The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-12-26
THANKSGIVING SERMON
BY
REV. JOHN CHAMB ERS.
AOVE hBER q, 1860

After The opening exercises, as apPlica-
BILE to The occasion, the 9Th chapter of Deu
teronomy was read, and the speaker re-
marked -
In common with mulIi,udes of our breth
rem in our Commonwealth and in our sis
ter States, We come together This beautiful
morning TO express 10 The Sovereign and
Lord of the Universe the gratitude OF our
hearts for The blessings and mercies which
have followed US during the past year. No
nation has greater cause for thankfulness
for the multitude of favors and blessings
which have been lavished upon US, for the
harsests which have been reaped, for the
almost universal health, and for tie free
dom from. pesiience. If famine has visited
as it has been on the outskirts of The land,
while the great heart contains within itself
enough for aN Remembering these, and
20 call upon God to deliver Us from coming
evil, we can 60 before His Throne to-day
Let rs pray.
THE PRAYER.
We acknowledge Thee, Eternal God Father,
Son and Holy Ghost, as our God, Creator.
Freserver and Benefaotor-we acknowl
edge Thee as the God and Father, Pre-
server aud Benefactof of our Fathers be
fore us, and amid all the crowdng memo
:es of the past. we stand before the throne
of the great Eternal One, in The name of
Christ, To give thanks TOR the blessings of
the past year.
We thank Thee that the fruits of the earth
have been euperabundant; for the cattle
which have roamed our hills. that health
peace and prosperity have attended Us IN
all The relations of life that famine aud
pestilence have not stalked in our midst,
and that the sword has remained in its
sheath
We desire to call upon our souls and all
that is within us, TO bless and magnify so
good, so gracious, so kind God.
We are forced TO confess our much migrate
fuIpess, and we deplore in Thy presence
the want of earnestness and heart on the
The part of Thy servants but we humby
thank Thee that Thou hast still remem-
bered mercy, and implore Thee that the
futnre nav transcend the past infideliiy
and holiness of living Bless all efforts
made in bringing 10 pass that day when
Thy name shall be great among the Cen
tiles. Bless alf methods OF instruction
among the young--lhe college, the acade
mlcaI 1nStitutiOnS- May tn6 DtOi6 go lar
and near I'LL il shall be the companion of
all on earth. Give parents wisdom from
on high in training up their children, that
there may be in This nation the richest
developments of morals, in order 10 fit all
for the still grander developments when
man shall raise in the last day in infinite
love and Kindness stay vice in every
form, stay The tide of evil on the dissipa
tor. Iicsniiousness and drunkenness of our
people And, Infinite God, grant in eve
" e17ors 10 redeem the world from evil,
sbundant success, that all may enjoy free
CON from sin through tie redemption of
Thy Son. Thanks for all we have. are.
and hope for, and for all that has been
dons for us, and continue to bless us, and
may we continue TO remember Thee in
this great land. And while we thus
thank and adore Thee for all Thou hast
done for us, we come before Thee With
sorrou--we ara almost driven 10 the riv-
ers Of Babylon. and hang our harps upon
the bending willows. Alas, that so much
discoTd shonld exist in This favored land.
Our earnest prayer is, that The resuErec-
ton pow er and divinity that watches over
the sleeping dust of Mont Vernon, may
watch ever ibis land 30 dearlo him who