The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-26

d" me time Tor such an occasion is eminenty fit The
arYess and fruits of the land gathered and stored
The seed sown already promises future supplies The
time when desoiang epdemics prevail is past The war
OF parties is The dreary winter with its BLESSINGS
to the afluent and its errors poor is near-aord
ing line opportunities for enjoyment the and
of benevoence other How appropriate snch time
for such duty In the discussion of this subject we in
we your attention to the following thoughts viz:
WHAT'S implied in being Hant fid.-l A grateful
and intelligent appreciation Of the blessings enjoyed
Every blessing should be properly vaIued-some more
ana others IS are less valuable Of them all we
worthy The following fthe reasons of ngrati
tude for the blessings enjoyed viz reconsideration as
to their origin their nature and number Their common
ness We have been so long accustomed to them, we
Gaim them as matter of right and lightly esteem them
The pride and hardness Of the human heart We are liza
PIE 10 attribute them to our supposed goodness-alent
Skill industry &c Thus Incorporated into systems the
eeaehlng OF vain systems, ultimately dethrones Deity
anu enthrones reason, nature and general law " mis-
named philosophy. What infatuaton! 1t is true
yet often overlooked and ignored-at practically
that all our blessings from God He the grand sum
.otal; ana they How from Him as light from the sum- en-
IlVenng, beautifyng and cheering the whole creation
=. A hearty and humble acknowledgment of them as
rom him mus today we acknowledge this fact all
our services. But it is not enough thar we do this in
mere form and ceremony however proper these in them
SeIVes they are not enough. 1t must be the acknOw
ledgment of an humble grateful and devout spirit i'm
oued with realization of this fact-a sentiment difus
ing ltSe all through our mental and moral being, the
Shtdinuses itself through diamond, thereby giving
@ intrinsic rad fancy and surprising beauty. Saying:
Thou, God, art the author of all our blessings and to
Ihee owe the homage of hearts, and the
our life"
3 The Offering praise to Him for all His mercies
heart thus imbued moves the tongue praise and touch
es the lips with the voice of thanksgiving should lead
not only to the praise of tongue
OF our affections and devotion of to His service
by constant and cheerful obedience to all His divine
commands
II. Some rcIy are should be Mqnkftd-l The
nature and number of the blessings bestowed National
y--Our country. We are a ind of national miracle. il,
our origin and Ipogress wonder to ourselves and
profound mystery to the world. 1t given He not
only directed the bark of the Pilgrims over the stormy
ocean OF December to Columba's happy shores but He
was with fathers in the revolutionary struggle lie
raised and proposed those sublime those deeds
OF noble daring He fought our hattlessubdued en-
emiesharmonzed the dscordant elements-secured our
allies. They, with their labor, suffering blood and
deaths, cemented, but God reared the sublime structure
oi our countrys destiny. We have, as nation, mis-,
SION to perform among the kingdoms of this world. It
has but just commenced. The Angel of Providence that
descended with the ages still broods and long
as We are true to OurSevesOur mission and our Godit
Will lead us even as it led fathers 1t is oursby our
example, our laws and nsttutons-o inspire courage
afford protection and difuse blessings to the world.
Thus our country is child of Providence preach to
| the nations mighty democracy; to demonstrate the
problem of selfgovernment the equality of man;
to give to the oppressed millions in the old world an asy
um upon our happy shores Much has already been ac.
complished by her influence. Though young, she has
already witnessed the rise and fall empires and while
the powers the continent of Europe are many Of them
in their dotage and Others evinong many symptoms
Of decay and of revolution, indicates increasing
vigor and promises career of moral political CONNER
cal physical social and intellectual grandeur uneuualed
in the history of nations.
Ought not then every rejoice in this that he was
born or has home in this free and happy land2 Contem
plate your glorious skies your majestic and beautiful
rivers, your numerous and varied lakes your magnif-
|
sublime Atlantic and beautiful Pacific oceans Think of
your equal and wholesome laws your republican
tons, your numerous churches, your noble system of
Common and Sunday schools. These are our standing
armies. the bulwark of our liberty, the prestige of our
future destiny. Behold your free and ndepen-
e' presses ten again your varied climate the quantity
ana versatility of your productions. your growing
merce, numerous and enerprising merchants Think of
e ouahdS OF your citizens and prosperous peasantry,
your immense mineral resources your growing popua
| ton What sublime destiny do all these Indicate?
Ihough young our country is this day feared, envied
respected and loved by the nations of earh-O that
she might fear, respect and love herself and still
2. OwUtter amOoritn SIS morally In illustration and
confirmation Of this point we refer to few Of nation
Forgefness Of God.-This is fearfully true Of many
of our public men. We it is the in majority of
instances-negatiye infley. This is multitudes
of the common people.
Profanity Of the Name and day fMe Lo,d-To what
an alarming extent this aboundSl
IHtemperance.-This inquity is tolerated by
government as source oreveSue 1t is rolling over the
land like mighty DEATH running thousands anuu.
ally True the tears aud goans of widows and orphans
have laden all earth's winds and oceans waves and
waited them around the world a requiem of sorrow
and thence rising to the throne the Eternal pleading for
redress. Still the peope-the natOn-Olerates it Not to
speak of others these national sins of fearful magni
| tude. Still God deals thus meicifully with us oh,
now wonderous his loving ktnaness What strong
son for thankfuRess
HG.-The duty itself l. It is reasonable All things
have some mode of praising their Creator, Nature ami
! mate and inanim1te. The animalcul;p we tread he
meath eetthe little sparrow, driven the wings
ot the >t"n-the towerint eagle, who dips her burn
ing pnion in the storm-the angel tall grave Of
thoughtful mein, who strays DER those hills of
green all in their sphere praise their Creator. The
heavens above and the earth beneath forth gori-
Gus voice" and shall not We most of all indebted, praise
| Him
| tits pleasant duty. Some painful. In properly
dischargng this there is much enjoyment-it awakens
pleasant memories inspires hope affords approval
ofconscicnce and gives peace
g. Itis profitable; it strengthens enlarges elevates
and purfes the mind it humbes tenders enargcs and
comforts the heart it nvigorates. cheers and gives
health to the body, and it gives additional all
physical blessings also pleasing to God and secures
to
enjoy the blessings of heaven
| 4 It's dtrqbeReSs A n eternal employment The very
atmosphere OF heaven. The eternal employ of angels and
the spirits of the just made perfect began in
and pepetuated to all eternity The song learned
THE cheerful tribute will give,
Long a deathless soul shall live;
work so sweet, theme so high,
Demands and crowns eternity"
APpLIcATIoN1 1t is privilege and duty this day
to putaway all political dierencesall sectional feeling
all sectaran distinctions and mnge Christians fellow
citizens and neighbors and exchange aternal greetings
aud salutatons. To contemplate obligations
country, our fellows, and God To relieve all in
stances of suffering and sorrow in power.
2. To remember at best, but strangers in the
present state We are passing away. We may seek Il
country beyond earth and the eternal in the
What changes may oyerake another thanksgiving
But if we do duty need not fear. Heaven bless
and save you all for His names sake. Amen.
HIGH STREET METHODIST EPGs. CHURCHILL b. Ridgaway
Pastor
Gle uhe Lord hath dealt with any people"-PsALM
The original application of these words was to the Jew
sh nation They are, however, equally expressive Of the
divine benefits bestowed upon American citizens,
and suggest train reflection suited to the day and the
services which have called together will then,
briefly possible, review the points OF national
perory lead you as fairly and as fully as can to
template and value the eminent favors which have
received from the Almighty. These fourrod:
l. Physical or M1teridt-The territory of the United
States comprises nearly 200 600 square mes-stretches
from east to west 20O0 and from north to south 300
milehas every variety of climate soil capable either
from spontaneous richness from cultivation, of pro-
ducng all substances necessary for the wants and uxu
ries of manminera inexhausbe which could
supply the coinage build the railroads and feed the
engines OF the Norld-an extent Of seacoas anprding
unryaied advantages for foreign commerce. and also
every possible facility for internal communication.
2. Social and POlica-It fit that this virgin soil
should be selected for the trial and development of Re
publican ideas No old dynases to be pulled down
none remained to oyerawe disturb or parayze the sue
cessful growth Of free institutions We have political
equality The law regards all citizens alike and equal
Whatever adventittous advantages may arise from the
force of wealth intellect deeds The elective franchise
is the right of all also riGTDy Jury uniformity Of tara
ton; freedom Of speech and of the press.
3. In government like where the people the
soyeregns the law makers interpreters and executors
absolutely necessary that sound Intelligence be diff
fused.
existence as nation we have contributed as largely as
other contemporary people to the sciences end
literature In all these departments boast great
names as many useful curious and beautiful creations
oldest and most cultivated. That satrist
and reviewer sydney Smith, only few years ago
ingy asked, Who reads American book? Now it is
pertinent to ask, Who does read American
book? There is not nation the globe which has a
literature the pages of which are not enriched with the
conceptions of American genius. In England yearly,
there reprints of American books than issued
originally from her presses. In New England and
New FORK alone, newspapers published than in
r all the United Kingdom and her Colonies.
T. Moral and Religious.-Plutarch remarked that land
without gods and temples, a country without laws
and rulers. The maintenance Of religious ideas, feelings
and habits is Indispensable social and political organ
zaton. nation may possess the most ample material
resOurces-the equitable laws and the greatest ad
vantages for mental culture yet WITHOUT religion, she is
destitute Of sound conservatism This Guizots testmo
ny, well that of Mr.. Rives late minister France
Man must be bound either with moral or material chain
We possess the latest and puest manifestation of
Christianity. The Bible is open book and accessible
to althe Sabbath is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. protected
the pulpit and the church free. Religion is larg,
extent pStire realized among no mere theory
1 Several points of contrast then introduced be
the and the OF the cOuntry-what
and what few years since a smal
It band of and women fleeing oppression, struggling
against wind and want. seeking home in drearN
wilderness-noC great and mighty people. grown t
h colossal power and wealth, &c. After which wa
asked What is the debt God for all these bless
ings? Gratitude. Its measure? Their extent. Its man
Hesitation? Giving as freely have received Al
appeal berality of the congregation il
behalf of the Causeway Mission. The of $50 wa
asked for, and nearly $40 promptly contributed.
MONUMENT STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Rev. Wm ~ Snively selected as his text PSALM Xiv
I-3 and discussed special theme Of thanksgiving
''The Religious Element an National History Z"
Connecting the Reformation of the &VIth century will
the American Revolution he showed that civil libert
- the natural development of free religious thought
The position illustrated in the history charace
of the Puritans and the Huguenos and the relation the
! sustained to the early settlement Of the colonies ri
then coutrastcd the results of the French Revolution
- with the of American freedom emphasizing as tn
distinguishing feature between the two the presence O
II the religious element controlling power in the one
and its entire absence in the other The early days