Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-12-20
THANKSGIVING SERMON.

lar press in the cities, as publishing the news of the
day. We know not why we may not with propri-
ely initiate their example.
, The Thanksgiving Sermon Of the Rev Mr. Walk
err of this village, was characterized with more than
ordinary ability, and was listened TO with profound
The report we give is made entirely
ffom memory, by one who had no idea Of reporting
il at the time, and has been delayed until this time
by the press Of matter consequent upon the OPEN
ing of Congress.
T~ext,-Judges, 18th chap, god and 23d verses
Sand Manoub said unto his wife, We shall sure
ly die, because we have seen God.
But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were
pleased to kill US, he would not have received a
burnt-offcring and a meat-ofering at our hands,
neither would he have showed us all these things,
nor would as at this time have told us such things
as these"
Mr. Walker said the conclusion deducible from
the text was, that in apparent danger we should
place full confidence in God that his blessings to
the Church in time past were proof that he would
not desert il now, for He would not have done all
these things for it, il lie intended finally to leave il
TO destruction. He adverted TO the present low
state of religion in this and other communities
Of the deep wounds evangelical piety had received
and was receiving from the senseless and absurd
rawlings of fanatical Millerites, under the assumed
garb of religion-by the injudicious efforts of more
sober people to promote religion by outward and
mere human machinery, periodically brought to
bear upon the popular mind, which, if it produced
any effect at all was but a momentary one, like that
produced by the galvanic battery upon the lifeless
corpse, leaving the subject more hopelessly dead
than before land by the sel6shness and worldli-
ness of others. Yet there was no cause for dis
couragement. God could have crushed this Amer
lean Church in its germ, and have prevented the
May-Flower with its precious cargo ever reaching
Plymouth rock. He had not done il; He had here
planted it, and for two hundred years had watered
and nourished it and would not now desert it. He
illustrated the doctrine drawn from the text by va
rious scripture and historical illusions and referen-
ces. He spoke of the embarrassment and discour-
ngements that for a while have hung like black and
portentous clouds around Foreign Mission opera
tions,-arising partly from a withdrawal of pecuni-
airy m~eans-partly from losing the support ofmany
who should support them, because the Board would
not turn away from its appropriate work and com
mence a crusade against slavery, and partly from
Popish and P~relaiical opposition. These clouds are
not yet cleared away and embarrussments and dis.
asters may continue for a while, but God will yet
crown this work with success else why should
He have crowned it so far with such abundant
blessings and signs of His favor. II is His work,
and, carried on in His strength, will succeed. As
soon will the pillars of His Throne tremble and
fall, as the work of converting the world fail.
He then adverted with great effect to the cause
of Temperance. The prospect, he said, may look
gloomy and the result for a time appear doubtful,
but God has blessed il hitherto and lie will not de-
scrt il now Hitherto the efforts of the friends Of
Temperance have been aimed chiefly a. two OBJ.
jects one, 10 put an end to temperate drinking ;
the other, 10 redeem the inebria,e. Their snecess
in both has been truly wonderful A large portion
of the community-including nearly all of the le-
male sex (who are ever foremost in every good
work. and most Of the children-have adopted The
principle of total abstinence from all intoxicating
drinks, while multitudes have been redeemed from
a condition of deep debasement. Another object
is now TO be gained before the success of the cause
is complete. The traffic must be stopped. So long
as men are allowed to deal in intoxicating drinks,
and hold out temptations TO weak humanity, in
temperance will find numerous victims. This
point must be gained before we make much farther
advance in the glorious reform. 1t is the Bridge
of Lodi that stands 10 the way of triumph and vic.
tory. The contest may be long and at times doubt.
ful, but ultimate success is certain. Truth, Human
ity, Good men and God himself, are all with US
God has p~rospered us thus far, and he will %contin-
ue his smiles and blessings.
Mr. Walker then spoke of the political condition
of our country. We have just passed through a
Presidential contest of great and dangerous excite
ment. The most corrupting influences have been
brought to bear upon the popular mind. Good men
look forward with dread and dismay at the repeti.
ton Of such scenes every four years, and feel that
unless some new and better mode is devised Tor e.
lecting President, we shall soon have none to elect.
Another dangerous element in our political con-
dition is the political influence of foreigners, who
have poured themselves in ever swelling floods up
on our shores. Brought up in ignorance and SUI.
perstition-the devoted subjects of a foreign eccle-
siastical tyranny--unacquainted with our laws and
customs,-they have been readily admitted to the
powers and privileges of citizenship, ill the polili-
cal power of the country seems fast sliding into
their hands. Our dearest and most cherished liber-
ties and institutions are in imminent danger, and
unless the alarm be given and taken, and men, A
merican-born and educated, come to the rescue, it
will soon be too late-if it is not already-to save
them from utter destruction.
A still greater evil threatens our country peace
and liberties--the over-grown influence of the
slave power. This power is selfish, jealous, rapa-
cious and domineering. It's influence is every
where felt, and felt only for evil. Rights the most
sacred are trampled upon, and obligations the most
solemn. ~despised and set at defiance. This power
is welded by few, and " Yielded only for its own Og-
grandizement, and with a despotic tyranny that
scarcely has an equal in the annals Of history
Unless this power shall be shorn of its strength,
and slavery itself be mil nm end 10 The Gntnra Mill