Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-11-21
THANKSGIVING.

lhhNNSoA'
THAT which is our greatest comfort and means of
defence, above all Others is that we have here The
tr,,e religion and holy ordinances of Almighty sod
taught amongst Thanks be to God, we have
here plenty of preaching and dligent catechising,
with strict and careful exercise, and good and com
mendabe orders to bring people into a christian
conversation with whom have to do withal.
And thus, we doubt not but God will be with U.S.
and if God be with us, who be against us!'-
Francis Hgginson's Relation Of Nelo England.
The old New England festival returns to
state prosperous and happy beyond the hopes
of the pilgrims. The virtue OF the wayfnrers,
who were unconscious of the history they
were creating, is bearing fruit for their child.
rem. We rejoice in the possession OF blessings
which we have not earned, They were only
recompensed by the asustaining faith which
looked beyond the season of trosts and storms
to the reward which awaits those who greatly
suffer,
To the crown that virtue gives,
After this mortal change, TO her true servants,
Among the enthroned gods on sainted seats.
at is a land of divers and sundry Sorts
said one Of our pious architects and builders,
call about Massalhuets Bay, and is us fat
e
tunately for the perverse generations who
have followed them, the first settlers thus
united the instinct of speculation with the
austerity of their lives and kept an eye open
to the profit OF their great adventure, while
they practiced the "commendable orders"
which defended them against worldly tempta-
ton and reproach. Returning again from
scenes of mature and marvellous prosperity,
with which the state is favored, TO the hearth
stones around which Plenty and Comfort are
laughing in the excess of their yicto.
ries, it will not be forgotten how much
the fathers wrought and suffered to
lay the safe and sure foundation of such
prosperity and happiness. The shadows fit
ting before our firesides, the vacant places of
husbands, brothers, sons, who are bravely
fighting for our liberties and theirs, the
mourntu memory of the dear ones who tell in
the first shock of the battle, and became
immortal, will give occasion enough for sad
reflection, but will not cover the truth that
God has been kind TO the people beyond their
deserts. 1t is possible now, in the presence
OF an emergency which comes but once to any
generation, and 10 some generations never,
Tor them 10 perform a great historic duty
which shall atone for three or four generations
of remissness and short-coming. The won.
derful and overwhelming power which the
first startling signal OF danger developed, and
which grows with the increasing magnitude
of events, is worthy Of nothing less than the
salvation OF bentticent and Christian
government, and at the same time The
elevation to enlightened liberty of race
whose usefulness is now lost to the
world. mo man who knows aught," says one
of the great lights OF English opinion, mo
man can be so stupid as TO deny that all men
were naturally born tree, being the image OF
God himself, and were by privilege born to
command and not to obey" Freedom har
monies with human nature; oppression is its
deadly foe. And no irregularity or disorder
occasioned by the reiol ming or destruction OF
bad institutions can be equal to the accumula'
ted misery which they impose upon their vic
tins and upon mankind. Such mission has
fallen to the lot of the times in which we live;
it is possible, by recognizing the occasion TO
perform this sublime act of justice and duty, to
make them illustrious forever.