The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-11-25
Thanksgiving Day In Cinciunati-Ser-
vices &C the Churches.

phVAOt Nuipli AoniphOu thAO hOob uOuteLlCdll1
inclined into the streets. The consequence
was that in the forenoon the churches in
which service was held were we'll attended,
and in the afternoon the principal thorough
fares were crowded with promenaders. The
business houses were generally closed through
out the day, and the city wore q holiday
aspect, which told plainly that respect which
was being paid to the proclamation of tho
Governor. Below we give synopsis of the
exercises at tho different places of worship, all
of which, in consequence Of our limited space,
must necessarily be short.
SERVICES AT First ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH.
The congregations of the Third Presbyterian
and the Eighth-stree Presbyterian Churches,
united with that Of Mr.. StOrrs, yesterday, and
met at the First Orthodox Congregational
Church, on Seventh-street, near Western row.
Rev. DR.. Storrs delivered the discourse, which
was based upon the following scriptural pas
sages:
"Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His good
ness ana Tor Ills wonderful works to the children OF
men "-Ps. evil: 81.
"By Him, therefore, let US offer the sacrifice of
praise TO God continually; that is the fruit of our
lips giving thanka to His name. "-Heb. xiii: 10.
"Froely go have received freely give. ."-Matt, X:
10.
The reverend gentleman began by showing
the cause the individual had for thaDkfulness
in tho daily bestowal Of infinite mercy; in the
grant Of life and of earthly comforts; in the
means of grace; in the continued possession Of
lively hope.
Next the family had received the gracious
mercy of the Deity, reaching through each houI
of life; in the safety from the grave; the dis
guised blessing of afliction; the great fact upon
which so many may account themselves blessed
that "if Joseph has been taken has not BeDja-
min been Left" the additional well-spring OF
joy vOuchsafed to others. Again tho church
had her blessings for which to be thankful, in
the gracious drops of mercy that have plenti-
fully raned down TO the edification of her fol-
lowers and the increase Of her disciples. Still
moro the State and Nation in the Divine for
getfulness of national vices; in the mercy which
has not allowed us to stand disgraced before
the world has increased our prosperity
brought us'up from financial difficulties, to be
even more advanced in welfare, in the holding
back of pestilent winds and abounding and
disastrous storms, in warming the great bosom
of mother Earth for her children; and more
than all, in preserving us in peace, while othei
nations have been plunged into costly anG
destructive wars, leaving our homes undeso-
late, our fields unwasted, our sons onslaught
cred and our Tree coast unthreateued.
Looking upon the moral world, no noticed
the causes of thankfulness in the advance Of
humanity, in the love of freedom and of Justice
in the growing dislike of unjust slavery, in tht
increase of the religious iu life, building W
christian homes and families, free schools anG
colleges, and Sabbath schools and churches; il
the growth of private morality, the security o
the person, and in the increase Of Christian in
telligence, all of which together, unite to givt
this Nation an influence and power in tbs
world that it has never before pleased God t,
realize on Earth.
After the sermon the choir sang Mozart
Gloria in Excelsis, in very good style, afte
which n collection was taken up for tho benef
Of the Colored Orphans Asylum.
SERVICES AT THE FINDLAY NJ. X. CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Marlay occupied the pulpit a
Finlay Methodist Episcopal Church, on Gin
ton street, and preached from tho following
text:
ri so give thanks unto the Lord, for lie is good; 10
His mercy endureth forever
80 that men would prase the Lord for hi, good
ness, and for His wonderful works to the children
men. ."--Psallns 10Y, lst and Sth verses.
Dir. NJ. began by saying that the obligation
to give thanks to God dates back TO the earlies
period of mans existence; and while the man
nor Of doing this differs now from tho custom
prevailing among the Jews, and even back tC
Cain ard Abel, the spirit was always intended
to be the same. Both the civil and eccIesias
teal law demanded Thanksgiving and prsis,
at our hands day; but as the former ceaasC
in its power when our life ended here, wbilt
the latter continued throughout Eternity tbt
subject became still important. No serV
ice, however, could be svailing, though thu
Courts Of the Lords house were crowded will
people, unless tho thank offerings were baset
upon the merits Of our glorious Redsomcr. W.
should bring IL thank. Offering to day for ou
temporal prosperity; for notwithstanding mis-
rule and the mere seeking of place for tn
spoils of office, Gods bounty is everywhere
and His Providence has overruled all for good
SERVICE AT THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev N. West oficiated at the Central, ant
took his text from
Psalm l07, !: 80 give thanks unto the Lord, 70
Heis good FOR His mercy endureth forever"
He proceeded to show that the great idei
of Thanksgiving service was not Of human
but divine, appointment All legislative en-
actments, all voices of Governors, the custom
of the people, and the sentiment Of the pious
was but the echo of the voice of God. The
Pilgrim Fathers of the Republic borrowed
their idea OF Thanksgiving, as public Ma.
tional service, from those older Pilgrims o
the Hebrew Commonwealth, who under
Joshua and Moses travelled from Egypt tC
Canaan, and when in the promised land es
tablshed there the institutions God had giyer
them by the way.
The speaker concluded his discourse by urg
ing tho greatness of the themes he had alIud
cd to, not to mention others, upon the atten
tion of hia audience. In connection with an
abundant Harvest, Riesn Christ, an Out
poured Spirit, Multiplied Converts, Sanctua,
ries filled with worshipers, a Christian Sabbath
an Open Bible, these were the things which
constitute our chief glory, and mderlie all the
rest of our fame as a nation. For these we
ought devoutly to bless God, as Christian
people. Private thanksgiving, too, was oul
duty. For personal mercies wo should thank
God. The service of the day was not com.
pleted till this was done. And now was th,
time to show our sincerity by giving to tn,
poor.
SERVICE AT ST. PAUL's CHURCH.
Rev. P. H. Greenleaf chose his text from
2 Cor. tx, 6, T.:
"This say, that he which soweth bountifully
shall reap, also, bountifnlly. Every man. according
as he purposeth In his heart, so let him give; no
grudgingly or otnecesslty, for God loveth chserfu
givcr."
Our subject this morning, said the minis
ter, is the Love of God to the thankful ol
grateful giver. The imagery employed is o.
Seedtme and Harvest. The giving, or i'm
parting Of good to others, is "sowing seed.
"Grudgingly" sown is one kind ofseed; thank.
full som,, ID ,~ol rNlz x.,..