The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-14
VOICE OF f r E E D M.

Let the people, on that day, with one
accord suspend their accustomed Iabors,
and in their several places of worship, and
in the joyous gatherings of their family
circles, pour out the thanksgiving of full
hearts to their Heavenly Father, for His
multiplied and Astounding merces to them.
Let us praise Him for the general health
He has permitted US 10 injoy, during the
past year. Let us look upon our gather
ed harvest of good things, and surround
our tables, loaded with His bountes. and
thank Him for the earth, the air, the rain
and The sunshine which have produced
them. And let us consider the value of
the spiritual blessings He has bestowed
on us:-that we have theHoly Scriptures,
able to make us wise unto salvalion,-
the Sabbath. made for man,--the living
Ministry, to preach Christ cruciied -
and the example for our imitation of His
spotless life, His active goodness, and His
self-sacriGcng love. Let US give thanks
that the truth is made mighty, in working
out the results of practical reform in indi
vldual character, and in the condition OF
human society. Let US thank God for
the success of the Temperance Reform
for the increasing regard for the Sabbath
for the growing, though too reluctant
Interest for the oppressed -for the advan.
cling spirit of Peace, and for the active
and successful efforts to dispel the dark
ness of heathenism, and substitute for its
burdensome and bloody rites. the simple
worship of the living and the true
God.
And while enjoying the Bible, and the
Institutions OF freedom, of whose continu-
ance the inculcation and growing influence
OF lis truths are the only guaranty and
pledge, let us think fthe millions in hea.
then, and nominaIly christian lands, and
even in our own land, who are destitute of
these blessings-enveIoped in the dark
ness of ignorance, and crushed beneath
the foot of oppression aud let US prove
our gratitude 10 God, by bearing them on
our hearts to the throne Of His grace, and
cheerfuly and literally ministerng of
our abundance to their wants-freely Civ
ing as we have freely received from the
benevolent Father of US all. And let not
The poor whom we have with US, be for
gotten, but let US excite their hearts emo
tons of gratitude to God, by becoming the
almoners of His bounty TO them, in their
loneliness and destiulion.
And finally, let the joy of this festive
season be chastened by the recollection of
our mortality, of which the faded. fallen
glories of the expiring year so impressive
y remind US; and let this memento of our
Own dissolution quicken our sense Of in.
dividuaI responsibility, and urge US TO
work while the day lasts, for the good
of our fellow regarding them all as
our brethren-laboring to make them bet
ter and happier, and doing with our might,
what our hands find to do, in aiding on
ward 10 its consumation the cause Of peace
on earth and good will toward man.
Given under my hand at MiddIebury
this SIKH day of November in the year Of
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and forly-iour, and of the independence Of
the United States, the sixty-ninth.
WILLIAM SLADE.
BY the Governor,
GEO. Fl. BEAMAM, Secretary.