New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-25
THANKSGIVING.
chants.

Whoever believes--as the great mass Of the
human family ever have done and ever must
do-in the existence of an Omnipresent and
omniscient Creator, must realize that gratitude
TO Him is among the most natural, as well as
the most ennobling sentiments that can animate
the human heart. Whether He does or does
not require such emotions and their fit express
sion al our hands is inpaterial He cannot
need our gratitude, but we need the ever
present and vivid consciousness of His being,
His omnipotence and His goodness. Walking
darkly amid pitfalls and temptations 10 evil,
our pathway would be dreary and perilOus in
deed if il were not OvershadoWed BY the
Divine benignity and nseepmg guardianship.
And as it is iit that the sentiment Of graft
tude to God should have places appropriated
for its special manifestation so it is eminently
desirable that certain reasons should be set
apart for it's universal and more impressive at
testation God is spirit aud to Hin it
matters nothing whether We pray in company
or in solitude at set times or irreularly; ia
groves or cathedrals but there may be, aud
is, very great difference to ourselves We
need the institutions Of Sabbaths and Salc-
tuaries 10 keep MS ever in remembrance Of our
duty, our dependence aud our destiny. He
who begins by contemning seasons, and places
ofprayer, Will generally end by neglcctins all
prayer; OF, if not his children viii make tha.
improvement on the text he has furnished them.
A Nation without Sabbaths. and Churches,
and set days for wogaAip- would soon be a
Natiouvithout God.
The picty of our Pilgrim Forefathers, just
escaped from the sacerdo' al tyrannies OF the
Old World, impelled them 70 set apart and re-
vercntly observe one day in each Spring as a
day of fasting and supplication for the Divine
bounty, 10 be manifested in the haYvests of
the opening season. and another in Autumn,
10 be observed in like manner, with thanksgiv-
ing ard prsise for the benelcenee which had
generally rewarded the husbandman's toll. The
fitness OF the suggestion ensured It's dissemina-
ton wherever the adventurous children Of
New England have found rest for their feet /;
until Low, throughout more than half the
States OF the Union. an Annual Thanksgiving is
appointed and very generally observed.
We regret that this observance is not more
exemplary and rcyerent. There is, aud must
he, no compulsion in matters Of worship; yet
simple decency must forbid the Perversion 20
riot and debaucheIy OF a day SET apart by the
Executive Of the state, viii the bearty con-
currtnce Of lis wises1 and hest citizens, for
public and general acknowledgement of our
obligations to God and our dependence on His
mercy Those who deny His existence, or
render Him no gratitude, VII Of coarse refuse
TO honor the day bur they have no right to
dishonOr il; those who cannot spare from their
business an hour or two for the public services
appropriate to the occasion, are quite at liber-
ty 10 proceed with their ordinary labors bat
they have no moral rightto disturb their neigh
bOrs worship by drunken orgies, nor to dis
grace a religious festival by their riots and
blasphemies. If they cannot consent TO swell
the volume Of praise and thanksgiving which
this day rises to heaven let them, az least, be
too courteous 10 mar il With tie dissonsnce of
ribaldry and sin.
This day may be termed Na,isnal
Thanksgiving, for SO many of the States unite
in its selection and observance as to embrace
nearly or quite half the Union. A brief emu.
meration Of the reasons for National gratitude
viii therefore not be Inappropriate:
L. We have eejoyedrrc.ound Psssc through