The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-12-16
THANKSGIVING SERMON.
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There are few duties more liable 10
ffeqacn, and serious embarrassment.
from our circumstances and condition,
than The duty 81 public or national
Thanksgiving. 10 repent TO pray, TO
exercise Faith and HOPE, j, not al
ways easy. But to give thanks pub
licly, and in view Of our national con
dtion and prospects, seems at the
present time 10 be environed with pc
cuhar difficulties and obstacles.
But, there are no duties OF relig-
ions nature, which may not find sub
stantial cause or motive in our condi-
ton and relations 10 God, although, at
times, some duties may appear, or
seem to be more consonant with our
condition than others.
There are times when the exercise
Of Faith seems TO be especially de-
manded, as in the case OF Peter walk
ing on the sea, although the exercise
Of it may be subject to great difficulty,
especially such exercise Of it.as will
answer the exigency Of the occasion.
Bot still, in every case where faith
is demanded as necessary to the right
performance Of christian duly, it
may, under whatever difficulties, still
be exercised, as in tie trial Of Abra-
ham, aud be accepted of God, and he
accounted unto men, for righteousness.
So of the duty Of State or nation
al thanksgiving. II may be impe-
ded by our circumstances in one view
Of them,- lin a limited view Of them, -
when, on more full and complete
view, this service might appear 10 be a
very suitable and reasonable duty.
True, in regard to many Of those
things in our national condition, for
which we are accustomed TO give
thanks, there seems now TO be def
cheney, a blank, chasm, cloud,
storm, darkness and not light, evil and
mol good.
In one aspect, We keep this day Of
thanksgiving as State, under State
Proclamation yet we have not se-
ceded from the Union. We claim
to belong 10 it, and had il not appear
ed necessary that this service should
be moved backward one week, much
against the wishes of the people, these
songs, these prayers, and these Civ
ing Of thanks, would have blended
with those Of all the loyal States
around us.
We approach these exercises,there
fore, not as a separate, isolated com
munity, but as belonging to the great
body polite, sharing, as one portion Of |
the republic, in all the duties, trials
responsibilities and sacrifices Of the |
whole nation. For, the plot to over /
throw our national government was /
aimed agains; us. Theplan for break
ing down the great republic, included |
our political overthrow, while the call I
TO the men Of the land TO rise and defend
their national integrity and Govern
ment,was call tomi itran through our
villages, and echoed along our mour-
Tain sides, call to our freemen sleep
ing quietly upon their homesteads, 10
come forth and defend their country
and their laws. They answered as
one. They went forth feeling that
every interest Of the nation was theirs,
and whatever imperilled these inter-
esis, impcrilled their own. In all the
dangers, in all the suiicrings aud hard.
ships Of the present strife, IN all the
exhausiing drain upon the national
wealth. ali the demand for men and
means. treasures OF silver, or treas
ores Of blood. We have owned viii
ling fellow ship with the men Of all
the loyal States, and hase given not
Only Of The chief thing. Of the ancient
mountains, and Of she precious things
Of the lasting hills, but the more prec-
ious offerings Of our young men,--oi
our Children, whose bones lie this day
some ot them. 10 graves suuk ia sell
once oouseeFNei 10 liberty, but now
polluted and cursed BY the treason Il
those WHO haa reeeiyel i as the her
iiage Of freedom Ii, therefore, there
are any difficulties ia our condltion a.
. nation 70 enbarrAss free, fall apd