Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-12-18


IN. courts with praise be thankful unto Him and
VA ta., HIS name.-PsalH 100, +.
Few nations of earth. at any period of hu
man history, have failed to make some reeoo-
rition of Invisible po,cer, in their more marx
el social events. Nor could we, as citizens
Of Pennsylvania, and of this great Federal
Tnion, fail to do so without the most alarm
Inc delinquency. Hence, on this day of sa.
N cred designation, in obedience to the voice of
custom and the injunction of magisterial au-
,horty. we have assembled in the house Of
t,M, in recognition Of that Divine hand which
has unbarred to US blessings so nanv and so
4 ,seat; to unite, as with one accord. in ascrip
.i,us Of praise to their great adorable Source.
Thus, in the very act of worship, We distinct
iy recognize Gods agency in all our affairs
l9atagency which embraces well all worlds.
all beings, and all things both great and small
and confirming to the pious sentiment of the
P,a'nst, under a grateful sense of His be-
n-fcence and bounty. we Enter His gates
with thanksgiving, and into His courts with
praise to he thankful unto Him, and bless
his name"
/ The duty of Thanksgiving, as religious
service, j. peculiarly appropriate:
Il IS a pajj'c celebration Of Divine good
meas; davout Acknowledgements of our de
reodrnt relation, both in an individual and
uaa nal capacity; an expression of gratitude
ir taHors shown and Kindness received All
a:UisrVnE is founded On this idea Of dcpen
..!te. For It our blessings were not derircd;
1872 we're dependent on no other being for
r.an, tEere could be 40 ground for gratitude,
gr reason u be thankful That is. if thew
r.-inated in 0HrSc'rc5, in such a sense as to
b, 9ur e"A j5sb3yTo2Caj czeeilencv there could
IN D5o}fcs for the III ring f thanks. wfeth
4, God or any other being: We wcu!i have
..' ourselves 10 congratulate Oh our AVA SELF
iTgH3 Gaotlnc=s. Bat a. in fact it is 9th
-E-n: = ne nave no good 1i59ertrcd as all
.. we conles from God, the Giyer If every
gel and perfect g.f,' the fountain whence
-'.5 all eur accumulated distinguishing
as a"i'riy, completely icpendent-thcre is
..Hn atlon for gratitude, and the duty Of
..aksgiVlng arises from tie very nature and
aaass Of fbInZS. s. situated, it would be
.aHH1i and reereant to every high and no
Impulse, not % eHtertain Il lively sense IF
80 la.r..os we enjoy, and give expression to
TT -. ...-:!e N every fitting occasion.
rac ,h!S most laudable purpose we are rs
s5a..I - cay. As community. we are
..a' sa r.rt"rln duty IA less pleasing thtn
is a.l.-4.G. Thai < giving. indeed, should
..e,'- .li'l m T. a. a jTicIteyc than a du-
... FIR "".ie other duties, unsPeaaabIy i'm
r-aat AMI llajsp=u7aba, are nevertheless
..f .->ue.. ~ Tr'.er tttEcc conflict with sin
gs.ea-e under attictiun-this is at once i
-se ct rcH y.sIsure. 1t pre- sHppos,s
f.. -ftT.as condition; aud "A curresPuGding
..@iy state "i mind, which Is Incompatible
n.A meraa' misery The ore may succeed
'a ;aar. bat they cannot CO exist. Hence
willie laen&s1 1isiug appropriate utterance
81 Tie heavenly world, and through all the
Ids ot light kindled by redeeming love on
earth, lta rapturous notes are never heard in
The Satanic regions. nOr in the haunts Of hu
man guilt.
The steps Of this mental process are few
l@1 rapid. First there is a conception in
,ae mind of Gods layished bounty, which,
hal'ng fitting response, awakens the emo
@.a or sense at gratitude and then from
this flows cut the thanksgiving of the heart
distinct and lively conception, therefore, of
ii]is goodness and heniiicence towards US,
Is essential both tu the feeling Of gratitude
2H4 i,s true expression. To ail this concep-
uta let US inquire
II. What We have to be thankful for p
Y bat are our incentives to gratitude?
Abundant matter might be found in Il re-
We" OF Gods SP22:el and general mercies to
Us as n'ea; for ,ifc itseiJ': as all sober ti!:ak
."E m"n must consider life blessing
1oNe'er few wre;chel beings, whose
crimes have loaded them with infamy and
Pu"Sel ta@m into n:7Sery, may regard it a,
eHraa-tpr the @cit1d rank we hold in
..et,oa; inr when We look around us at the
""r order OF creatures, and remember the
"a destiny for which God made us. and
'5t' the d,-nity wiki which lie has crowned
's; who, that does na5 ,iiank God he is a
@"'.-i"r our reEe.aYtion by Jesus Christ,
~'oeG4 whose almighty intervention, and as
V.n.i'hlnI display Of mercy and love, the for
,.''d blessings Of eternal holiness and life
nave been brought back within the sphere of
human prlvilege-tor the watchful care of a
ANA and beniguant Providence, which has
ever been over us-for that grace that sought
Ds "len strangers, wandering from the fold
~ "od that called us out of darkness into
"IA.-!or Christian ordinances, religious
|''"eJes educational advantages, and .faDeity
@'.|c'es the blessings, comforts, and endeaF
44nts Of home.
f,r all this, we have abundant cause for
..'nASgiglng. But called together as we are,
Ct iAe instance Of his Excellency, the Gov
amor of the Commonwealth, it seems more
gy'h'ung that we should dwell to day on pub
IS ana national blessings Gods
II-"e'actons to US as a people. And this is
.I' more Important in view Of the war crisis,
mind. - -
me time 1oas, when we could look upon
vi uiiS broad contederacy of sovereign States,
nnoSe Eastern and Western boundaries
stretch along the two great oceans of the
"oFla' ard feel that we were one people with
o1nds OF Union, as yet, unbroken and unim-
paired, and the escutcheon of our nations
s,oFy untarnished. And although the hand
u violence has ruptured this great brother
Hooo Of States, and made those aliens and
enemies, who were, and ought to be, friends,
y1eatTe'' and fellow citizens yet there is
'eason to hope We shall be one Ggain.
AS ground for thanksgiving to God, then,
.o' US look at what we acere, and what we are;
.l SaI Ia both conditions, let Us see what g God
alAth IL {.