
chariot of Providence never rolls backward.
-
It was affirmed, in this connection, that there has
been no age of humon history which did not, in the
progress of events towards the goal of triumphant
righteousness, furnish ample reason for the doxology
of the veiled seraphim in the vision of Isaiah: " Holy,
holy, holy, ie the Lord of Hosts ; the whole earth is
full of his glory." Throughout every age, the
mighty rushinga of events have rolled out the joyful
acclaim of the living creatures of Ezekiel's vision :
" Blessed be the,glory of the Lord from his place."
The concluding part of the discourse was an ap
plication of the doctrine of Providence to ,the times.
Future joy would spring out of the sorrows and
struggles which are now transpiring. Millions of
the enslaved would be made free. Africa, in the
ultimate results of the American conflict, would be
blessed immeasurably. Her social elevation would
be so grand as to be fittingly typed by her continental
uplifting, amidst vapors and thunders from the
troubled and turbid bosom of chaos. Europe and
ASAP, too, even the whole earth would feel the shock
of our violent conflict ; would feel it not for ruin,
hut for renovation. A new Union eclip sing the old
one would yet be witnessed. Pennsylvania would
yet be favored with a wonderful prosperity when
the storms of war are overpast. Brighter days are
dawning on the world. A vision of Christ walking
among the churches, as the light of the earth, was
now given.
These lights would so multiply that their' blended
power would cause the whole globe to glow with
moral splendor.
The remarks were of unusual interest and benefit
to the large number present, among whom was the
distinguished representative of Delaware, Governor
Cannon. A liberal collection was given after the
sermon for the benefit of the Christian Commission.
Rev : Newton Heston, of Brooklyn, N "1-
The Rev. Newton Reston, of Brooklyn, delivered
a sermon at the Arebstreet Methodist Episcopal
Church, from the following text :
`The harvest is come. "—Mark iv.,
The reverend gentleman opened his sermon with
an eloquent exposition of thanksgiving and the effi
cacy of prayers. And after this dissertation he pro
ceeded to speak of national affairs. The United
States he thought was a providential country, and
so indeed all countries are providential, for God is
working through them. Tney have their mission
and their relation to the great family of nations. It
would seem as if the - Hebrew nation, in its history,
was peculiarly providential, for, we see God work
ing through it, and by it, and with it, more than
other nations. The whole world feels that ancient
histmy. And so with ourhation restored !
transferred to these shores ! This is the continent
upon which results,bidden from the eyes of men
for long centuries, ave been brought forth at last,
in the unbosoming of the great heart of time, and
here is seen the fruition of the various efforts of
men to establish civil liberty. Here the great de.
I mocratic experiment is to be tested and strengthen
led by conflict. Europe has scattered the seeds.
The results grow here. We are making history.
And yet men stand in the midst of these scenes,
just as they do in relation to the metes-rex mervest,
as agents -or bermeesereses.- wok at the stirring
of are el'. gvid'uniael upon
n n
u responsible? For:
ilo manyr
their individual power must be counted in the age
gergate of agency and result.
I am aware that party hate and sectional ms.
lignite' will go to this man and that, and say, " You
are the cause of all this, abolition, Sm."' But this is
poor, shallow, and miserable reasoning. You must
go deeper than that, to first causes. There is not a
man or a party in the country that is the cause of all
this struggle, or ever could be. A mere accident, or
incident, such as party, cannot be a cause.. Men and
parties may propel or hinder certain results, and'
then they must abide the penalties. But if you crack
open the question of responsibilities, you will get at
a deeper question. You will find liberty fighting
from the centre out to the circumference of our po
litical life, justice springing up from the heart of
freedom at the throat of oppression!, and why?
Because slavery has attempted the life of the nation ;
to rob the people of their government, and the only
alternative is to strangle the highwayman -and his
friends.
One man will say that it is the anti-slavery
agitation which has brought this upon us. Indeed,
but what caused the antislavery agitation? The
fact is, wrong will always produce reaction, will
bring a harveet time. Suppose your neighbor has a
hornet nest. There are thoughts that come into
men's minds to act upon, like fulcrums for levers to
rest upon, and these thoughts, which are only the
blossoms, will ripen.into fruit, into great truths,
which, like warriors, go forth or stand up to resist
Wrong. But where is the spring of these things?
Here stands a man giving utterance to a truth that
shakes a nation to its centre. Whence comes the
truth? He did not make it. God sends it on a mls
eionsto the world through that man's brain and soul.
The seeds of truth are not manufactured by men, but
planted in them -by the great sower of truth who
means to bring the world to a harvest home of
liberty and righteousness. - Men are agents and in.
struments in securing these results. The devil has
his agents and instrumentalities too, and they often
bring about, in their grasping haste, what they would_
prevent. They quicken the growth of God's seed in
other hearts and ripen the fruit, and present the op-'
portunity for Truth, to sound the alarm, and call her
defenders into battle! Thus it has been with the
preachers of Secession, the leaders of the slave
holders' rebellion, and Northern sympathizers.
But Rill sad to contemplate the harvest of death
which has come to this nation—" without the shed
ding of bloodthere is no remission of tics" would
seem to apply to nations as well as individuals.
History confiners this, and we are realizing sit. It
is a deplorable harvest—a harvest of sorrow and
lamentation. To-day is generally the best day of
all the year ; the day of home gatherings ; the day
when the boy off at school comes home, when the
patient toiler in some distant city returns ; when
the daughteicomes back; when the children and
grandchildren come together around the old family
table. But how_ is it tee day 1 The mother looks
around and there are vacant placea—some scattered
far away on the sea ; some lie in forgotten graves
amid the swamps of the Ohicaliominy, that charnel
house of military strategy ; some where the Po
tomac washes by, and autumn winds sigh their
requiem—in the West and along the Atlantic coast.
Some are- languishing in the hospitals. Thus, to
many, it Is a harvest of mourning, but to all a har
vest of patriotism ! Here, indeed, and there and
yonder, the great national table may be spread to
day—it oughtto be everywhere—but some of the
family do not Come to it ; some are skulking away
in the corner : they want to divide the old home
stead, and split up this beautiful land • they will
not all come with us to-day ; but let us " pray
that when the national table -is spread one year
hence the Absaloma may all be dead, and that there
may be thirty- four chairs all occupied—thirty-four
States mound the old family table of the Republic,
and the star- spangled banner floating over all.
What have we to he thankful for to day ? Again
I say we are to be thankful for the harvest, Cud not
only because it feeds us, but because of the politi
cal and financial importance of that harvest. What
would have become of ut in-this- struggle without
this' bounty from God through the bosom of mother
earth 1 Had God given us famine, where should we
be to-day ? How providential to the nation ! What
sufferings, what commoLtions and upheavings it has
averted ! Moreover, we begin to see now what is
the power of our country—that a single State is not
king and cannot rule. We begin to see that corn is
king as well as cotton, and that the subsistence of
nations is a power.
We have occasion for thankfulness in the loyalty
of the people—that common bond of union among
ourselves. This haenot been a matter of- mere ha
man device. The cementing influence of religion,
widely diffused among the people, has done it. - God
is at work in the nation ; that's my hope ! A few
poodles here and there wll bark secession, but it
amounts to nothing ; as soon as they show signs of
hydrophobia, and attempt to bite. they will be taken
rare of. Anu should it come to this, that our Re
public, like another Daniel among the princes, jea
lous of our power, should seem to be surrounded by
foreign foes as formidable as lions then the God of
the people and of freedom will semi an angel to lock
their jaws, or give them the lockjaw !
We shall know better than ever what our country
is worth. We shall be • a nobler nation, because
of this very struggle; with mote of national life,
dignity, and power. The world shall know us better,
and we shall know ourselves' better. This, then, is
the harvest we are gathering—a harvest of national
sentiment, 'that shall contolidale the States and
crush out the heterodoxy of secession and abolish
slavery. The process Is indeed terrible, but the re
sult, grand and , sublime, justifies the means. We
are planting the rich seede and the whole land, oven
the children, will reap the harvest of a purer, etur
dier patriotism. You need not fear the thunder.
gust; it will do good.
There is sorrow in private homes to-day—an in
gathering, for the moment, of tears, sad memories,
-and broken hopes. Lit us see, also, that there ie
'noble ingerthering of loyal purposes, 'Fathers, ma
there, mourning' for your sons; wives for your hus
bands, children for your fathers, you have planted
:seed for future ages to reap when it comes their
turn to thrust in the sickle, Our father. in the Re
volutionary struggle and in tale did the same for
tie. Superficial thinkers believed there would be
no more trouble, for the American Revolution set
tled everything. - That seemed to -be the feeling Of
Fourth of July orators; but they forgot that there
were elements of disturbance in the body politic;
that sacrifices must be made before the proper ads
juetment could be reached ;'that Slavery and Free
dom emild never form a solid family union. They
can't live together.
- We owe a debt of gratitude to our brave and noble
army, who have gone forth to do battle for the
UnienetO preserve our liberties intact, andour coun
try' from division. They struggle to hand down to
-their posterity and ours "a whole countryenot a con
tinent cut up into petty principalities, and exhausted
by feudal wars, until some foreign Power steps In to
exercise a protectorate over a humbled and (Rapid
led people. No I we cannot give such a heritage to
Our children.
Let us have faith in God—it will strengthen the
soul and nerve the arm. Let us remember that God
is .Ik:the midst of the sea ; in the calm and the
etbtm ; at our homes and on the 'ha t tle.tield ! God
is with those who to'down to the sea - in` ships (Or
commerce or detensitie war. Are there no horses and
chariots of. Erato surround and protest our Eliahasl
God is on the side of liberty !
Let a-spirit of trust 'Mad gratitude.
There are wintiowe in heaven through which the
Lord is watching the progress of this wat i 'had as
fast as we are willing to learn of Him, He will pour
contusion on our enemies. :We must expect reverses,
great emergencies, but under God, they will ,be the
means of upheaving great men—men of enlarged
oomprehension--4,men of wisdom—men who care
more for principle than popular favor—right men in
the right place, and at the right time. They are be
ing drilled and educated, and so lathe nation, by this
war, and as the giants come tip, the_ pigmies will go
down. We shell reach the point, and the time,
where God wants us, and is waiting for us, and then
down will come the thunderbolts of justice to settle
a long account of oppression, wrong, cruelty; a ca
talogue black enough to sink any cause. Wait a lit
tle longer, and as you Watt battle for the right.-
We say to the world, stand off, this is our strug
gle; we are a match for treason and rebellion, and
we mean that they of the South shall know it.
Stand aside, and let these two gigantic forms mea
sure strength—Liberty and Slavery, God and the
arch-fiend ; let no foreign Power put foot into the
ring until they have done battle, and the glorious
truth is made patent to all the earth that Freedom is
mightier than Slavery ; free labor stronger than in
voluntary servitude; Republicanism better than aria
'Wormy ; Democracy a match for monarchy !
PRESBYTERIAN—OLD SCHOOL.
Hey. Henry A. Boardman, D. D.
The Rev. Dr. Boardman delivered a sermon from
a text in Ephesians, v. 20:
" Giving thanks sivra . 3 - e for ell !hinge unto God and
the Vathet in the name of our Lord. Jesus Christ. "
The stibstance of the sermon is as follows:
We. are assembled 'to•day by the invitation of the
President of the United States to offer up our
thanksgivings for the mercies enjoyed by us as a
people during the past year.,lt would be useless-to
deny that -this anniversary comes to us the present
season without an uninvited shadow.
No one who loves his country, and who desires to
see this Union .restored, and the Constitution by
which, alone it can so be perpetuated preserved
intact, can fail to regret that we meet this day under
no more favorable auspices. Of course, this remark
does not apply to those who, on mercenary motives,
desire the war 20 go on ; but to those who feel that
the restoration of the. Union is worth all the toils
and sacrifices that can be made to accomplish it. But,
I repeat, it makes mead to know that two years and
raven months have elapeed, and still the war is not
elosed. And it will not abate the burden of these
pima-feelings to think that these times of war
have made our moral sensibilities less acute. Na•
Units easily become careless to the higher instincts
of burniiiiity and Christianity in times of bloody
war, and 'possibly a distinguishing eye could already
notice such a change in our national character.
The services of this day must partake of the two
fold character of the President's proclamation. It
Were ricauseless error to close our eyes to the mer
cies which have been given us during the past year.
We, should acknowledge the hand of God in what
ever progress has been made in suppressing the re
bellion. We ought to bless God that, whether from
motives of patriotism or Christianity, the interest
in the welfare_of our soldiers has not declined, and
it is owing to, the same cause that our civil strife
has not been aggravated by intervention from foreign
Powers. But our business here is thanksgiving;
let us meditate on our many mercies. Of one class
of his mercies we have already spoken. The first
impulse of the new-born soul and the last effort of
the dying believer is to praise the name of the Lord.
We are hemmed in by mercies on every side. In
one aspect life is all mercies. In God we, live, and
move, and have our being, and were we senseless
we should see and know this fact. Even the angels
are kept ever mindful of his love, and pay it with
gratitude as pure as the fire that burns upon the
altar. I have heard strains of thanksgiving over the
merest necessaries of life, in the humblest cottage,
which went up with the songs of seraphim.
The briefest glance we can take of our position, in
respect to our mercies, will be large. The very idea
of a thank-offering sends the thoughts back to the
scenes of our childhood. We revert to marked occa
sions—to sicknesses of which He cured us ; to dan
gers from which He rescued us; to many mercies
which He vouchsafed unto us. Recollections like
these will crowd the mind on a day of thanksgiving.
I have mentioned as a Cause of thankfulness the
blessings of home. It will not do to pass it with a
mere notice. It clasps together the tenderest and
sweetest relations of life. It embraces the strongest
affection., of our nature, and one must see all the
Joys that are experienced in a household to know
how Many are the pleasures of home. The hours
of tranquil peace that are experienced there, the
views that are there exchanged, of private and pub
lic, of small and great matters, the distinct experi•
ence of each individual, and in some the diversity is
wonderful and some wonder how branches so dissi
milar could grow on one tree ; but, by observation, -
we see the impetuous are restrained by the gentle,
the boisterous by the sedate. Home training is more
effective than that of the schools. There may be oc
casional clashing.; the aged will not always be
'bland. nor the young respectful, and such things are
to be deprecated, but how much rational pleasure we
see in twelve months of life at home than we are
able to give thanks to the Great Giver for. This is
true of all homes, and how much more of domestic
happiness is there where genuinereligion is dissemi
nated. It is a blessed thing for a family to be bound
together by the ties of Christian unity and love.
Sometimes such families are remiss in their affec
tions to each Other, but you shall discover individu
als whose daily lite exhibits a life of daily piety
and peace. And, in this connection, what shall I
say of that which contributes so largelysto make
home happy—literature 1 What should we do with
out books! How different are our homes now com
pared with those of the fifteenth century ! Printing
rose upon the world like a second sun in the hea
vens.
Dr. Boardman on accbunt of illness, brought his
discourse to 'a close sooner than he desired, and in
doing so he oaid If we have found that the war has
brought no harm nigh our dwellings we owe it to
our ; bountiful. Benefactor, who is loading us with
biessings above , all price. We owem more than
love.and obedience therefor. We owe him the ser
vice of tour hearts and lives, and whatever we can
do to mitigate sin, or however we may spread
abroad the ameliorating influence of the Gospel, it
will be our duty to perform. And while sustaining
out afflicted country, in this her hour of sore die
tresiove should do all in our power to tame the
ferocity. of war, and to slacken the sluices of iniquity
which deluge the landavith their poison. We should
have the conviction that beyond and above these
scents of strife there is one who overrules all things,
and that until we return to God in due contrition
for our sins we cannot expect this war to come to an
end. The crowded ball-rooms and theatres, the
general levity and trifling, the malevolence of party
spirit, the insensibility to the finer feelings of our
nature, are indications of the evil that is abroad
amongst us.
Surely God is dealing with us, and the surest,
safez4and easiest way, if at all to bring the war to
a successful close, is by humbling ourselves to the
mighty hand-of God, and committing our country to
his guardianship.
Rev. C. W. Shields, D. B
The O. S. Presbyterian Church in Seventh street,
below Arch, was open.for thanksgiving services yes !
terday, and in the morning an eloquent and patriotic
sermon was delivered by Rev. C. W. Shields, P. D,
The text selected was the 15th verse of the 144th
Psalm.
The speaker commenced by saying that such a day
as this brings its own lessons. We are assembled
together to render thanks to God for the many mer
cies and blessings showered upon the people of this
Common Wealth and our Government. Allusion Was
made by"the speaker to the last national thanks
giving say, and he said that still we are striving to
decide by the sword. and the. tongue, and the pen,
whether the people of this country shall continue to
live under a more perfect . Union, or whether we
shall be dissolved into numerous confederacies. The
reverend gentleman took the ground that, notwith
standing the immense resources which are constantly
at the disposal of the nation, yet our Christianity—
the Christianity of the American people—was the
last and only hope for an early settlement of all our
difficulties,'and a volution of the great problem now
perplexing the . minds of the nation. He used the
phrase American Christianity, because there was
such a thing existing. In other countries wherever the
eye is cast, we find more or less connection of the
Church with the State ; but, not so with us, where
our people were free, and exercised the right of their
own religious views. And it was to this American
Christianity alone that we could look for help and
comfort in this our greatest hour of affliction. We
risk what is the mission it has to accomplish when
acting as a political rather than religious element?
The speaker contended that it might be discarded
and excluqed from every place and by all, yet it
could not be denied that it was the only element and
true sourceupon which we can look for deliverance
from oufr existinc , " evils, and for our future growth
i
and prosperity. Thus s the mission it has to ac
complish, and it is a fact fast -being admitted, and
the world looks quietly on to witness its success.
In speaking of our country, of the many great ad
vantages possessed by it, both natural and acquired,
he said thst, without the aid and support of this
Christianity, misfortune would certainly folio as—
success Wild not be attained without it. With all
the vices,tiremorality, and wickedness around us,
who, is tinre that would be willing to trust alone
ii
upon our aterial.resources for future prosperity,
and for a settlement of the great troubles now
agitating ur country. Although he made the ad
mission, t at our Government was a model alone;
the best tie world ever saw, and our institutions
perfect, yd could we trust in them? Did we know
so little of political corruption as to rely solely for
deliverano upon these, and could we rely upon any
direst legllation? Could we hope that our legisla
tors and ti administrators of our laws would give
such morgt3r to the masses of the people as shall
afford supra and strengthen our Governmentl The
people, he ontended, could no t be made temperate or
moral by limos or law-making, and where else then
than in Clristian culture is trained up and nursed
that patriCism which alone must be relied upon in
this great ~our of trial? Look where you will, and
there is no the slightest hope for deliverance save
in Christianity. This is a truth that is becoming so
simple thin it amounts to an axiom. It is Chris
tianity.alcule, therefore, that must guide American
progress, eitend American civilization and reunion.
This was aiparent, and was becoming more so each
day. The' tery difficulties which Christianity had
encounters!, and was still encountering, only tend to
make it th more fit for the mission it is destined
to accom sh. Thankful indeed should we be
tll
for this irosperous and wealthy land, for
this libera Government, but still more grateful
should our eartrobe for that Gospel which might
make thatend another kingdom and our people of
one brothethood. - "How thankful should we be for
ti
a Gospel tis able to bring unity out of discord,
prosperity ut of ruin, and to work hundreds of
other thin beneficial to the world. In concluding
his discour e, the speaker made an earnest appeal
for the ear and satisfactory settlement of all our
national t übles, that we might soon see in this
hemiapher a - cluster of rejoicing republics, more
el lt
happy and rosperous ,than at tiny previous time in
our history and that peace and the law and Word
Of God "nig t fortker reign supreme.
PRE SItYPERIAN—[ W SCHOOL.]
Rey. Albert Barnes.
At the Fist Presbyterian Church, on Washinzton
Square, Re.. Ailbert Barnes officiated.
After the' preliminary exercises, including an ex
ceedingly cotnprehensive and affecting prayer, the
pastor of the ' First Presbyterian Church announced
his text. .0 was taken from the 124th Psalm, corn
men sing : I
'' if it bad not been the Lord who was on our side.
now may [null say; if it had not been the Lord who
-
- wee on our aide,When men rose up against ne, th. u they
had .‘wallowed ue up quick, when their wrath was
!dn.:llse against ns
It is a thing greatly to be desired, that we may
never have , occasion to observe another day of
thanksgiving under such circumstances as we do to
day. We. come together to find occasions for grati
tude. It aims, indeed, foreign to the pulpit to speak
as much—as it has done on. war. Its mission is
that of peace. :Yet, when these subjects . en
gross the public heart and mind, it is unavOida-
We to bring them forward on there occasions..
sides this, there is a duty we owe to those
who have. left us - to tight for us. The men
who fought at Gettysburg are examples of this. We
owe it to such of these that we should stand bythem.
We should be recreant in our duty if we not re
member them when we give:thanks on such an oc
casion as this. The bearing of the events of the
year on the war and on the prospeoti 'of peace,
should, I think, be the subject of to-day. The ques
tions which naturally arise are:
The object of themar ; the bearing of the events.
of the year upon it ; the question whether the inter
ests of religion have been imperiled by it ; the bear
ing of these events upon the return of peace to the
land, and the object of the
,war. It may seem
strange to advert to this. Nothing is more
important, however, than to keep in mind
what are and what are notthe objects of the war.
The Congress of ;the United States- have clearly
stated their decision, that this .object is to maintain
the supremacy of the. Constitution and preserve the
Union, as well' s maintain,the, dignities and rights'
,of lie' several States. Manyy things had contributed
to fire war.' There was the - doctrine of State Rights.
In the year 1807, the question came up about the
embargo. The poople of New England considered'
the action ucconetitutlonal. Instead of taking the
ground of nullification, the question was submitted
to the Federal judiciary, and all New England ac
quicaced in the decision. There was also the legis
lation supposed to bear on one part of the country
rather than another. Again, the question of slavery.
Men asked whether it would not be better to dis
solve the Hnionethan bring all the power of the
Federal Government to abolish slavery forever.
The valuer of the Union is not less vatuable, now
that we have thirty-five States and vast territories.
The great principle of our liberty is, that it is to be
constitutional liberty. Our Constitution is the re
sult of all past experiences. All these are embodied
in it. It comprises more wisdom than any political
pamphlet ever issued by the hand of man. Com
pare it with the other arrangements for government
•in the world. Where is the British Constitu
tion, the Constitutions of 1848 of France, Prus
sia, Belgium, Italy, Naples? Ours is a writ
ten Constitution. We know what our rights
are and how to secure them. I have ,arrays
been an antislavery man. But this war- was not
originated for the purpose of the abolition of slavery,
and cannot be prosecuted for that purpose, without
departing from the design of Congress. The bear
ing of the events of the year on the war: There
are two classes—that pertaining to ourselves, and
that pertaining to foreign Powers. The victory at
Vicksburg and the corresponding victory at Port
Hudson are those which pertain to ourselves. The
Mississippi was opened for navigation. Gettyaburg
was another moat momentous event. The excel
lently planned campaign, formed in regard to it by
the rebel army, was frustrated by the Army of
the Potomac. After three days of hard fighting
the North was saved forever afterwards from inva
sion. It was well that thousands should have come
to the sacred spot, and have taken part with tears
and prayers in its consecration. Our, victories have
done much to impress foreign Powers with the
power of the United States, and the skilful states
manship of him winkle at the head of affairs in this
nation. We have great questions to settle with Eu
ropean Powers., From the beginning, foreign
Powers have shown a disposition to intermeddle
and establish their institution on our shore. In
regard to the bearing of these events on our consti
tutional liberties, there is an exertion of power
needful in times of war not needful in times of peace.
Those which seem apt to imperil the peace, are the
fonscription act, the creation of a vast national debt,
the creation of a vast standing army, and the arrest
ing of men without trial. The conscription act is in
hands which have the right and power to ;genie it.
We have a long way to journey before we place our
selves in the position of England, in regard to na
tional debt ; we have no standing army as yet; .as
to arbitrary arrest, although nothing is more vital
to liberty than the right of trial upon arrest, yet the
writ of, habeas corpus may be suspended, according
to the Constitution.
In consequence of the extreme length of this inte
restingly•erudite discourse, Mr. Bsrnes *as merely
able to glance at the remaining questions. The con
gregation was very full.
Rev. E. E. Adams
The Eev. E, E. Adams', of the New School Presby•
terian Church, preached in the North Broad•atreet
Presbyterian Church, from the following text, in
Psalms, lxiit, 5:
M mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.
Mr. Adams said: We come here today, then, to
thank God, in the first place for our homes ; these
resting-places in life's weary march, where, by cul
ture, by sympathy, and piety, in the cheer of young
hearts and gleeful voices, the soul grows hopeful. It
is eminently true of the Anglo-Saxon that he looks
on his home as a sacred place. Nothing else so in.
spires his heart to sacrifice, or girds his arm for war.
We have the same spirit. 0 1 peaceful, godly home,
Love and song, intelligence, and virtue, nestle be
neath its roof. Happy memories, ministries filial
and paternal, rendered more dear by sorrows and
separations• hopes that bathe in the promises of the
future; studies, affections, mutual confidences not
known in the bustle of the world; births, over which
older hearts glow with joy; deaths, which mellow
.the tone of happiness, and win the spirit;toward the \
realms of eternity : these make up ttie?elements of
a holy, happy home, For such "our mouth shall
Praise God with joyful lips."
Auk yourselves, what now were our social state
but for the good hand - of God? To say nothing of
the maladies and calamities which might have in
vaded our dwellings, had He not guarded and pre
served them, in the ordinary course of things, what
mind can imagine our condition had our enemies
gained the victory at Gettysburg? had not our army
reached that little hill ! Or had the battle been re
- newed by the Confederates on the thl of Slily, at
early morn, when the Ist and 11th corps were ex
hausted by the conflict and retreat of the previous
day, when the dd and I2th were worn by forced
marches, and the 2d, 6th, and 6th had not arrived!
It was a merciful Providence to us that up to four
o'clock in the afternoon the weary bands rested, and
the distant corps had time to reach the field, adding
50,000 strong•hearts as a barrier between us and
ruin. Had that day and the succeeding gone against
the Army of the Potomac, and our brave troops who
rushed to the border, what but a miracle could have
saved us from destruction? We look beyond all
skill and valor, and glorify God, who presided over --
the whole transaction, and we thank Him for our
homes—for this day of sad memory indeed to some,
but of high hope and great joy throughout the loyal
;ate tea.
We shmild also praise God that we had a country
still. A country rich, grand, varied, full of enter
mite, mind, culture, religious actions. When it j.
was only a wilderness its discovery sent - a thrill
through Europe, and when the great adventurer re
turned
with specimens of its products, the streets of
Barcelona witnessed a triumph for him glorious
as that of Roman heroes. Consider how much our
country has cost; the elements that constitute its
power; its influence on the world's life;- the
broad development given to-thc men by its insti
tutions. Think of the mighty efturts that have
been made to destroy it—to - stop its march of free
dom and of mind. What intrigues of politicians for
thirty year% ; whatsophistries in speeches and docu
metts ; what plans for the quiet accumulatiom,of
arms and defences among those now at war with us;
what betrayal of friendships and confidences; what
departure from avowed principles p what abuses of
office; what beguiling of foreign courts;
what se
cret preparations abroad what appeals to the lowest
passions; what falsehoods; what threats; what
gathering of armies ; what invasions ; what inter
play. between open enemies and avowed friends ' • what
treachery in our capital and our armies; what
mobs, seeretly aided by an archbishop, his
priests, and a recreant Governor; what misinter
pretations of law ; what cries of "unconstitution
ality what railings at our Executive ; what scorn
from woman's lips ; what expenditure in men, and
means, in runners of blockade, in piracy, in a lying
press at home and abroad ; what appeals to Heaven ; •
what clamors about "oppression" and - "States
rights" and "the divine right of slavery ;" what up-
heaving of all our institutions as by volcanic mad
ness, and then the hypocritical cry of "Let us
alone; we only want peace!" The best military"
talent in our own land, the skill and wealth of Bd. ,
tieh workmen and proprietors, have been against •
ue, and traitors in our own ranks '• while the third
part of our whole population have in various ways .
avowed their sympathy with the rebellion. Under
such circumstances, what power but that of God
could have set us in our present cOmparatively safe
condition? •
The day of Gettysburg was God's day, !)tat man's.
It saved our homes, our cities, our country! It saved
freedom ! It told the world that America still lives !
It assured tyrants that they cannot stop liberty !
That this growth of ages and of God cannot be cut
down ! The day that followed, when the rebel army
hastened its retreat, and our nation shook with jubi
lee, was our second national birthday—a duplicate
of the great Fourths It Was a new victory over
opinions, and over force. On Cemetery Hill, now
consecrated forever to the memory of valor and sa
el ifice, were conquered more fears, prejudices, poli
tical obstinacies, and schemes of treason, than ever
fell before in any single conflict. A. dead revolution
lies in that immortal field !. Under God, we owe to
that day the peace and the praise of this.
In conclusion, said the speaker, we should praise
God on this occasion, for our homes, our country,
and our, church; homes, which are schools for the
nation and the church—the nation, which holds all
our homes as gems in a great coronet; as stars in
the upper fields—the church, the expression of
man's noblest inspirations, and highest need. The
reign of God in us and around us. The eternal rest
and perfection of man through faith in the crucified.
The commonwealth of renovated natures, pure,
blessed, immortal.
Rev. T. J. Shepherd
The Presbyterian congregations in Buttonwood
and Coates streets, united in the public services of
Thanksgiving day. A. very large audience assem
bled at eleven o'clock, A. M., in the Coates-street
Church, the Rev. James Y. Mitchell conducting the
intreduciory worship, _ and the Rev. Thomas J.
Shepherd preaching the sermon. Mr. Shepherd's
text was Psalm 100, 4 :
"Enter into Ills gates with thanksgiving, and into His
courts with praise, be thankfal unto Him, and bless His
name.
He liegan by saying that the text justified
the President of the United Stater, ',and tha
Governor of the Commonwealth of 'Pennsyl
vania., in appointing the day as a • day of
general thanksgiving. He characterized the text as
a summons from God to recognize in Hint the source
of all our blessings,' and to pay -to Him the fitting
tribute of public homage. Nor may we question,
he continued, that if ever called to be thankful unto
Jehovah, and to bless his name, we are thus called
to-day. Amid the clouds of a civil war, such as ne
ver before has darkened and, thundered over any
land of earth, we see to-dsy, not only the silver
linings of God's goodness, but those golden sun
bursts of God's favor, which, if our authorities and
ourselves were reluctant to speak, the very stones
of the streets would eloquently utter. Hence, as
incentives to thanksgiving, he proceeded to state
some of the marked revealings of God's favor to
the nation in the progress oethe ongoing straggle
for national life.'
I. The first point made was that, in the struggle,
all elibrts to dismember the nation had been signally
thwarted. He adverted to the eftbrts to capture
Washington, to ravage the loyal States, to ember
ram the Government, to secure the intervention of
foreign Powers, to supply the Confederacy with
stores from abroad, to build for the Confederacy in
foreign ship-yards an iron-plated navy, and to create
and strengthen in all minds abroad the bitterest,
blindest prejudices against the National cause. It
Was amazing that efforts, even leas powerful and
less persistent, had not long since effected the na
tion's dismemberment. Their failurejwas a signal
revealing of God's favor. Alan had done his best
to break the National Government to pieces; but
God, in defence, had been stronger than man. As a
nation, we still live. As a nation, we still stand
proudly erect, like a great rock in a stormy sea.
And for this we magnify the God of our fathers.
11. The second point made was that, in the strug
gle to protect the nation from dismemberment, ad
demands on a generous, self-sacrificing patriotism
had been promptly met. He instanced the demaads
for men, for money, for daring heroism, and soldierly
prowess, and for patient, endurance and - suffering
loyalty. He said that a million of men had already
entered the strife on the National - aide; that a thou.
sand millions of dollars had already been voted and
expended ; that army and navy alike had displayed
a daring and prowess unsurpassed in the stormy
times which gave the nation its Revolutionary
birth, and that the loyal people everywhere had
shown unmistakably their readiness to suffer all
things before suffering the nation's dismemberment.
In all he saw a signal revealing of God's favor to
the nation, and spat, occasion of thanksgiving.
- 111. The third point made was that, in the pro
gress of the struggle, all misconceptions of its under
lying principles had, at home and abroad; been stea
dily giving way to clehrer light and broader vision.
In the outset of the struggle misconceptions did
exist, but few men, anywhere,lied doubt as to what
Secession meruari, or as to what Secession proposes.
It is as well accepted as any theorem of 'anthem
matins that Secession means open-and flagrant la
correction against the powers and rights of the Fe
deral Government, and that Secession proposes to
found, on this continent, a slave republic,-which
shall be antagonisticto the old republic of freedom.
He quoted the recent frank er.draissiohiorthe Rich
mond Examiner, that "the establishment of the Con
federacy is a distinct reaction against the whole
course of the mistaken civilization Of the age; that
• for liberty, fraternity, equality, the Confederacy de
liberately subetitutes slavery, subordination, and
Government; that among equals equality is right ;
among those who are naturally unequal equality is
chaos; that there are slave races born' to serve;_
master race, born to govern." He showed
against the principle of State sovereignty or Seces
sion the nation is asserting the necessity of national
integrity; and how against the principle of race-in
equality or slavery the nation is asserting the obli
gation of national freedom. He showed, too, how
all, r not wilfully and utterly blind, are fast coming
to sup that . . - here is the very core of. the ongoing
And in the growing clearness with whiten
• theee lAndeliyiss: principles were coming out to
saw's marvene , ...revealing of God's favor
to the nation, and a real Occaskon_of thanksgiving.
THREE CENTS
Dlillions reeosnize this struggle as not a blind or
aimless one. Millions, with astonishing unanimity,
declare with Whittier--
"The years have never droPped their sand
On mortal isms., vast and grand
AS ours to-day. "
IV. The fourth point made was that, in the light
of recent events, all doubts of the struggle ending in
the nation's triumph had been thoroughly dispelled.
Foremost among these events the speaker placed
the battle of Gettysburg, which he described, adopt
ing Mr. Everett's happy allusion in the recent ceme
tery dedication, as the Union's Marathon; as the
event which, more than all events in this stupen
dous struggle, assures us of our country's continued
life and prosperous future. He adverted, in connec
tion with the battle of Gettysburg, to the opening of
the Mississippi, the occupation of East Tennessee,
and the seizure of the distant Texan frontier- along
the Rio Grande. He stated the significancy of these
events, and threw upon them the light which comes
from the success of Federal finance, and the failure
of Confederate ; from the popular determination as
expressed in recent elections, to sustain at all ha
zard': the National-Government, and from the wide
spread disaffection to the Confederate Government,
which, on its own soil, is now finding a voice. In
view of these significant eventeosnd the illustrative
lights upon them, he concluded that the nation's
triumph In peace and Union was as certain as any-
Mir g future epuld be. Hence, it was fitting to enter,
as to.day, into Jehovah's gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise.
The conclusion was a briefresponse to the ques
tions : What avails a Union reached through war?
Can a Union built on, force and hate be properly
maintained? or, if maintained, be worth the costa'
His reply was . , in substance, that the struggle was
not to constrai n a Union, but to conserve one ; that
loyal men, East, West, North, South,- were simply
contending for the nation3s life. He expressed the
conviction that, paradoxical as it may seem, our et
vil war is fast making our entire people homogene
ous, and that its issue would be blessings on all the
land.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
Rev. Joseph T. eooper, D. D.
After the usual opening service of reading a por
tion of Scripture, singing a song of praise, and an
linnet:sive and fervent prayer of thanksgiving for
all the mercies of the past, and bounteous harvests,
freedom from pestilence, and for the recent glorious
victory, ecc., fete, Dr. Cooper took for his text the
following words from II Timothy, ii, I, 2
"I exhort that giving of thanks be made forkinge.
and all that are In authority, that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
The speaker referred to the call made upon the
people of this land, by its highest authority, for the
observance of this day. While we, as a people, have
many reasons for fasting and prayer, yet we have
great reason to lift up our heatts in gratitude to the
God of all mercies for his goodness to us during the
year past.
One blessing which we have enjoyed the apeaker
called especial attention to—the blessing of civil go
vernment.. The Apostle calls in the text for prayer
for all tbat are in authority. He mentions kings, be.
cause it was a kingly or imperial government under
which he lived, and those in authority as those oc
cupying official positions. The doctiine he deduced
from the text was that it is the duty of Christians to
thank God for civil government. The civil magia
trate holds hit appointment from God. " The pow
ers that be are ordained of God.. The common
view is that civil government is a compact entered
into for the general good of those in a state of eta
lure. But man never existed in civil society with
out government. Civil government is the result of
the operation of that social law that God has im
planted in the heart of man. The people are supe
rior however, to the civil magistrate, and he has no
'right to hold his office one moment longer *ran the
people will it. The whole people, in their collective
capacity, have the supreme right. So, the people of
there United States have a right to change the
form of government to a monarchy, should they
prefer it ; but it is the whole people, not a
part. And if a fraction of the people dis
own the authority which has been established and
recognized by the people, it is rebellion—ia a resist
ance to the ordinance of God—and you may see in
what light the Word of God regards it by a reference
to Romans, 13, 2: 4 Whosoever, therefore, resieteth
the power resist the ordinance of God; and they
that iesiat shall receive to themselves damnation.".
This is just the fearful guilt in which those who
are engaged in the Southern rebellion, are involved.
They, constituted a part of the 'United States, and
were under the authority of the Government. The
people, as such, by a large majority, declared that
Abraham Lincoln should be their Chief Blagietrate.
The Government, thereform under his administra
tion, was both the ordinance of man and the ordi
nance of God. They were, thilsefore, bound to sub
mit to this ordinance of man and of God. The Word
of. God and right reason must clearly teach that sub
mission is due to, the recognized and established Go
vernment of the land in which we live,
The blesainea of civil government are clearly en
forced and fully inculcated by the Apostle in the
words "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty.' The import of this is
simply that- we may be protected in the enjoyment
of our civil and religious rights. We are Indebted
to the civil government which God has placed over
us for our necurity and the protection of whatever
property we possess. Without Government there
could be no such thing as property. It is the law
which _makes property. But why speak of property?
Were it not for our civil rulers we 00t11d have no
protection whatever for our lives ; we would be at
the mercy of every one more powerful than our
mires. Everything in society would be thrown
into a state of utter destruction. All the re
straints which civil law imposes being removed,
the very worst irassions of human nature would
break forth with a resistless torrent, for we must
remember that man is a depraved being. It is
law, civil law, which keeps these passions under
restraint, and it is owing to the force of civil law
that we have any security whatever for life or pro
perty. We are told in the book of Judges that in
those days there was no lfing in Israel, and every
man did that which wan right in his own eyes.
This does not mean that there was absolutely no
civil authority but that there was no Government
established that was sufficiently strong to restrain
the wild passions of men, or that they did to a great
degree what they pleased ; and if you read the his
tory of those times, you will see that it presents a
dark and bloody picture, and hence Henry, the Com
mentator. says Let us thank God for civil govern
ment." Yes, let us thank God this day that we
have a Government, and not only a Government,
but that we have one that throws over our pro
perty and our lives the shield of its protections The
Boman Government. with all its faulte, did this to a
great degree, and hence the Apostle exhorts them to
thank God for it.
The Roman Government recognized the rights of
property, and there is not a Government oa.the face
of the earth that does not do the same. Hence dis
loyalty in any country involves in it ingratitude to
God for the most invaluable benefits.
But if Christians in the Roman Empire were bound
to thank God for the security which the civil law
afforded them, oh, how thankful should we be for
such a> Government as that which God has been
pleased to bestow upon us !—a Government that
aecures to the most humble individual in the land
all the rights of liberty which have ever been en
joyed by any people in the world, and for which our
fathers poured out their blood like water! And,
o'h, how, next to Gal, should our gratitude flow
out to our fellow-countrymen who are securing
these sights to us and posterity! are exposing their
lives on the high places of the field! Those who
can live here in peace and security, in the enjoy
ment of all their civil rights, and who cherish in
their hearts no sympathy for the soldiers of our
army are the worst specimens of humanity; they
are vile birds in human shape, deserving the con
tempt, and scorn, and reprobation of every one who
claims to be a man. We know of no more appro
priate name for such than vipers. Such we would
feel bound to address in the language of the Saviour,
and say to them, "Oh, ye generation of vipers, how
can ye escape the damnation of hell 103
. But there is another benefit accruing to us, to
which we have not adverted, from civil govern
ment, and that is the protection which it affords to
us, not merely as members of civil society, but as
Chrietians. We shottld be thankful to God for civil
government, because it secures to us protection in
the enjoyment of our religious rights. It may seem
strange that Paul would exhort to pray for those
in. authority in his day, when they were heathen,
and persecuted the Christians bitterly. But let us
remember that, though this was the case even under
such empires as Caesar, Nero, and others, they were
not so much exposed as they would have been, had
there been no civil government. Ia that time the cry
of the Romans was: " Die Christians to the lions."
And more than once the Roman authorities saved
Paul from the Mob. But, whatever may be said
of the government of Rome, it is not so, blessed
be God, with us. We have all our religious as well
as civil sights secured to us. Here we have the most
perfect freedom to worship Ged as fie directs. We
are not supported in our religious views by the Go
vernment; but we are not taxed for - the sup.
port of a religion of which we do not approve.
The Government protects us in our religious
rights, and for this we should thank God. While
we deplore the evils that exist in our Government,
let us not be unthankful, but bless God for the
large measure of civil and religious liberty we enjoy.
Our gratitude should be awakened more when W 3
remember that such was the state of affairs in some
sections of our country, that persons holding the
principles which we, as a Church, hold on the sub.
ject of - slavery, would not have been permitted to
avow this principle. Now, thank God! there is a
prospect of a change,and that it has taken place in
many places. Let tie rejoice in the progress that
civil and religious liberty hu been making ; and
that in a few yearn no man will be molested for
openly declaring that it is a sin against Gad to make
merchandise of the souls and bodies of men.
The Doctor then made a few deductions of duty
from the text. It is our duty to support the Go
vernment cheerfully by the payment of taxes " For
this cause," says Paul, "pay ye tribute, for they
(the powers that be) are God's ministers," etc. The
benefits we enjoy are worth more than tea
thousand times what they cost. We may
see in what light we should regard the dis
loyal man. Such a- person is chargeable with
the grossest ingratitude both to God and man.
Let us, then, guard against everything that looks
like disloyalty. Let us give to our beloved country,
in this her hour of trial, all the support which is in
,01.11. power. .
It is our duty to pray for those who have been
placed over us. This duty is clearly enjoined in the
text. If civil government be an instrument of so much
good, the better it is, of course the greater amount
of good will be done by it. Oh ! then, let us not for
get to remember our President, and - all the officers
of the Government, in our prayers ! Thus shall we
show our gratitude to God for the signal benefits we
are constantly receiving from them.
BAPTIST:
Rev; R. 7ellrre3
The Rev. R. Seffiey preached at the church at
Fifth and Buttonwood yesterday, from the following
text:
'• "Unto Thee. 0 Gcd. de we give thanks: unto Thee do
we give thanks; for that name. is near, thy wondroaa
work+, declare "—Psalms 75,1.
After recounting the incidents of the year, the
speaker entered upon a consideration of the " won
drous works " which make up the record of the pre
sent conflict. Reference was made to the disadvan
tages which embarrassed the Government at the out
set. Those special fads were enumerated which
furnish themes for a grateful recognition of the su
perintending care of Providence. Among these, the
preacher made marked reference to the unity of
Nor hem sentiment, the soundness of our financial
condition, the growing sympathy of Europe, the
waning proportions of the rebellion, and the libera
tion of the enslaved. These facts were claimed as
special marks of God's regard for this people.
In the next place, the speaker proceeded to point
out the great principles which have been developed
by the war. 1. The conflict had tested and nroven
the durability of republican institutions. 2. It had
consolidated the American nationality. The dogma
of eecesslon could never more be revived. 3. It had
afforded a practicable ,solution of_the question of
slavery, insomuch , that Southern people, as they
were prepared to reenter the Union, would find
themselves ready to erase the slave code from their
statute books, and the provisions for the institution
from their Constitutions. 4. This war hai deter
minedthe comparative merits of opposing civiliza
tions, and assured us of the prevalence or that form
which recognizes the 'equality and brotherhood of
the race, and which consecrate this continent to free
principles and to free men. 5. This conflict was an
important element of preparation,' whereby this
nation was becoming the true exemplar of the high
eat conditions of national prosperity.
Rev. J. • Ifratt. Smith.
There mere services in the First Baptist Church,
Broad and Arch streete, Rev. J. Hyatt Smith oil
elating. He took Ida text from the first verse of
lout Ppalm :'
will sing of mercy and judgment • unto Thee. 0
~.Lord, I winging.
This twofold song privfte of the godly.
. SCUM WA.1311 P1e10341111
(PIaBLLSEIED WERicra.) •
Tgld Wag Passe will be sent to enlbecribers by
zass (per annum In advance)
Three coplee• •-•••—••••-• • ••• ...... . ..... 5 Of
Flu copies .......... s of
Larger Clubs than Ten will be charged. at the Wise
ate, OIL 50 per copy.
The money must always accompantl the ender. oat
in no tnetance can these term be dertata from, as oat
afford very little more than Ole cost of the Pal mr.
stir Postmaigen are reouested to_act is Azooto fty
THE Was Panes.
der To the getter-up of the Club of NM or twos*. as
extra copy of the Paper will be given.
The weak readily sing of mercies. It Is the exercise'
of a strong faith to sing of judgments. "The Lord
reigns "is his watchword and song. From the tree
of God's providence, man picks the fruit which Got
has ordained. At the call of the Chief Magistrate,
we have assembled to-day to gife thanks unto the
Lord for the blessings we have eeceived during the
past year. And yet it is not only the call of the
President, but also the call of God; and he whe
does not obey this call disobeys God. We remember
when Jacob was dying, and Joseph led forth his two
sons to receive his blessing; he placed them so that
his favorite son might come under Jacob's right
hand, but Jacob crossed his hands, and gave the
blessing according to his own mind. How often
does the blessing of God fall on the wrong
side. Two hundred and forty years ago the
" Mayflower " with her illustrious exiles, was
tossing on the sea. The persecutions of the reign of
Elizabeth drove them hither. The tempest of ad
versity wafted that seed of liberty over the sea, and
In' the wild New England soil there sprang from it
the glorious national tree in whose top an eagle
built its nest The Puritan fathers " sang of mercy
and judgment" One hundred and thirty years later
another seed time of adversity was needed for an
other harvest. George 111 rebelled against English
liberty, and George Washington struck a blow of
victory for Magna Charter. The patriots caught
up the Borg of the Pilgrims, and sang a "song of
mercy and judgment." That was a glorious sowing
in '76 ; but when the wheat sprang up, there ap
peared the tares also. Another day of trial has
come, and the evil seed has spread into another field.
When Christ cast the devil from the heart of the boy,
he said, " Come out, and enter no more," and the
devil came cowering out. Se our nation is attempt
ing to cast the devil out of its limits. The Lord is
working the devil slavery out of the American na
tion. and is raising the nation out of darkness irate
light. The fires of martyrdom, and the candles with
which God lights up the pathway of liberty, are
burning. We are in the midst of blessings and ad
versities to.day. During this whole rebellion God
- has been with us. He has given us our great magi'.
trate. He has excluded politics, and made us one.
The epeaker knew no party, and if you de
Sou are a traitor. There are but two parties—pa
triots and traitors. "Pray for us " are the simple
words of our President ; and those who refuse not
only disobey their chief, but also their God. We
have won twentpeight victories, and have reasons
to give thanks. The North and South; both guilty,
have been punished. We have learned the value of
our nation during this rebellion. We have learned
that the nineteenth- century will find the end of
slavery in our nation. We have taken steps to ele
vate the downtrodden negro by placing him in the
ranks of our army. The patriotism of '76 is re
kindled, and the 4th of July, instead of being a day
of sport, as heretofore, will be a day of great national
thanksgiving. Our soldiers are gallantly fighting
our cause: Irishmen, Gentians, 'Englishmen, and
men from all nations have Bought an abode with ua,
and have been made citizens, arid are now united.
with us in fighting for liberty.
In our mint are laid lumps of gold from all parts
of the world—California, Australia, Georgia, and
other lands. Though all under the same roof each
piece has its individuality distinctly marked, both
in shape and size. Now the workmen casts all
these lumps into one crucible, and subjected;to the
same heat. they turn to one mass of molten metal,
reflecting the image of the refiner. From this the
gold is moulded into bars and cut into circular pieces,
all passing through the same process, and each
stamped with the eagle and the stars on the one
side, and United -States of America on. the other,
now current coin of the Government. So, men have
been brought to our shores from Germany, Ireland,
France, England, and other parts .of the. world.
They were under the one governmental roof, but
still distinctly marked, and naturalization did not
make them'fully citizens. This revolution is the
furnace which bath melted all the gold as one. lie
this glorious mint each is stamped with the eagle
and the stars, the United States of America.- Their
children and children's children shall, speak with
pride of our forefathers who fought for liberlyin'6l.
We are buying a nation's liberty -; we are fighting
a world's battle, and liberty gained in our own
'.country will send liberty throughout the whole
world. What a Thanksgiving Day that- will be
when we will have obtained an honorable peace,
and patriots in the North join hands with patriots
in the South ! Yes, there are thousands of patriots
in the South who have been fighting for what they
minion to be their rights • but the day cs ill soon
sawn when there misguided - beings will find the
true cause, and their leaders will obtain the punish
ment their infamy deserves. In the meantime, Let
every one obey his duty, both as a citizen and
Christian.
Rev. .Tohn E. Cheshire
Rev. John E. Cheshire, the pastor of the P.p.llz of
Schuylkill Baptist Church, preached a sermoa from
2d Chronicle:s, xiv., 11:
"And Asa cried note the Lord his God,akd said, Lord.
it is nothing with 1 hee to help. whether with inlay. or
with them tht.t have s o power: help ns, 0 Lord, nor
God; for we rest on Thee.and In Thy name we go against
this,mrutitnde.
The preacher referred to the extraordinary meet
ing of the day, not only in compliance with the re
commendation of the Governor, but, also, with an
earlier call from the nation's Chief Magistrate for
concerted action. He referred to the interesting
fact that the President's proclamation recogoizat
O od in the bestowment of munificent gifts, in afflic
tion, blessings, chastisements, losses, victories.
These were " thegracious gifts of the iloat High
God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our
sins, hath, nevertheless, remembered mercy." He
spoke of the honesty of our rulers, and, that
neither they nor ourselves approach the dimigisty
under the influence of a fanatical imDulae. That
the laving Being is such a God as is recognized in
the proclamation—that was our encouragement.
The theme of the .discourse was: 00 The religious
principles which must be fully recognized in _the
further success of our national cause."- illustrated
in a three•fold manner
I. The nation must distinctly and truly recognize
the principles of Divine revelation as praemizen.t
1y adapted to secure peace, and promo e permanent
ly the prosperity and happiness which we ardently
desire. Here, it was shown that Christianity alone
contains the true principle of mutual reciprocity.
That Christianity alone is the cure for these evils.
'2. The nation must, distinctly and truly, recognize
God's providence in the order of events which are
now transpiring.
3. To insure success in this struggle, we must be
lieve in the justness of our cause, and must look at
its bearings on the civilization of the entire human.
race.
These points Were ably sustained, and replete
with argument ; point, illustration, and instruction.
LUTHERAN.
Rev J. A. Setss, D. D
Rev. Dr. Seiss preached a sermon yesterday
morning in the First Lutheran Church ifrom the foi
lowieg text, from Isaiah xxvii, 8:
He stayethhis rough Nyirp:Lin the day of the east
After en eloquent and appropriate introduction
explaining the meaning of the text, the speaker
looked abroad upon the earth, at themultitudes that
move about us day after day. We follow-them to
their homes, ascertain their history, and learn their
estates. Here we behold one who has been strug
gling these many years in hope of gaining some de
sired objeet which has just now gone forever beyond
his - grasp. There is another whom fortune had
chosen for her favorite, gilding his paths with gold
and filling his house with pleasant riches, upon.
whom disease has laid its hand, and there remains
to him nothing but lingering decay and certain
death. Here is a third, whose home was an Eden,
blooming with life and joyousness into whiCh the
destroyer has entered and left only the wrecks of
once gay hearts, and the gloom and wretchedness of
bereaved affection and blasted hopes. And there is
still another, an only son, returned from the field of
battle, maimed, helpless, a hopeless cripple, the
living grave of many precious expectations ; and
another, a crushed spirit, just from the cemetery
of, the dead, whither she had gone to lay flowers
on the tomb that encloses all she once loved;
and another and another, poor little sis
ters on their way to the asylum their last
hope, with their sweet lives saddened by a
stroke which made them twine in bereavement and
parentless ; ands still another, knocking timidly at
your door• for a few comforts for a sick mother in
yonder court, whither penury has driven her to die ;
and everywhere thousands of cases of varied suffer
ing and distress, to each of which it is "the day of
the-east wind." .
We look at our dear afflicted country. We con
sider the trials which have been shaking it, , these
last year?, from its centre to its utmost circumfe
rence. We behold the green leaves of our national
unity and, peace wilted and scattered on the ground.
We survey the broad belt of bloody desolation, and
of fresh graves of stalwart men, spread across the
whole breadth of the land. We see the uncounted
households in mourning for their firstborn. We
have before us, in the midst of this nineteenth centu
ry of Christian teaching and improvement, the spec
tacle of brothers in deadly conflict, menacing this
youngest, broadest, freest, and most hopeful of the
nations with anarchy, slavery, and death. Whence all
these unexpected desolations—this smoke of furious
battle, stretching over half the continent—this
frightful flow of blood—these perplexing anxieties
for the future? To what disturbing angel shall we
refer this boiling of the waters, transmuting almost
every heart into -a moving cauldron or heated and
over flowing passion? Is it not "the day of the
east wird 1" We look further still. We canvass
the condition of things universal. We watch the
fesilnl activity of agencies and elements which
have been the deprecation of wise men in all ages.
We see that the wickedness of the earth Is great,
and growisg exceedingly. We behold disintegra
tion, revolution, impiety, selfishness, and treachery
enfeebling all the fabrics and ties by which society
has hitherto been preserved. We realize every day
more how
The old earth reels.
Inebriate with guilt; and vise, grown bold.
Laughs innocence to scorn. The thirst for gold
Hath made men demons, till the heart that feels
The impulse nt impartial love, nor kneels`
In werehip foul to Mammon, is contemned.
- Be who Seth kept his parer faith, and stemmed
Corruption's tide, and from the ruffian feels
Of impious tramplers rescued perilled rii ht,
is called fanatic, and with scoffs andjsers
Illal.clnn.ty assailed.
We ere the signs foretold by holy men . fulfilled,
and all the prophetic dates well nigh run out, and
everything giving symptoms of universal, unexam
pled change, involving great earthquakes and con
vulsions. Some may persuade themselves that all
is Well and hopeful ; that the reign of evil is abbut at
its last ; thato.he long-trampled plant of liberty is
putting forth for its worldwide bloom.; that.Tinie's
great conflicts are so far over, that we have Only to
pursue the easy victory, to complete theemancipa
tion of the earth from all its ills. And we would
fain believe, after a voyage so long, and against so
many adverse storms, that we are at last touching
upon the blessed shores; that at length the gates of
final triumph are opening before the steady, march
of light, and inquiry, and freedom. But 'every one
knows, who readeth things aright, that these shores'
are only islands, and marshes of confusion, and de
spond, and these opening gates but floodgates of dhs
asterand judgment, and that continents and seas of
trial and of storms, yet lie between us and the oo
vend millermium. This and other prophecies assure
us that the earth alkali first be "turned upside
down," the nations scourged and shaken, and all
confederations cf the unsanctifled smitten, until
(1 the mountains shall be melted with their blood,"
and all people be in pain as a woman in travail !
After looking at the dark side of our affairs, and
the lessons they taught, the speaker cempared the
state of things this day with what that state.might
have been, and with what actually and imminently
threatened. Suppose that the attempts of perjured.
men and their armies had succeeded, as, but for the
gobd providence of God, they would. Suppose that
they had seized the Capitol, and the archives of the
nation, availed themaelves of its strength and re
sources, and revolutionized the Government., Sup
pose that the tide of battle had been turned against
our armies in the field, and compelled an everlasting
separation in this family of freemen, destroying our
nationality, and with it our credit, our dignity, and
our"power of selt.preservation. Can any sane man
believe that our condition this day would have been
as prosperous and as hopeful as it is! Or, 'suppose
that the weakness induced by our great civil contest
had effectually tempted foreign interference, and,
that the great monarchies of the old world had com
bined against ue, as was officially proposed, anti as
seemed several times to have been determined, and
on the very point of being carried into execution.
'What Would be our lot, with this great malignant
rebellion grappling at our throat, and ,England and
France burning our seaports. destroying oar coin.
merce, driving our families to the-Mountains, con
miming our substance, and demanding submission to
their selfish dictation 7 Or, suppose that the rebel
invader, who but recently clouded the whole
-valley
of the Cumberland with his armed hosts, had not
been turned back by the brave hearts and 'steady
steel'of the Union defenders at Gettysburg; that, by
the Might of superior strategy and prowess, he had
compelled his way to the consummation of his plans,
destioyed our coat mines, overrun ,our *State. and
turned loose his hungry myrmidonitilimed on or
passion, and flushed with victovhupon the fair
cities of the North! alas,:for„tfie.' plight in
which. this 'day would, have found lie But, thus
far, itArilie . be to god, the attempts of traitors