Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-03
From Romney.
RonSEy, Va, Nov. 90.
Eds. LateHgenesr:

ts,ion extended to the ''hoys" of the first
virginia Regiment TO write sketches TO
YOUR valuable paper
Yesterday WAS day ofthanksgiSinga and
prayer with US here, and our memories re-
Varied back to former occasions of the
kind; at our happy homes in times of peace
and prosperity We naturally thought of
the great long tables grooming under the
weight of luxuries prepared by our loving
mothers aud kind sisters, around which we
have gathered and thanked God our Father
for the many blessings which we have en-.
loved. But here in tue mountains we had
nome of those Injuries or spread tables;
and when our Colonel announced that We
would pass the day in fasting and prayer,
some Of the "boys' allowed that the prayer
would do, but tire fasting was bore as we
had been doing that for week. Yet with
all our ineonveniences We spent pleasant
and profitable day.
The morning sun dawned upon US
through cloudless sky, and soon the white,
sparkling crystals of frost disappeared
and the atmosphere became quite pleasant.
Your correspondent concluded to attend
divine service. In due time was brushed
10 looking my best, and vending my way
to the II. Z. Church, there found quite
large aud respectable audience already
congregated, goodly part of which was
composed Of the officers of the different
Regiments quartered here, and a fiuer look
ing set of officers would be hard to find
anywhere.
While waiting for the Chaplain Hooked
around to see what Kind of II house we
were in, aud confess to considerable
degree Of surprise, for found myself seat
ed in one of the most elegantly furnished
houses that l have ever seen. The Fourth
street Church in your city is no compare
son at all. The woodwork is all nicely
grained in oak, while the walls and ceiling
are neatly pauneled and elegantly scrolled.
We had but a short time to wait the APP
pearance of the man OF God, middle
sized person of more than fifty years of age.
As he entered, the band OF the 9Th Ohio,
which was seated in the gallery above,
struck up lively air, which entertained
The audience Cor some moments. This
done, the Chaplain arose and read hymn
in a rich, clear voice, which was sung 10
such manner as would put to shame
many a practiced choir. 1t was like the
old fashioned singing We used to hear IN
our churches everywhere.
After singing, the reverend gentleman
read the 5Oth Psalm, aud prayed such
PRAYER as we seldom hear, so full OF devot-
ed earnestness was it that the whole con-.
gregatiou seemed to feel a glow of good
feeling.
when the congregation had sung anoth-
er sold familiar hymn" the preacher con-
tinued the devotiOns by reading for his
text the l4th verse of the 50th Psalm
The words were Theses
'sOner unto God Thanksgiving, and pay thyro~S unto
The speaker began his discourse by de-
fining the word thanksgiving" which he
said NWas gratitude for favOrs received, or
ar outward expression of that gratitude
which we feel in the heart when we
have been favored in any way" He next
tried 20 show how we had been blessed by
our Father above. In the first place, we
have been blessed with lifei we have been
created and had the breath of life breath
ed into our fnanimate bodies, aud NE
were then brought into being.
Our life is not like that of the plants,
herbs aud the mighty trees of the forest;
they grow on from year TO year until they
have added hundreds of years to their agei
but they are not conscious of having lives
atall. But, the speaker continued we
realize that we have life, and that all
things around US have life. We see life IN
the vegetable and brute creation, and we
realize that they are all below US IN the
scale of creation, There are many links
the earth, or, in fact, is the earth, and the
other end of the chain is held in Gods
hand on the throne in Heaven, while man
is Just a link from the throne-he is Great
ed little lower than the angels.
Obi man, look up, be not ashamed, be
not degraded, but I'LL mans place and full
iI his destiny We often see man held
down by Acknowledgements. This is not
right; he should force his way through
the world Take lad, tell him he is u
Ounce, has no sease, aud vii! never be
anything in tue world, and will assure
YOU he will be a Ounce, and will be back
ward In the world. But tell buy, or
man. that he is intelligent, and will leave
his mark in the world, and see to it, he
will reach the end and aim of his creation.
While paying a tribute to 8. A. Douglas,
Gen, Harrison, and Old Abe, the speaker
showed how those brilliant stars had risen
from low stations to the high and honor
able positions which they have attained.
In the course OF these remarks, lie said
that Old Abe 10 his young days could split
rails, but now he is employed in tue gl0rl-
Ons work of cementing our shattered
Union When this remark WAS finished,
the audience could not restrain their patri-
otto feelings, but stamped their feet IN ap-
plause and with great vehemence.
Referring to the seeded States, the
speaker said that those States which pro-
fessed to be out of the Union, were not yet
out, nor Ivoald they be until they had
trampled under foot the lifeless bodies of
moro than half million brave men, who
had sworn 20 save their country or die ia
the attempt. This remark again called
forth great applause
Our interesting speaker, after exhorting
his audieace to pay their VOWS unto God,
closed his remarks, when the Rev. Me-.
Freeman arose and requested the band to
play tho Star Spaugled Banner, after which
he closed the exercises Of tho dAy With a
short aud appropriate prayer. We all re-
paired to our respective quarters to enjoy
our "orackers aud fitch intermingled
with a few beans and little hominyi
,,hioL .. -. ,t,, Jasst is verY wholesome.