New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-11-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
THANKSGIVING DAY IN BROOKLYN.

To he Edi,o, Of The N. Y Tribune.
SIR The Thanksgiving Anniversary which we honor as
something peculiar ourselves generally observed az
a day of religious wor hip in Brooklyn.
lie ample preparations for the less spiritual exercises
which follow after services ia the churches might lea1 TO
some doubt whether they dc not hold undue prominence
in the public mind 1t is to be hoped that toe time WI
never come when a sumptuous dinner will DO regarded
as in itself a religious acknowledgment of gratitude to
God. II may be tolerated to human inhrmity to join
TO of devotion whatever may induce genial state
Of mind, and those who find their devotion enhanced
by the qualification Of sensual appetite Ia doctrine
which was maintained by Mohemned, bnt which |
never heard propoundei in Christian church, might
be allowed plenary indulgence. But beyond what ap
proprate TO devotional state of mind know no reason
Tor extraordinary Injuries of the table Thanksgiving
day any than tie Sabbah The Hum0rs Of Easter
as formerly enacted in the Roman Catholic Church, would
in fact be much enedto be classed with religious SER
vices the festivities of dinner 10 be regarded as the
rendering of praise TO God if yielding nothing more than
corporal enjoyment ending in itsef without awakening
generous emotions The feeling appropriate TO the day IS
that of kindness and especially remembrance of the des
tuie IL II not to deal thy bread TO the hungry All that
thou bring the poor that cast out TO thy house, when
thou the naked that thou cover him. and that thou
hide not tbyself from thine own flesh This language
of tie prophet in reference Jewish fast is equally
applicable to our Thanksgiving festival.
In the City Of Churches las Brooklyn entitled to be
called dscOurses delivered TO large audiences by
the many distinguished clergymen of that city One of
them (tbe popular minister Of the Pilgrim Church.
absent and the thin attendance that church when there
were the usual services although another oiciated in
place of the pastor, seemed an indication of somewhat
other churches when there services in their own Il
il rely for entertainment that attend public worship!
1t may be remarked as too much prevailing in all our
churches that popular style Of preaching IL 81 much
sought after Is it not significant of the absence OF just
sense of the purpose for which shoull attend religious
worslipl We may properly seek whatever may all our
devoton-perhaIs we over estimate the effect OF elo-
quenee that respect but how many there who go to
lear popular preacher as they would to sacred
concert
Patiently present .t /. ser, ;ss .sUs
Nssiohs euogy for Haadf' sake
At the Warenst Mission School there gathering
of the children about $50 in number 10 dinner provided
by the eahers and in the evening there atenpeance
meeting the place, where another equally liberal
reresi given those assembled being the poor fam
10 Il the neighborhood)
The School md the Missionary abors Of the Rev Mr.
Bays in connection Herewith worthy of all praise
tenefes influence has been already exered which be
tokens results truly gratifying every phianthroPc mind
poor POI ulatioD, mostly fore and among whom IN
Temperance prevailing vice, is becoming subject to
sound religious influence and many families getting
Lief from dtstuiion by reform 10 their habits and little
timely aid procured BY the Christian labors among them
D. H.. A.