Georgetown weekly news., 1854-11-30


THANKSGIVING DAY-On last Sabbath
we had the pleasure of listening to a very
instructive discourse given by Rev. Mr.
Sharp, on the subject of Thanksgiving, as
appointed by our Governor. In the COM
mencement of his discourse he very properly
remarked that we as Californians had abun-
dant reasons to return thanks to Almighty
God for the many blessings that, through
His Providence, have been vouchsafed unto
US as people. Consequent upon this dis
course, we have been led to reflect that in
enjoying the privilege of one of the richest
and most beautiful portions of the earth
with genial and extremely healthy atmos-
phere, we can say with all the fervor of the
Psalmist, "Surel y onr lines are cast togeth-
er In pleasant places" and here we can sit
together and worship God under our own
vine and under our own fg-tree, and none
dare to molest us or make lis afraid. To a
mineral wealth superior, perhaps, to that Of
any other country, we have, added, agticul-
tural resources equal to any and inferior to
none; while our position for successful COM
merce commands the combined industry Of
the whole civilized world.
But we have more than this, for we en-
joy not only the rich privileges of beauti-
full and wealthy land, but we also, as peo-
pie, as Americans, are blessed with the spe-
clal favor of Heaven in our advancement in
the arts and sciences, as we'll as the peculiar
institutions of free, moral and enlightened
people, thereby not only enabling US to take
advantage of the natural wealth of our
country, but also enabling US to form social
relations among ourselves, Ofsuch a charac-
ter as shall purify our morals, warm up our
affections, ennoble our nature, and expand
our intellect to such an extent that we may,
as the offspring of Omnipotence should,
grasp in all the bright pleasures of earth,
and then with kindling zeal of still high
er impulse, reach forth our hands and pluck,
as it were, fresh glories from the heavenly
worlds above. For we maintain that all
created things in the earth, or sin the heav-
ems above or IN the waters under the earth,
all are tributary to the intellectual happi-
ness of man. To all these, then. we would
aspire, and if true to our interests as Amer
lean citizens, we shall attain them. What
people in the world so highly favored as
those of the United States of America; and
what portion of the United States is more
blessed than is California? 1t is true we
have had hardships to encounter, but they
were only incident to the settlement of
new country. They now begin to disappear,
and IN their stead thousand charms are
lingering around the trysting places of de-
parted years. The difficulties and hardships
that we once had to encounter like dense
and gloomy fog, is rising up from off the
face of our beautiful country, so that with
an undimmed and unprejudiced eye, we
may enrapturously behold. as did the Isra-
elites of old, a land "fowing with milk and
honey
Our mountains, like those of Ophir, are
yielding up their treasures, with which we
can beautify the dear temples Of our domes-
tic homes, our vallies yield the fat proceeds
of an abundant harvest while our mountain
streamlets, beautiful in their ripping and
sparkling freshness, are pouring down our
hill-sides, allaying the thirst of the living,
and spreading their fertilizing waters upon
the lovely valleys below them.
Reader, this is no mere fancy sketch
All these are the privileges of Californians.
Natures God has actually endowed our
country with all these advantages. Is it
not fit and proper, then, that we should re-
turn sincere and heartfelt thanks for them?
Shall we not improve the natural advanta-
ges that God has given US, and thereby Sc
cure for ourselves little "heaven on earth
below?" Then put aside all vice-put aside
ali immorality-frown upon those who would
sacrifice the fat of our land to Moloch. Let
us be a consistent and moral people, and the
light Of nature for it, we shall be a happy
and honorable nation, blessed with all the
necessaries of life, and all the endearments
of quiet and peaceful homes.