The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-25

The practice of setting apart one day in every
year by Special Appointment of the Secular Au-
thoriy, for the sole purpose of giving thanks 10
ALMIGHTY COP for the manifold blessings of His
Providence, although originally a New England
custom, and of comparatively recent adoption in
the other States of the UNION, has now grown to
be of general, if not national observance 1t
originated, as we may, perhaps, venture TO assume
without any particular historical research, in the
primitive faith and ideas of the early Puritans
Those deeply religious men were accustomed to
recognize in all the occurrences of life even in the
slightest and most trivial of them, the workings of
a Divine Providence, vsibly interposed for their
protection. Ilabiually and fervently given to the
study of the Old Testament Scriptures, they
fancied that they saw, in the history of COPS
dealings with the children of Israeli the plan of His
dealings with them. They too, were, in the
phraseology of their sect and times, 'peculiar
people "a 'chosen people" They were, in their
own estimation, Saints" and did not scruple TO
appropriate to themselves the appellation. As
such, they considered themselves the especial OBJ
jects of the Divine care and protection. For them
the ordinary laws of Nature and the course of
events were constantly SuspeIluSu VI lHeil-
''signs and wonders were wrought and browning
mercies" were vouchsafed. All their blessings, in
fact took the form of Especial merces,' as all
their troubles came in the light of judgments"
Did sickness and death hover around their dwell
ings? Was the corn blasted in their fields, or the
cattle in their stalls? Was there GOODNESS and
want of zeal in the churches, or did the heather
upon their borders grow unfriendly, and threaten
trouble? Thcn-straightway obeying the die
tates of their faith, which taught them that all
these things were chassement for sin, they Or
daned a 'tsolcmn fast" and humbed themselves
before COP. So-whcn peace and plenty were
their portion--and all things went well with
them, when some particular mark of Divine
favor, as they imagined, had been vouchsafed to
them, they were equally ready to set apart and
proclaim a day of public Thanksgiving, as suit
able acknowledgment at once of their depend
ence and their gratitude. Among people enter
tanning such ideas of the Divine Character and
Government, rooted and confirmed by all the cir
cumstances of their situation-eXiles in a strange
Iand-a handful among the heathen-encompassed
by thousand perils every hand, yet miracrl-
lousy, as they believed, preserved through all of
them;-it may well be imagined that occasions
for rejoicing and thanksgiving were not of I'M
frequent occurrence. Every household and every
settlement had its own particular ''mercies" to be
thankful for. Sometimes, it was for an escape
from the tomahawk of the savage;-sometimes
for a yet more fortunate deliverance from the
power Of Satan, operating through the subtle
agencies of wilchcratt. 1t might be for an out
nOnruu Of Divine Gracn Innn tho churc1,oe.
it might be for n signal victory over the heather.
One blessing there was, however in which all
participated alike and which therefore claimed
from all, common need of gratitude and praise
the blessing of pleneous harvest. This, as often
as it occurred the Purtans never failed to make
an occasion of general and public THANKSGIVING
and the annual, though at first strictly occa-
sional character of this Festival, as well as
the season of the year at which it
was held seem to mark it as the prototype and
original of the modern Thanksgiving-Day All
stated Festivals, however, must, in course of time
lose something of their pristine significance and
vitality. Whatever lurking lcaven of selfrighte-
business and Pharisaical pride, there may have
been, therefore, in the first institution of Thanks
giving, afraid that in the present manner of
its observance, there is a degree of Journalism,
which would have struck cold chill to the hearts
of the simple Puritans of old. 1t has degenerated
nearly-ifn not quite-into a mere holiday, and like
all holidays in this country, is very apt to be
abused. Among the better and more respectable
portion ofsociety it is, as we hope it will long
continue to be, a day appropriated and set apart
for social reunions and family gatherngs-at
dinner and around the tea-tabe-wth friends
dropping in, and games, and music, and, perhaps,
cards and dancing, in the EVENING" sort of lesser
Christmas, in fact without the evergreens, and
the SANTA CLAUS, and the hallowed memories of
the greater Festival. All this is perfectly con-
sistent with right appreciation and religious
observance of the best and hottest uses of the
day. We do not suppose that the piety
of any old Puritan who thanked COP publicly in
the congregation, for his bounties, in the morn
ing, grew less fervid, because he went home to
enjoy them privately at dinner in the afternoon.
There can be no better and more appropriate ap-
pendix to a Thanksgiving sermon than
a Thanksgiving turkey and Thanksgiving pie
But unhappily, there are some classes of society,
and in great cities they form no inconsiderable
proportion of the whole population, who will not
be content TO keep Thanksgiving in any of the
ways have mentioned-who had rather be
cursing and fighting, than praying and Fasting
whose only idea of being merry is to be drunk,
and whose instinct, when drunk, is to be quarrel
some. That this day may not be so profaned
and abused, with US, at least, in Baltimore, we
may venture to hope-but can scarcely dare to
expect. And there is also, another class-who
should not be forgotten by those who have many
blessings 10 be thankful for to-day-by SUCH
especially, as sit at well-flled boards, or gather
ut evening around glowing fresides, in warm and
comfortable homes. They are the poor and needy
the cold and hungry wretches for whom no
table spreads its generous fare, and no cheerful
IRE sheds its hospitable warmth. To these-the
very name of Thanksgiving must seem hollow
mockery, unless, through the kindness of some
good soul, it shall be converted into a blissfu
reailty-blessing equally him that giveth, and
them that receive
DIR. CONES LECTURE
Inc third Lecture of the course, F0n English
Literature" which the Rev Dr A q Cova has