Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-11-29
Thanksgiving Day.

Thursday, Nov. goth. designated BY the
Governor of Maryland, as Holyday Of
Thanksgiving and prayer throughout our
State, should be observed with patriotic f.
deity. The language of the proclamation is
honorable to the head and heart of our EI-
ecutive and lie fittisg sermon Itself for the
occasion.
And cordially invite all tho good people
OF this State then to lay aside their custom
AIRY business, and worldly vocatons, and u
mite, in their respective places OF Worship, or
o. their homes, on that day, with the people
of other States in public and private acts OF
Devotion and gratitude to Almighty God.
invite them also, in offering to Him
thanksgiving for favors past and present, that
they earnestly mpore His protection and
blessing for time to come:
That he will continue to as the sits Of
the earth aud make sure the reward OF la
Dor:
That he will grant Us health. prosperity
ard peace.
That dissension and strife may depart from
among US that concord and love Of country
may prevail:
That those in authority may have his gui-
dance; 80 disposing tho hearts Of the people,
and ordering the State, that the happiness
and peace, the power and abundance, with
all the unnumbered blessings, which, through
this Union, the God Of our fathers gave to
them, and TO us, may suffer no dminution,
through our follies or crimes but, sateguar-
ded through his mercy, and multiplied by
His favor, descended to our childrcn's chill
dren.
Days OF National Thanksgiving are Of An
ciert origin and seem to commend themselves
t. the reason and conscience Of all nations
acknowledging the nterpositon Of Divine
Providence in the affairs OF men.
May our State then become holy ground,
---ouc vast temple vocal with songs Of thanks
giving and filled with the voice Of Prayer
aud suppIication.
We have abundant themes for !hsuks8v-
ing. God has given us favorable seasons and
Our fields have brought forth abundantly.
The former and the latter rains have de-
scended in due season. The genial sunshine
has been given and the blighting frost has
been withheld until our garners have been
flled with provisions for the coming winter.
We have been singularly exempt from the
wide ravagos of wasting disease. The year
1860 thus far has been year Of health
Pestilence has not wasted our shores nor has
the plague come near our dwellings. AL
slough from the abundance Of vegetation we
might have anticipated tho advent Of sick
ness, yet our forebodings have been happily
disappointed.
We have been preserved from tho devas-
tating fury of the tornado that manifested it
self in other States during the year. We have
read Of towns damaged, villages ruined, and
families destroyed, whilst the genial breezes
of summer famed our cheeks or the bracing
winds of spring and Autumn checred us.
Italy has been enduring all the horrors cf
civil war-tho inhabitants of our Western
borders have been living in terror Of insurrec-
lions or Indian depredations, whilst we, in
tie enjoyment of peace, have been reclining
under our own vine and fig tree.
We might continue the enumeration Of
our blcssings, but it is not necessary. Those
already mentioned are enough to fill our
hearts with gratitude and our mouths with
praise.
We know that We do not appreciate our
blessings and privileges, but exagerate the
esls which we endure. Let any one COM
pare the condition of the citizens Of Mary
land, with that of the inhabitants OF the old
world, and many portions even of our own
continent, and he will SEQ at once that VIC
are highly favored people.
We are called upon to pray for the con-
tinuation Of our peace, the subsiding of the
angry feelings now existing in our common
country-we are to suppicato God to avert
the fearful evils which arc gathering and
laundering in our political Horizon. The
1 future is uncertaiu--we cannot predicate the
result Of This intense excitement, because VT
know not whether Reason or madness will
rule. We know not whether tho Sovereign
of Nations will r!@seryo or destroy. Bat
should a shattered Union open with tie com
ng year. We may well anticipate an age OF
horrors such as We have never witnessed. Ia
his drama Maryland by her very position
sill be called upon 10 play a fearful part
We have too great All Interest in the eycuts
7hith are developing themselves to be silent.
iie can respond to tue call Of our Executive
nd with earnest hearts mingle with our
lanksgivings our prayers to be saved from
20 momentous owls Of Disunion and the
orrors of civil war