Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-28

THANKSGIVING DAY-As if in acknowl-
edgment of the propriety of keeping
thanksgiving on Thursday, the sun rose
3 with unusual splendOr and the day was
one of exceeding pleasantnessa and beauty.
The air wasmih and genial as Spring,
and all nature seemed to join with a
christian people in giving praise and
thanksgiving to the Author of all good
Most of the business houses in this city
were closed at nearly hour, and our whole
population, almost, seemed to confess the
proprietyof observing the day.
~ Services were held in most of the
churches and at each large congregations
were in. attendance
.a1, At tie 1st 90. 81 Presbyterian church,
Rev. A. Sterrett, officiated, taking as the
foundation of his discourse the Tooth
Z Psalm. 11ll 91J ElfJ
After acknowledging the authority on
which the day was observed, he enumer-
ated the common blessings for which we
had cause to give thanks, but which are
so common and perpetual that we are
prone to forget the source whence they
eminated.
C.i These were, simple existence, health,
freedom from mental anxiety, all tempo
raj good things, and all spiritual bles-
sings and privileges.
RuF fbora pvara cDaoial hlaSaip0o
which we have cause to give thanks,
among these were the following y
Though war had come near US, we at
the north have been exempt from its
ravages. o.tf .r+ -or.Ft-.5s.
q The rich returns of agricultural inter.
ests, the great prOductiveness of every
branch of mechanical and commercial
industry, our preservation from for
eign complications, our relations with
the great powers of the world being bet
ter than at any time since the rebellion
broke out. That in these perilous times
God has given US Governor so wise,
patriotic and energetic, as to chal-
ASH&O bHO ouniliduOH VI TIC HHOic
. nation We should be thankful that
in these perilous times, God had given
us President of great honesty, simple
IA ity, patriotism, impartiality, GOODNESS and
tenacity of purpose, and withal, exhibiting
so much of a deyout and godly spirit
For the great progress our armies have
made by land and By sea.
~ The high stand our State has been en-
= abled to take for patriotism, iberality,
noble daring and bravery.
For the signal manner in which all
the plans for mischief in the loyal States
have come to nought For triumph over
z mOba4w,
Our great financial prosperity, as illus
trated by the good credit of the Govern
ment --.r..- ~ i
That the North is substantially a unit
and that We are in no danger Of clvi
war in the loyal States as illustrated il
the events attending Lees invasion o
Pennsylvania, Morgan's raid and tn
ldIc GlGGllOuS. DdJ 81 AdA III bhAS 0ASoA
full strife the principles of universal free
dom have. been steadily gaining ground
that the principles set forth in the De
claration of Independence are bein
vindicated Thatin this contest betwee
Aristocracy and Democracy, the latte
is largely in the ascendant That th
capacity of free and enlightened poop
to govern themselves is being fully d
monstrated to the JOY of the down-tro
s,-den millions of earths oppressed sons
We ought to be thankful that the Il
stitution Of domestic slarery as virtual
no more Its political power, whiC
alone has sustained it for many yea
past, is utterly gone, and although
still actually exists in a small part
our territory, it will soon die of its ov
inherent weakness, if let alone.
This has been accomplished contra
to the nations wish andintention, not
=. the Presidents Proclamation, not
he acts of Congress-but the dread
God had rolled His chariot of
49, across our guilty land and wiped out
institution in the best blood of the
ton. And we ought to thank God t
a this blot upon our nation, and on
church, had been virtually wiped o
Finally we ought to thank God for
prospects before us, which have. at
former period of the war seemed
bright. b
i The speaker closed by exhorting
people to forgiveness towards the rel
That while the executors of the
might find it their duty to infict I
7 sishnent upon the guilty, yet it was
duty of tbe.people to cultivate spir
forgiveness and kindness Yenges
belongs to God, and He will me
- @outin justice and to the full meAsul
the iniquity.
-ss1 The two Methodist churches of
z city held their services in union at
- Locust Street Church, where wa
sembled large and intelligent audie
e. 80 Rev. w. NJ Hester preached fror
- Sth, 9th and 10th verses ofthe Goth P
--sssez 0bless our God ye people and
the roics Of His praise to be heard
Which HoLdeth our soul tn life
sufereth not our feet to be nsOUed,
H For Thou, o God, hast prore
81 Thou hast tried us, as sitrer is tri'
Mr.. Il. ayowed that it was our vo
to dayto give thanks to God for Hi
sings to us as nation and as II
uals. That this day presented ST
spectacle. Every true America
home and abroad, by land and b
brings his thanks offering, his sa