The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-11-29
CITY NEWS.
Thanksgiving Day.

usual, observed NJ a Thanksgiving Day. The
churches were all crowded, and after services
the crowds, their faces wreathed with anticipa-
tory smiles, hurried homeward 10 the thanks
giving dinner. Thanksgiving dinner Is a style Of
dinner before which all others pale into insgni
fcance, an event worthy Of introducing a new
year,-eomething which Ia, in itself, cause for
Thanksgiving when we look forward TO its recur-
renee in the future. Its pleasures are surely
greater than those Of what has by our forefAthers
been termed the "prime festival" Of the year.
Christmas is a revel, its enjoymcn,s arc merely
sensuous, we seek in 1t merely enjoyment, and
We invite one and all TO join with us in
its Observance but around the thanks
giving dinner are gathered the family
circle only and the lroauing board
is secondary to tho feast OF love-
An empty chair Ia but link to bind closer to-
gcther those who remain, AMI awaken In their
hearts memories most dear Of the abseat or lost,
and the fair new face which during the year
may have been added to their little world Of
home T. a claim for love and tenderness to which
every heart responds. The absent may per-
chance lie fighting the glorious battle of his
Countfy-we know his cause is good one and
his heart is with us-the lost va fondly tru.t
are in happier, better hand. What sermon will
ever carry to the heart the feeling Of thank
fitness TO God and love TO or fellow men which
is conveyed by the silent cloqucnco Of the pause
| preceding the "graco" At the Thanksgiving
dnner2
| The churches, as before remarked were all
| well attended and the services were generally Of
a most interesting character, appropriate TO the
occasion.
SERVICES AT TRINITY.
The choral services at Trinity Church seemed
| peculiarly appropriate 10 the season of Thanks
| giving, and were listened TO by large congre-
cation which evidently entered into their spirit
Of solemn worship AMI praise. The anthem was
especially suitable TO tho occasion, being the
eighth Psalm, commenting "Oh, Lord our Gov
ernor, how excellent Is thy name in all the
world thou hast set thy glory above the hea-
vons." The sermon was preached by the Rev.
Dr. vinton, from the text "ln everything
give thank,"-1st The'. v. IL. The preacher
was earnts st and eloquent in tho enumeration OF
the various reasons why we should "in every
thing give thanks" in arguments drawn from
the fact that God Is love, and that all that men
often falsely call prosperity and adversely is
but the necessary discipline to draw us nearer
TO him.
From the causes we have for Thanksgiving
as individuals, DR.. Vinton passed on to our rea-
Sons for Thanksgiving as a nation, and showed
that this civil war, great and vast though it be,
should also he source Of praise TO God, since
il Is the necessary discipline TO a noblcr and
more glorious future. We had fallen so low
that our faith in our own and our country's
honor was qucnthed in dull round Of prospect.
| ty that enervatoi the nation, and made it prey
TO the schemes of politicians and traitors who
wonld roll back the glorious current of oui
history, and ruin the country because the,
could no longer use it for the extern
sion Of human bon dage. The IL o
God that awakened us TO the consciousness
of a nobler destiny was a manifestation Of HI
mercy that deserved our highest thank, 70
our dearest interests and the best hopes Of hu
manity are ccntered in the Union, and If that |
broken we are lost. Freedom will no longe
have home in the world. OF the fate tha
awaited us in case OF the triumph of secession
principles we can form a faint idea from tn,
distrust that prevailed year ago, when credi
was destroyed the nation bankrupt, Treason
jubilant and the name of our country becam
bye.word among the nations. Extremists a
the North and South had struck hands to bat
ter down the Constitution reared by our fathers
Men with the Bible in their hands dared i'm
piously to proclaim that there was nothin
in the Constitution worth preserving, and b.
the rawlings Of an impracticable enthusiasm
sought TO destroy the nation, and let loose upo
it fouler train of evils than ever before Athlete
humanity. These men, under the cloak G
| liberty, would stab II TO the heart. On tn
other hand in the South, principles were al
vanced that tended to the overthrow of ever
precept of truth and morality, the ruin of tn
nation and the erection of an empire based upo
, injustice and fraud. Against these extremist
who employed religion and politics-the mos
, | powerful incentives Of human action-to achev
the basest ends, the people had arisen in thei
Q might. A healthy state of public feeling is no.
growing up; credit Is restored; our merchan
:, | princes are In sounder position than eve
J. before; trade and manufactures are reyi,
a ing half n million men are in arm
y to maintain the integrity of the natol
d and hundreds Of thousands are ready to joi
them should it be necessary. God has held Il
u winds in his hand, and restrained the greate
T storm known in the memory of man frol
o harming navy created almost since yesterda
< from nothing, and crowned it with victory III
paralleled in naval annals.
The Most High has filled our garncrs wit
i a harvest that not only more than compensat,
e us for the loss of the worlds most needed art
n Gle OF commerce, but also binds the fofeg
nations that else would destroy US in our misfo
tunes, in irevocable peace. Tho Apostles con
!, mand Sin everything give thanks" is apple
d bic to US both as individuals and as a natio
D for the enumeration of Gods mercies and Ii
, exceeding great love is impOssihle and especiu
5 ~ should we be grateful for the manifestatiC
h to us by Gods proyidences that this wicked r
bellion will be speedily and forever crusho
>, and our country become more than ever Il
refuge of the oppressed, and the hon of tn
freedom based on higher and nobler principles
, truth and justice.
y, DIR. FOSTER, Of the Washington Square NJ.
Church, delivered forcihle discourse on 4
present aspect and situation Of the country Al
the cause we have for thanksgiving, contr,i
ne ing the institutions political educational a
49, | religious, of the United States with the n