Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-06
THANKSGIVING IN REL1EvrEw.

AGAAAbo1NASu IN
One OF the privileges attending the in
PRODUCTION Of civil government in Nebras-
ka, is found IN the establishment of n
hsnL sgiving day.
In accordance with Puritanic custom.
and with the recommendation Of His Ex-
eellency, Gov. CuStSG, Thursday, the
sOth ultino, was set apart by our citizens,
~ a day Of public thanksgiving and praise.
TO him who gireh Us richly, Gh hiags
10 snjOy." The day was calm and lovely,
and the earth, though robed in The dark
huss Of autumn, never appeared mOre
beautiful, usn on this conseeTated dav.
We were greatly pleased 70 witness the
general interest, which this festive &C.
o4sion seemed 10 awaken among our ciii-
zens, and the zeal which they seemed to
manifest in the exercises that belong 10 this
tims-hallowed institution
Considering the place, a large and re-
spectacle sudience attended public wor-
ship. held at the Mission, al IL o'clock,
A. NJ. An excellent lecture was deliv-
cred On the occasion, by the Rev. WM.
HANYLroH, founded or the following text
LIST TKrssALoSIASs, 5;h Chapter, Is
Verse: "FOr in everything, give thanks,
for this is the Will Of God concerning
YOU"
The following meagre hhstrsct Of the
discourse, has been prepared FOR the bene-
fit Of those Of our readers, whose circum.
stances denied them the opportunity Of
hearing for themselves.
The subject was divided into three
parts, viz: The Nature, the Object, and
the Duty Of Thanksgiving.
In regard 10 the first Of these diyi-
sions, it Yves shown, that Thanksgiving
was an expression Of the feelings Of a
Sreatful heart; arising from a sense of
obligation fell. This was illustrated, BY
familiar examples, showing that if graft
tude did rot exist in the heart--if there
was not a feeling OF obligation, there could
be no true giving Of thanks. There might
be thu outward forn, or acknowledgment
on the part Of the individual, while the
heart, being destitute Of this feeling OF
obligation or gratitude, withheld what it
pronered with the lips 10 give, and there
fore, could not be acceptable to God, and
it was only hOnoring him with the lips,
while the heart was FAR from him.
It was next shown, that this feeling wss
natural 10 the pious and unselfsh mind
snd that these who indulged in that feel
ing, found real and substantial enjoyment
from such indulgence. That the idea Of
JsrHsGliiy was excluded, because il would
be an attempt 10 impose upon the object Of
our thanks-a profession that we fell,
what, at the time, we were conscious
Ws did NOT Jesh which could not be ae-
sep.able TO a heart searching God. Such
conduct, il was true, was common among
zen, who often profesSed what they did
net feel, bat was altogether culpable and
hateful in the sight Of God; and the in
ference was plain, that there could be no
genuine thankfulness on the part Of man,
unless there was a feeling Of gratitude,
and q sense Of obligation existing in the
heart.
This feeling Of grsiitude, it was obsery-
ed. was seen imPerfeetly in the lower ere
aiiou; animals often manifested II, BY
some net or expression Of the eye or eonn-
ienancs- 1t was seen much more in
man; eyen sinners feel thankful for q
fims, 10 those who do them a kind
ness; that il MAS much more fully deyel-
oped iE lhe heart of the Christian, but
shown puIesi and brightest in The redeem
ed spirits before the throne Of God, who
restsd net, day nor night. but were con-
siaatly giving uisranes to the deep feel
ings Of gratitude lhaI swslIed their hearts,
and that much Of the happiness Of Henv-
consisted in tho indulgence and ex-
usession Of dis feeling, and that there
fore. sinpers who had ne such feelings To-
wards God, bat were selfish, could not be
even IN Heaven. y