Smyrna times., 1858-12-02

sources. "From the dense forests of Maine to
the waving cotton fields of Georgia, and the
rice and sugar plantations of Louisiana and the
Carolinas; from the granite quarries of New
Hampshire and the exhausiless cOal-beds OF
Pennsylvani to the gold mines of California
and the lead and marble hills of Illinois and
Tennessee; from one end of our land to the
other; from north to south, behold the goodness
of Gods providence" He then remarked upon
the greatness of our country-its beautiful
scenery, rivers and mountains-ts commerce
that navigates every water-showing the most
unexampled prosperity, and calling upon us for
unceasing praise to Him who thus causcth us
10 proper. Statistics also showed the vast in
crease in our commercial marine and foreign
treaties, railroads, cities, Libraries, and every
thing connected with an independent govern
menl. fitting comparison was drawn be-
tween the difference of our condition at the pre-
sent tms and slxty-fve years ago, when there
were public schools, railroads, telegra phs,
and but few institutions of charity. Our litera-
ture was tavorably compared with that Of other
countries, showing that American books were
read cvrrywhere-that our lawyers aud states.
men, our historians, juriss and divines, have
placed their productions in competition with
the most useful and best in the world. After
thus viewing the agricultural, commercial, pu-
lItlca, literary and scientific growth of the
country noticing them all occasions OF
gratitude, with reference to our plenty, to
our peace, and TO our liberty people,-the
speaker Gwelt with especial emphasis upon
what he termed the Christianity of America
Her Bible and tract societies, her asylums for
the blind, the deaf, the dumb, for the widow
and the Observation-Disclosures which are the Pc
culiar growth of the Gospel. Reference was
made to the religious awakening of the past
year and its results in national and personal
blessings to Us all. Brief space was then de-
voted to our social and individual mercles-ln
being spared from the rayagcs Of disease which
is wasting cur southern cities, in the reslora-
ton Of our credit and the revival of our com.
mercial energies; aud lastly in the thousand
and one blessings which we all enjoy as a COM
munity, asa congregation, and in our house
holds, aud as individuals.
EVENING SERVICE.
| In the evening the services were held in the
esbyterianchurch, which was intensely crowd
ed, and many left unable to get seats. In con-
sequence of u temporary indlsposilion of DIR.
McClusky, the Rev. r. &. Murphey. of Dover,
was introduced as the speaker for the evening,
who preached good sermon from CVII Psalm
Sth and 9th vs.: "Oh, that men would praise
the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful
work to the children of men; for he saisieth
the longing soul, and Gl!eih the hungry soul
with goodness.
The discourse was very direct and imNres.
sive-loosing sight of the realms of Rhetoric,
Logic and Science, the speaker enforced the
subject of praise and thanksgiving in practi-
cal manner, as it were, making the application
of the arguments in the previous discourses of
the day. The reverend gentleman followed
and elucidated the two leading ideas of the
text-frst, the "dury Of praise - secondly, the
reason because he satlslieth the longing
soul and fleth the hungry with goodness" In
dwelling on the latter point, he adverted to the
general murmuring about short crops, hard
times, &c and yet, said he, there was period
when no rain fell for three years and six months.
There was also another time in Hebrew history
when the corn was all gone, and they were
compelled TO sell their cattle, their children and
finally themselves into bondage, for bread. No
calamities like these, he continued, have ever
visited US, but we should be careful, lest by our
continual murmurings and complaints we merit
the displeasure of Jehovah. The speaker re-
viewed the causes we had for Thanksgiving for
the benefits of the past year, narrating among
a number Of other things, the Atlantic cable,
which, in the hands Of God, no one could doubt
the ultimate success Of; the opening of the
ports of China and Japan TO civilization, and
the free expounding of the word of God; and
} the great revival of '39-the greatest since the
" Pentacost," and, in ITSELF full compensation
for all the commercial distress aud failure of
} the crops the past year,-and in which was
found the true application of the text, " For He
satisfeth the longing soul and 6leth the hun
CRY soul with goodness" The people were
cxhorted to return thanks continually for these
manifold mercies of God.
In conclusion, the day was one, as far as we
s have heard, of great satisfaction to ALA mark
; ed day in the history Ofthe town. The discourse'
T were pronounced by all who heard them to be o.
y the highest order. The choirs did credit TO them
g selves in singing the various anthems ant
g hymns; and, if comparisons were not odiOus,wt
: should have a congrululatory word for the
d Presby yterian choir on their +" Thanksgiving
d Anthem" performance.
o Upon the whole, the day was just such a one
y in sentiment, union and concord, as We woult
p like to see every year.