The New York herald., 1862-04-14
THE DAY OF THANKSGIVING.
Services ut the Principal ehurs$es-Couos-
tlons Taken Up for the Wounded,
&C., &C., 20.

and hymns Of gratitude chauned TO the Almighty
for the signal victories with which he has crowned
arms and land engaged in suppressng the rebel
ion. is doubly pleasing 10 learn also that responsive
TO recommendation, the occasion improved
by making collections to be devoted tho relief Of those
NOBLE patriot soldiers Of the West who suffered wounds
and other hardshps while struggling for the good Of the
| country Quite handsome sums were contributed in
some Of the churches and preparations also being
made to send forward TO the Sanitary of the
West articles of clothing the shape Of Shirts drawers
coats, &C. give below short sketch OF the services
At some Of the principal churches.
ST. PATRIcK's (RoMAN cATHoLIc) CATHEDRAL.
Yesterday being the anniversary the entrance Of
Saviour into Jerusalem the usual ceremony Of blessing
and distributing palm TO the congregation observed
In a the Catholic churches in the CITY, At st. Patricka
solemn High Mass was sung and very able discourse on
the "Passion Of Christ delivered by Father Woods
s the commencement Of which the reverend gentleman
reminded the congregation that tho President had
mended the people Of tho United States on that day
oner thanks 10 God for the recent victories He vouch
safed to our forces s also to mpore His blessing upop
those brought into action by sedition and civil
and concluded his remarks BY calling them to offer
up fervent prayers to the Almighty. beseschng him to
sion Of peace and national happiness.
TRINITY CHURCH.
The usual morning services at Trinity church yester
day were attended BY an immense congregation, drawn
together with the double object Of COMMUNICATING
Palm Sunday and Of responding to tho Presidents
that prayers Of Thanksgiving should be offered
for the recent signal victories Of forces
rebellion. Tho services those prescribed by the
Episcopal CHURCH for Palm Sunday. Rev. Dr. Ogibee
dotal vestments, ofhciated Towards the close Of
the service DR.. Ogibee ascendsd the pulpit
jeets suggested by the day. He TOOK text from the
63d PSALM chapter 81 in which occurs the words
Because thou hast been my help therefore under the
shadow Of thy wing will rspose' This passage, he
sad was peculiarly appropriate to the day. for in
unhappy domeso struggles the Lord had been help
and had guided the right success victory II 80
happened that this 18th day or April is celebrated
the tumphal entry Of Christ into was
only the beginning OF the sorrowfu road to Calvary
and we likewise celebrated an event which caused an
uprising OF the American people in thor might and
esty 10 vndicats the outraged honor Of the nation
One year ago exactly our country's flag had
been stricken down from Fort Sumter; but that
act stirred the patriotic heart Of the, nation and thou
country The solemn tramp Of armed legions heard
on every side, and from quiet and peaceful people
suddenly became asa nation OF soldiers In the long
interval since that time the Lord had help for
though We had suffered trials. His had plain
ly been stretched forth in behalf and would finally
direct us to that most desirable or all endsan honor
able and speedy peace. Some storms expect,
said but he believed Power that mau could not con-
troll was swiftly bearing onward to q day Of joy,
because Of peace II boosting spirit said this
for the chief he felt in the that every
fresh victory brings nearer the destruction Of
dation. Such the Christian character given TO the
Presidents proclamation and he (he speaker) blessed
God that Chief Magistrate had recommended us to
invoke the Divine guidance the end that peace har.
m0ny and unity throughout borders" might speedily
be established. The speaker then alluded to tho aicon
OF thoee whose hearts had been overwhelmed BY the
calaites OF and asked the congregation to j0n in
praying that they might receive from high such spirit
tual consolation they needed. He concluded by an
nouncng that the collection Of the day would the
benefit Of the soldiers wounded in tho battles and
appealed sloquenty TO the sympathy Of his hearers 10
give their utmost for such deserving purpose.
The collection taken up at the conclusion OF the dis
course was very large.
DR.. CHEEvER's CHURCH.
Tho national thanksgiving for the success Of the Union
arms was duly observed in this church yesterday Rev
Dr. Chesver after appropriate prayer preached avery
stirring sermon to argsconsregation. The following il
synopsis of the discourseHe ookhs text from Isaiah
1874 and 5The extortioner Is Fat end the spoiler
csassth, the oppressors are consumed Of tho land
And in mercy shall tho throne be established in rrsh
judgment ana s n Ins reasnsr commenced
that there was tho beginning of a fuflment of this
text in our land. through Gods divine mercy, in this
rebellion and war. II was revolution Gods part
in behalf Of tho enslaved and for the dsliverancs
Of our own people and government from the do.
minion of slavery. IL looked as though God would
conduct to freedom in spite OF ourselves; in spite of
the opposition North as we'll South; in spite OF
churches, minister's legislators. conservative Of slavery
aud refusing 10 make emancipation any object of the
war, God would accomplish emancipation by the war;
We could not help ourselves might o. well fight
10 QecreeO,
would come and even while generas-soms of
;he-wcre still degrading themselves and their forces
to tho base and brutal work Of hunting up slaves and re-
army, however unwilpgy right sganst tho slavehold.
and would still do it, and in spite Of all ntrgues and
attempts at the reconstruction of the Union slavery
might hope that God would compel TO the
demon utterly from the new Union and to govern the
whole United States by the law of freedom onIv
DR.. Cheever said that military glory a very vulgar
thing in comparison with moral Story, and that we as a
nation, had now the opportunity before Of true
ftarn tim had
nation is in its righteousness, its justice. its moral in
tegrity, tho uprghtness and intelligence the people,
respect for Others rights, freedom OF opinion
and OF uttorance, especially freedom for the
rebukss Of Gods Word against oppression, slavery,
nnd all sin. Our true glory was to be found
in any warlike superiority; but in the possession
and extension of the blessings Of freedom and Christian
y the glory OF practical exemplcation OF benevo-
lence and justice in governments and liberty in subjects
the glory OF rivalry in the most perfect and
bestowen upon ali casses Of the rights Of life liberty
and the pursuit. of happiness DR.. Chcever condemned
tho assertion OF the principle especially from Christian
minister's that our cnly duty 10 fight, fght fight
or He said that, the contrary, duty bring
out the conscience OF our quarrel, and TO fight upon
most and make Justice TO the oppressed tho object Of
the He said that we ourselves ought 10 take care
Of the right and TO throw ourselves ulon God the
consequences and II we would not give to others the
freedom for which arc willing to fight ourselves wo
should be carried headong ruin He then showed
the dreadful dcvasaons of war the dangers of os
tering tho spirit and that only possible saliva
tjon MAS wage the for entire emanc pat ion and
for the regeneration Of our Union and government in
freedom aud in Cod After celebrating the above points
the preacher concluded, and bcnedicton having been
pronounced, the services terminated.
DIR. WILLIAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
Al Dr. Williams Baptist church, in Anity street, the
Presidents proclamation the subject of an eloquent
and patriotic prayer The clergyman offered thanks for
the success Of armies and prayed In the most fer
vent msuner for the welfare of the President hi. Cabi
net Congress- and all others in authority. 1t was to be
hoped that God would mako them the men for the
time, and educate them 10 discharge the duties IN.
cumbsnt upon them in manner calculated to maintain
the honor and welfare OF country. The reverend
gentleman also prayed for the misguided rebels
God to change their minds and cause them 10
repent their that might become one rso.
ps again. worshping ono God. To brave volunteers
he hoped the Almighty would provo sparng and shield
them from the assaults and machna vi the enemy
lie referred those who might fall in battle and prayed
God shat they might die in manner becoming Chris.
taus and be partakers of the Kingdom Of Heaven For
the bereaved-ths widows and orphsns--he made an