Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-11-24
NEWPORT. Y
WEDNESDAY, NOV. "a, 1880.


TuANEsGivIyG. Tomorrow is the
day set apart by the recomme ndation Of
the government Of Rhode Island, 10 be
observed in a religious manner as a day
OF devout Thansgiving to Almighty God
for the great and manifold blessings He
has been pleased to bestow upon IA fallen
world, and especially for those he has in
unmcasurcd bounty and Kindness, show
crcd down upon the people Of this State.
The pious observance of these annual
thanksgiyings, had its origin in the earl-
est history Of our existence as people.
Our venerable pilgrim ancestors were
truly a sincere and pious race of men;
they were habitually accustomed from Il
deep and conscientious sense Of duty to
imrlorc the divine aid and the bencdic-
ton OF Jehovah in favor not only of their
daily concerns as individuals, but in a
particular manner were they accustomed
TO commend to His paternal favor what
ever enterprises they entered into as a
people. SO, too, from the same pure and
lofty motives and with hearts warm with
gratitude, did they annually assemble to-
gcthcr in their humble temples, consocra-
ted to the worship of lin who rightlully
claims the homage OF all worlds, and
there did they in the simplicity of inno-
ccncc, send up to heaven the joyful an
them Of deep Thanksgiving to the givcr of
all good for the mcrclcS they had rcceiv-
ed at His hand There is much in the
decent and respectful observance Of these
anniversaries that is peculiarly calcula-
ted to impress the minds even of the VIC
iolis and dissoluic with a conviction ofihc
da'.rcrs they encounter, and the happiness
that eludos their enjoyment in their wick
ed and immoral pursuits. Beyond this too,
there is evidence enough to convince cv-
cry reasonable mind, that the proper and
becoming observance Of these religious
festivals is directly productive of much
positive good to society in general, and
especially to those who habi;uatc their
minds to the constant and daily rccognt
ion of that great, ndisputabe and solemn
truth, that this is not our home; that we
arc rapidly Fastening away to another and
an untried st ate Of being, where, there is
cvcry reason 20 believe, we must answer
! for the deeds done here in ihc body The
! Bible recommends such solemn and holy
| lcstivals-thc Savior Of the world and all
his apostles, sanctilicd them and bid the
world to follow the example. There is
another reason in favor of this position,
and of no ordinary consideration. On
those occasions the benevolent * wealthy
may avail themselves of a favorable op-
portunity to lend of their abundance to
aid in rendering comfortable the poor,
and aged, and helpless members of the
various churches; and by so doing to OBJ
tain for themselves the incstimablc bless
ings promised to those that willingly as
sist in cheering the disconsolatc spirits of
the aged poor and smoothing their down.
ward andruggcd pathway to the long un-
broken sleep of death. The observance
of such days well comports with our set
tied habits, our religious education, and
even with the very genius of all our insti-
tuions-for The Book from which we,
derive our religion, contains in itself the
principles, and essence, and energy of
that firm foundation upon which alone
rests safely every christian government
in the world. Wellmay we ask then Gun
der what other auspices than christian
ity have the lost and sIbvcrtcd liberties,
oimankind in former ages been rc-asscr-I
ted? by what zeal but the warm zeal of.
dcvout christians, have English liberties
been redeemed and consccratcd; Under
what other sanctions, even in our own
days, have liberty and happiness been en-
tending and spreading to the uttcrmost
corners ofthc earth; What work of civil
ization, what commonwealth of great
ness has the bald religion cf nature ever
established We see on tho contrary, the
nations that have no other light than that
of nature to direct them, sunk IN barba-
rism or slaves to orbitrnrv ooycrpmcut. .