Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-04
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING DAY
MONTPELIER.

When thou hast 80 provided tor ~
g. Thou watetest the ridges thereof abundAntly;
Thou settlest the burrows thereof
4. Thou makest Il son with showers
Thou hlessest the spring thereof
.. Thou cfuwnest the year with thy goodness
And thy paths drop fatncss.
9. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness;
7 The pastures are clothed with focks
The valleys also are covered with corn.
8. They shout for joy
They do slso sing
Ord. Prayer.
4th Reading Of the Scriptures.
9th. Anthem. Before Jehovsh's awful
throne"
9th. Prayer.
7th. Hymn
shine on our land. Jehovah shine
With beams of heavenly grace;
Reveal ihy power through al coasts,
And show Thy smiling face
Sermon by Rev. w. II. Lord The text
was taken from Luke 7 : " lie loveih orr ma
ton and he has built Us a synagogue.
He referred to the proprety Of public spirit
as displayed in the Centurion, and thought
that as be was so patriotic, he must have been
good husband and father He was truly
public spirited man, and he announced as
bis subject "Public Spirit" and said there
were two principal characters Of public
spirited man, viz; Patriotism aud Love of
thhtNs htllVAlhH - iDNt VI tue WnOAt
country, and the whole of ones nation. a
love Of its old customs, and OF its future
prospects, better even than the love Of home.
1t guards against every enemy, domestic or
foreign, which may seek to overthrow the ma
tion and its Government. 1t loves the i'm
perisbable record of the Great names OF its
patriots and statemen
Everything that promotes civilization is
united in the country The state is the
foundation Of ell our domestic. civil and po-
litical life, and of all our comforts and bless
ing IL is this which makes treason SO great
crime. Il is the overthrow of all these
great blessings and comforts. We must
guard and defend our country as the source
from which all these great blessings and com
iorts come. There Is true love OF country
when every pulse beats in unison. and we
should yield every interest and comfort for
the welfare Of the commonwealth. No wise
man will overthrow his Government on ac-
count OF its occasional deficiency 10 some in-
stances. IL is bis for better OF worse. Meth
or should we speak evil against those IN au =
ority. Government is the means designed by
God 10 establish justice, truth, and mercy,
and If II fails in securing this we should not
rebel against il The ruler should be the
best man 10 the nation but be may be a ty-
raint or an embecil. But we should yield Ia
the powers that be. The power which binds
and cements nation truly together is lore.
HAte fear, and seifshness should be put
away. They are against the true prosperity
o! the nation. Thi. power Of love has been
increasing ever since the time when the An
gels first sang Peace, on earth with good will
towards man" Whose resisteth its power
resisteth the ordinance Of God Government
IL mysterious. We can mother understand
nor oppose it. He loyed it the best when it
accomplishes its theoretical plan, and when
all its rulers are truly devoted TO the interests
OF their country. We must overlook the de-
fscts OF human administration In a time OF
peril, the people overlook defects and do and
dare everything for the welfare Of the nation.
When Government is in danger. patriotism
puts awsy small questions. 1t must be like
love to father. mother, or brother. uncun-
sious even TO itself The patriot may mourn
when things are wrong, yet it will be seen
that he truly ioveth his country Love will
mi gate the horrors of war and it will some
times overcome our enemies. When we give
thanks for our victories let then, assend To
God in mingled prayers and praise. Let US
pray that the hearts Of those who have so
wrongfully lifted mp their hands against their
government may be united that they may
once more return to their allegiance. Let us
put away all seldshne-s, and remember ug
that we are fighting for the future, that our
hopes be not vain. while we thank God for
past victories, let Us pray for future blessings.
But his is the best public spirit who bears
upon his shoulders the true interest OF the
Christian Church. The true place for pub
lie spirited man is at he gateway OF the churh.
Pubic sp,rit is he true motive for helping
the Church. II says give and God says
f" II shull be added unto you again.
God blessed the Centurion because he had
built a synagogue. The contribution box is
a spiritual thermometer. He hoped that peo-
pie would be no longer prevented from going
To Church because they cannot obtain pews
l II some earnest man would only take the lead
/ and raise our banner, all will gladly low
and we may pass our next J thanksgiving in q
larger and better Church with whittier walls
/ And as we 20 to our festive boiTds let us re
member in our prayers and in our contribu'
: tions those who have left their homes and are
/ now hravely fighting for tn i Government.
/ Prayer.
Thanksgiving Anthem. The eyes of all
wait upon Thee oh, Lord
A collection was then taken for the benefit
| Of the Christian Commission, amounting tc
$3.50 $50 Of which was contributed by g
W. Collamer, Esq,
Benedction.
Al the Methodist Church.
Services introduced by reading the Nahona
and State Pruclamations reading the l45tt
Psalm and prayer. Sermon by Rev, A. L
Cooper. Text, Psalms 97 1. "Ihe Lone
reigneth lei he earth rejoice"
II has been the custom of all nation to i'm
plore their God for success before entering
the battlefield and when they are successful
they bring their trophies homage to thei
God If heather nations have thus reoogniz
ed their God, why should we not as chris
tian nation thus implore God to sustain on
Government, it being one that we can wei
sue at the hand Of God for it maintenance.
We cannot always have prosperity, whil
to-day some join in unbroken circles hov
many there are broken, either by sickness o
death on the bloody battlefield. Although
we have lad reyerses of our arms that ha
caused the tear to trickle down the check, VI
have great reason to return our warmes
thanksgiving to God
We should improve by oir adversely. Tn
greatest cause Of our grief is this unholy war
thing we hoDtd never to see; but it ha
n. N..N uaNa