Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-11-28

good people Of this state will this day al
! semble in their respective places of pub
lie worship, and offer up their thanks
givings for all the manifold blessings be
slowed on them during the past year, b.
the Great Author of all good. On tn
subject Of this ancient festival, we fin,
the following appropriate article in tn
New York Weekly Messenger.
i PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
snow we raise our glad voices--in gratitude raise
And we wan on the beams Of the morning ou
II praise;
/ We thank thee FOR golden grain gathered in shock
And the milk from tho kline, and the fleece Of IA,
/ flock.
"And We lhaak thee for limbs moving light TO the
For hearts beating high,- though unwarm'd by the
Fill US, Lord, with just sense of thy bounty, and
give,
Health to Us, and to all in the land where we
live.''
The first settlers of New England met
with many difficulties and hardships, as
is generally the case when a civilized
people attempt establishing themselves
in wilderness country. Being men of
piety, they sought relief from Heaven,
by laying their wants and distresses be-
fore the Lord, in frequent set days of
fasting and prayer. Constant meditation
and discourse OH their difficulties kept
their minds gloomy and discontented;
and like the children of Israel, they were
many times disposed to return to that
Egypt, which persecution had disposed
them to abandon. At length, when it
was proposed in one Of their assemblies
TO proclaim fast, farmer Of plain sense,
rose. and remarked, that the inconvcni-
ences they suffered, and concerning
which they had SO often wearied Heaven
with their complaints, were not SO great
as they might have expected, and was
every day, as the colony
strengthened; that the earth began 10 re-
ward their toll, and to furnish literally
or their subsistence; that the seas and
ivers were full of fish, and the air was
weet, the climate healthy, and above
II, they were in the enjoyment of their
ivil and religious liberty; he therefore
bought, that rejecting and conversng
n these subjects would be more COM
ortable, as tending more to make them
ontemed with their situations; and that
would be more becoming the gratitude
ney owed to the Divine Being, ifinstead
f a fast, they would appoint Manksgiu-
lg. His advice was taken, and from
lat day to this, they and their descen-
ants have, in every year observed cir
umstances Of public felicity sufficient to
irnish cause for thanksgiving day,
hIch is annually proclaimed by the re-
'ective governors, and religiously OBJ
'rved by the people Of the New Eng
nd States. The practice of keeping
Ich a festival is extending to other
ates, and is to be hoped that it will, in
ne, become general throughout the
nion. 1t would be extremely interest
9 and impressive, to sec the inhabitants
a great nation engaged at the same
oment, in rendering their tribute Of
aise and thanksgiving to Him "who
owne,h the year with his goodness, and
veth their life from destruction-who
veth rain from heaven and fruitful sea-
ns-who turneth the wilderness into a c
'nding water, and the dry ground into n
tier springs" e,
lf any one nation under heaven has I,
eater cause than another to praise God al
the mercies Of the past year, surely e;
It nation is ours. The labors of our d;
sbandmen have been crowned with A. o,
ndant success, and their gamers are W
erflowing with all manner Of store. h,
lr commerce with other nations has h,
ell prosperous, and the sails Of our
rchantmen within every sea. Our
nulactures are Sin the full tide of sue
'slul experiment." and our markets "
filled with all the necessaries and G.
uries Of life. "Peace dwells within wi
borders, and Righteousness within sir
palaces" The Prince Of Peace
es in triumph through our land, and c.
,ro o,i;o,; l L.: - ~,