The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-12-09
DISCOURSE.

Happy is that people whose God is the Lord
Ps. l44 /: Is.
IT is doubtless our duty to render
Thanksgiving to Almighty God in the
name of Christ, for the many blessings
which He has conferred upon us as peo-
pie. Not only as individuals, and fam
lilies, and congregations, but also as COM
munities, as States, and as nation, Go
we enjoy the bounties of His good Prov
idence. 1t seems, therefore, but proper
that such Thanksgiving should be united
and general. Such result is most likely
to be obtained when the Chief Magistrate
of the State, or of the Union, recon-
-mends the day to be observed.
There is indeed in our country, by a
very wise provision of the Constitution,
no connection between Church and State
no interference of the civil and spirit
ual power with each other They are
distinct. And this provision is greatly
to the advantage of both. There is also
an essential difference between the OBJ
servance of day recommended by the
civil ruler, and the observance of day
appointed by Divine authority. But
since public and general Thanksgiving
is recognized to be duty, and si~es
.-2i.x in the matter IS desirable and. y
the present state of things, can be best
secured when the Chief Magistrate de-
signates the day, we believe it to be not
only the duty, but the privilege, of Chris
tians and good citizens, to observe the
day thus recommended.
1t would seem to be desirable that still
greater uniformity might be attained in
Thanksgiving in all parts of our COM
mon country-that the same day might
be observed throughout the whole fam
lily of States. But it is matter of graf
itude that so much union in this respect
has been already secured. On the day
we are assembled, throughout large
portion of our widely extended country,
the voice Of our fellow Christians and
fellow citizens will ascend in united
Thanksgiving and Prayer to the God OF
nations and Sovereign Of the universe.
We might, in this connection, point
out some Of the reasons for thanksgiv-
ing. And such course would not be
foreign to my text. though the latter
would naturally conduct us into some
what different train of remark. In its
discussion at least some of the reasons
for gratitude will appear.
Let it however be observed, in passing,
that there are many reasons for Manksgie-
ing. Some would indeedappear to think
that the causes for gratitude to God are
but few at the present time. Judging
from the manner in which you hear them
speak of " the Hard Times, and kindred
topics. You might imagine that you hear
them exclaim, as they read the proclaim
alton of the Governor appointing such a
day" Thanksgiving! Why, really,
I don't know what we have to be thank
full for p
Now, | am not disposed to under-rate
the difficulties of the times. The great
financial crisis, followed throughout the
west and northwest by season of un-
precedented rains, and floods, and conse
quent failure to a great extent of crops,
has fallen with peculiar violence upon
our young communities of the west
And ii is not to be expected that our
country should recover from the effects
of this depression in day. We endeav-
ored on other occasions, in the hearing
of a portion of the present audience. to
trace the footprints of Providence in
these calamities, and to present some o
the lessons which they seemed to be de-
signed TO teach. We cannot now dwell
upon these subjects.
These reserses have indeed been grea
calamities in one sense. But in anothel
sansa tbav ara hlaso,uo.o &c r;,htl,, -,