The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-10-05
Peoples InIeu Nopipauon..
TIE NATIONAL FAST DAY.
ITS oBsERvANcE IN THIS CITY.


ITS oBsERvANCE IN THIS CITY.
Thursday having been set apart by the Chic
Magistrate, a day of fasting and prayer fol
the whole country, il was very generally Oh
served in this city. The peculiarly unhappy
state ofth nation, which has moved this solemn
appeal to an Almighty Power rendered the oc-
casion impressive to even the most thoughtloss.
and induced general quietude even greater
tran that of the Sabbath In the forenoon. the
churches were crowded. In the evening. reli-
gious services were also conducted in several
places Of worship All the church services were
OF a Peritential character. Some Of the preach
= crs confined themselves altogether to disaui,i-
q uons on the power Of prayer and the sins Of tho
people, without any allusion 10 the causes Of the
present civil troubles. Others spoke of our
troubles and charged thcm on party spirit. A
few charged them directly on slavery, as the
cause Of our nstonal weakness, and in itself our
great national sin. All, however, prayed for
the sustenAnce Of the Union and those charged
with the administration of the government.
Numerous prayer meetings were held at all
hours Of the day and evening in which the ex-
orcises consisted Of prayers for the Union, pous
and loyal addresses and the singing of appropr.
ate psalms and hymns. Among the many reli-
gious exercises We notice the folowing:-
At the Brick Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dr.
Lewis addressed large congregation. from the
text II. Chronicles, vii. chapter 1ith verse.
10 confined himself mainly to tn evidence, o
the power Of prayer, making but passing ref
erenco to the cause Of our national troubles.
which he ascribod to the yirilence Of party
spirit
At the Church Of All Souls, Rev. DR.. Bellows
delivered sermon from the text. Joel. III.
chapter 18th ycr,c. The Rev. spcal er was dis,
posed to assign the guilt Of the present rebellion
10 slavery. lie spbk' cloluen.ly for near an
hour aul halt, after which Rev. DIR. Osrood
addressed the audience which was very large.
In the Madon Avenue Baptist Church.
Rev. DR.. Hague preached an appropriate ser.
mon in the forenoon, and In the evening a
prayer meeting was held
In Trinity Church. the services were me lc
very imprcs i've by IN" employment Of music
suited to the occasion. An antbom, "Lori, for
thy tender mercies sake, lay not our sin. to our
charge, was sung. Rcv. DR.. vinton also do
lvered very impressive sermon.
At ST. Johns Church, Rov. s. II. Weston.
Chaplain Of the Seventh Regiment, delivered An
eloquent ard patriotic sermon, on the condition
OF the country and our duty towards il.
In the Catholic churches, the services ,yero
cor."aucd to the celebration Of mosses. and the
offering up Of prayers for the unity and happi-
ness Of the country. No sermons were deli
Vered.
AT the Church Of the Puritans. Rev. DR..
Cheever delivered one Of his forciblo and charac-
tcristic sermons, from the text " Is not this the
Fast that | have chosen, that ye break every
yoke
The Fasiday CHANGING to come on the day OF
- Jewish festival (SIrU,enc Art.ares), could
not be as strictly observed by members Of the
Jewish persuasion rs by Christians. Neverthe-
less prayers for the welfare of the Union were
offered up in all the synagogucs.
The Army Committee Of the Young Mems
Christian Association held prayer meeting in
the evening, at Calvary Baptist Church, on 23d
street, near Fifth Avenue. Rev. Dr. Gillette
and other pastors took part in the exercises,
which were rendered very interesting.
We Icsrc' 'r i that some places of amuse-
mont wcrc open la the afternoon and evening,
and did an unusually heavy business.
Places Of business woie almost universally
closed, AMI public and military offices and the
courts were all closed, with tho exception Of
the Quartermaster's office and volunteers depot,
where an hour or two Of labor in the forenoon
was found TO bc unavoidable.
Sporting men, however, paid but little regard
20 the sanctity of the day, four races coming of
on the Centreville, Fashion and Union tracks.
TIE SIEGE OF LEXINGTON.