Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-26
Tbe Standard,
RNLEIGH, sATURDAx, NOV. ae, 1853.
THANKSGIVING DAY

Thursday last, the oath, was appropriately OBJ
sorved in this and other States, by appointment of
their respective Governors as day of Thanksgiving
and praise to Almighty God for the manifold mercies
and blessings with which He has distinguished and
crowned the year. Never had any people, since the
world began, so many causes we have for reJoi-
cngs and giving thanks. The brightest hopes OF tne
founders of the Republic have been more than rear
lied; mighty people, rich in the enjoyment OF all
social blessings of the fullest liberty ana unteo oy
common sympathies and the recollectons OF a COM
mon origin are here spread out upon whole conu-
nent: and still as they continue to go up IN the
race of procress to poSsesS the land, the hght OF
their example growing larger and broader year by
wear sheds itself down upon other peoples, to show
them the way out of the darkness which blinds and
the dcspotisms which consume. Mr.. Webster, IN
his discourse at Plymouth, in December, 1920 puts
in the mouths of the pilgrims words which alike
glowingy and truthfuly describe themission OF our
ancestors and the great results which have flowed
therefrom:
eff God prosper u.s." might have been the Ian
cuage of our fathers when they landed upon this
rock-"f God prosper US we shall here begin a
work which shall last for ages we Shall plant here
new society," in the principles of the fullest liberty
and the purest religion; we shall subdue this wilder
ness which is before US; shall fill this region of
continent, which stretches almost from pole
to mole with civilization and Christianity; the
niles of the true God shall rise, where ascends
the smoke of tolatrous sacrifice fields and gardens,
the flowers of summer, and the waving and golden
harvest of autumn, shall extend a thousand
hills and stretch along thousand valleys never yet
since the creation, reclaimed to the of civilized
man. We shall whten this coast with the canvass
of prosperous commerce. we shall stud the long
and winding shore with an hundred cities That
which SOW in weakness shall be raised in strength
From our sincere but houseless worship, there shall
spring splendid temples to record Gods goodness ;
from the simplicity of our social union, there shall
arise wise and polite constitutions of government
full of the liberty which we ourselves bring and
breathe; from our zeal for learning, institutions
shall spring which shall scatter the light of knowledge
throughout the land, and in time, paying back where
they have borrowed shall contribute their part to the
great aggregate of human knowledge; and de-
scendants through all generations shall look back to
this spot and to this hour, with undated affection
and regard"
We had the pleasure on Thursday, of listening to
discourse by the Rev Dr. Lacy, of the Presbyterian
Church. which considered exceedingly well suited
to the occasion. His ubject was Hone it's relations
and influences founded of course upon a portion of
Holy Writ We dscaim the slightest disposition to
fatter the Reverend gentleman but we must be per-
mitted to say that the whole subject handled in
the best manner. The relations of parent and child,
of husband and wife, of sister and brother, and all
home influences for the softening and purifying of the
Affections were deineated with pencil which bright
ened every thing it touched, and left nothing to be
added to the pcture-may not say to the reali-
ty?-so pleasantly presented to the mental eye. The
heart of many one far away from the old home
stead melted under words which called up afresh
the earlier and the best recollections of life; while
all were benefited and improved, we doubt not, by
the wholesome, elevating, and hopeful truths which
pervaded the discourse.
There were services in the other Churches of the
City during the day, and business of all kinds
suspended.