The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-24
ThanksgiviHns-

Before another week shall have gone thou
sands and hundreds of thousands of American
citizens will assemble in the churches consecra-
ted to Almighty God to join In the glad though
solemn service Of Thanksgiving and Prayer.
We rejoice that this time honored custom 10
still observed and that with every successive
year its observance becomes more general more
hearty and mole cheerful. More cheerful
When FIRST the custom of setting apart a
Thanksgiving day was adopted in some of our
Western States, the religious services Of the
day were made sombre, IL not gloomy, and thus
the peculiar charm of the day was lost Ii
has always seemed to Us that the custom Of eel.
sbrating annually day Of Thanksgiving was
especially TO be prized because Of its tendency
to present Religion in her winning aspecis.--
So many and so dark are human imperfsctions
aud sins that Religion for the most part must
come TO US with sad countenance and fearful
eye, in the attitude and with the garb Of Psni-
tencei and, in truth, many, dishearteneo by
the prevalence and power Of error and wrong,
seem to think that Religion can present 10
other aspect and appear In no other character.
Under the influence Of this feeling religious
services are made in many places uniformly
sad, and hence the young are often led to re-
gard Religion as spirit Of gloom. But II
should not be forgotten that although in conse-
quenee of the fearful extent and mournful in
huenee of the power Of evil, Religion mus,
very, very often wear the sackcloth of peni-
tence, yet she often exchanges her "ashes for
beauty" and receives "a garment of praise
for the spirit Of heaviness." There are Gins
alas, how many. over which she must weep
but there are also sins psrdoned and ten thou.
sand, thousand mercies over which she reioces
and when rejoicing how divinely beautiful her
countenance becomes. Never does Religion
present so attractive an appearance to the
young as when she comes before them with the
besming eye and radiant face of Gratitude.
Such Is the form in which she would present
herself and be welcomed on Thanksgiving day.
As the spirit Of Gratitude she would then enter
our churches, our hearts and our homes.
AS such let her come, and let her be warmly
welcomed. Let us endeavor to make the reli-
gious exercises Of Thursday next, solemn as
becomes all the services Of Religion, but cheer.
full and gladdenlng. Let Us enumerate the
blessings granted by the Giver of all good. No,
that We cannot do, for bow can we number the
innumerablef As well might we attempt to
count the oceans waves But this we may DO.
We may stand upon the shore, and gaze upon
The ocean Of the divine goodness until we real
ne haiti is indeed an ocean, fathomless, bound
less, inexhaustible. And az we thus reverent-
ly stand, with its waves breaking gently at our
feet, and its healthful breeIes tanning our fe-
vered brows and reviving our wearied frames,
our spirits will yield themselves to Its influence
and our hearts gratefully respond to ita voice.
Grstitode is Earth's echo of the kindness of
heaven, mans response to the goodness Of God.
Let our gratitude then be manifested on
ihanksgiEing-dsy. Let it b. manifested In
words Of praise. but let not this be ita only
manifestation. Man best attests his apprecia-
ton Of the divine kindness by kindly deeds to-
ward bis fellow-man. The heart which as
cends In gratitude TO the Father will flow forth
IN beneyolence TO His children. Let the day of
Thanksgiving to God be a day for kindly re-
membraEce Of ell the children Of God. Esoe-
cisily let the poor, the afflicted and the OPP
pressed be remembered. Let the ord Of SYM
petty, the gentle pressure Of the hand Of sffec.
ton and the deed of benefcsnce prove to the
desolate and responding that they are not ut
terry friendless and alone. Thus for many, 20
whom the day opens as a day of gloom, it
will become bright and cheerful day, and vol
ses' which at the rising Of the sun give utter
ance only to words of murmuring and discon-
tent, at It's setting will gladly join in the great
chorus Of Thanksgiving and the heaven-reach-
Ing anthom Of Praise