Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-28
REPORTED FOR THE STAR
X.
SERMON ON THANKSGIVING DAY.

oil uul SudJ idSe, AHdlhSSN IlS Udy ny
the Rev. DR.. Smith, in the Presbyterian
Church On 9th street, the text being taken
from the 18th verse, first chapter of the
Epistle of St. James.
This is day of thanksgiving, set apart
by his honor the Mayor for this city, and
which will be observed in more than
twenty States of this Confederacy. What
is a day of thanksgiving! 1t is a season
when thanks are presented for favors re-
ceivcd, for blessings enjoyed, over and
above justice. Look at the transactions
of common life; in the settlement of ac-
counts you pay a man what is strictly his
due, this is morally justice, for which he
may praise you; but it is not an act that
strictly demands thanks, because it is
your own, and you are entitled to your
own as right. But if, when you are paid a
thousand dollars, another thousand dol
lars are added over what is your due, this
is matter of thankfulness. The be.
stowal of favors should always excite
gratitude in the heart, and this gratitude
should always be accompanied with ex-
pressions of thankfulness. This is done
by intelligent beings in their intercourse
with one another. A rendering of thanks
is, therefore, the act of an intelligent man,
who receives benefit, appreciates the
kindness of the giver, and seas the pro-
priety Of an acknowledgment of that ben
eft, as well as of giving corresponding
expression of thanks. This is never done
but by intelligent beings, and to none but
intelligent beings. 1t is never done to
any of the inferior animals. We never
think of returning thanks to animals, for
what they have done. The Presidents
Mounted Guard, who are here in splendid
uniform, seated among you, know the
value of good horse, but none of them
ever thinks of returning thanks to his
horse. The words of the third chapter of
the third Epistle of James might be quoted
on this occasion. Itwould be ludicrous
sight for man to take off his hat to his
horse and to thank it, although the same
act would be proper towards gentleman
or lady; and the reason of this is, be-
cause horse is horse, and cannot ap-
preciate any service, however splendidly
performed A Athousand blessings be upon
our worthy Mayor for af,ording us this
opportunity of offering up our thanks.
The object, then, of the present day is to
cultivate our social feelings, and to thank
the Father of Lights. In appointing this
day for such purpose, we have the con-
current testimony of several States and
Corporations, that the Father of Lights
is an intelligent being. This is at the
foundation of all, namely, that our God is
an intelligent God. Men may admit, as
they do, that there is First Cause, and
yet have no idea of the true character of
the Father of Lights. Indeed, the phrase
smacks of intidelity, to talk of a first great
cause, and yet to avoid the acknowledge
ment that he is all intelligent being.
Let us call things by theirright names;
every man has right that another should
call him by his proper name,-and if we
insist upon this among ourselves, let us
understand that God insists upon it also.
We should be careful how we use such
language. God reveals himself to lis un-
der certain appellations, '.Our Father
who art in heaven" He does not call
himself the Great First Cause, and love
his character and his name too well, not
to speak of him in the terms revealed in
this book, the Bible. He is intelligent;
can comprehend the service of thanks, and
more than that, appreciates it. Those
gathered together are his offspring
are the sons and daughters of God Al.
mighty, and are here this morning as chill.
dren to thank our Father in heaven. We
are intelligent beings as the offspring o.
jehovah, whose wisdom is infinite and
whose knowledge is past finding out
This is the God whom we worship to-
day. If he is not intelligent, where is oul
| intelligence! Is matter eternal! Prepos
ferrous. lfso, mind is inferior to matter
There must have been an eternal minG
that created all other minds, and thes,
hearts to-day, in this house, render thanks
to this eternal mind, this eternal jehovah
who has placed all means of knowledge
wiz li4 our-reach. We rejoice, therefore
this morning-we give thanks to Him
the Father of Lights, the creator of tn,
sun, moon and stars, who stretched ou
the heavens as canOpy-who said ''Let
there be light, and there was light" II,
is the Creator, the Father of Lights, wht
has made this material universe. And a.
well as the Maker, he is the Preserver O
everything in it. All that we enjoy come
to us from the Father of Lights. In in
| tellect, we are superior to other creature
Of the earth that have instinct but NJ
moral responsibility. 1t is mind tha
makes the man--it is this which make
us responsible to God, and this is VIII,
we are assembled here to-day. He is th
Father of Lights, spiritually and morally
Men talk of the light of nature. and of til
laws of nature, yet what are these bu
God the Creator in action. God is tn
uncreated source of all life, material o
immaterial, natural, intellectual, mora
and spiritual.
r Father of Lights The term fathe
shows that he has continued relation
with US, and that there is a dependenc
of man upon God. He has given us rea
son. Yes! Why are we here in on
right mind, to-day Why are we not il
mad-house?i "A gentleman was ono
visiting an'sinsanel asylum, and entere,
into conversation with a person, one Q