The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-08-10
COMMUNICATIONS.
Thanksgiving at Brunswick.

To the Editor Of the Press:
All the doings of Commencement you have
already chronicled and given to your readers.
One exercise and the closing one of Com
mcncement week, you will not be likely TO
chronicle unless you take it from this. l mean
the Thanksgiving service. There was feel
ing In not u few minds, that the festivities of
the past few days would unit people for en-
gaging with becoming reverence IN the sol
emn duties of thanksgiving to Almighty God
for his past mercies and deiiverarces.
At an early hour in the evening the spa
cious church was filed and packed. The dec
orations were all up, and the starry flags still
kept their places.
DIR. Adams, in his happy and felicitous man
ner, opened the meeting, alluding TO the proc
lamation OF the President, and stated that it
was not ,oar meeting, that it was not a peace
meeting, but that it was Thanksgiving meet
ing, and that it was meet and proper that the
festivities of the week should now be closed
by a service OF praise and thanksgiving.
He then introduced the Rev. John S. Sew
ALL Of Wenham, Mass, a graduate Of the class
of 1850.
Mr.. Sewall made some pleasant illusions to
his early college days, and called up some Of
the associations Of the past, referring to the
time when In that house and in the presence
of the congregation usually worshiping there,
he took upon himself the vows Of God. One
Of his points was most happily taken, riz :
that it was cause of thankfulness that our in-
stitutions of learning are still left to us, that
In the midst of this sAlpendous rebellion we
return again TO these quiet retreats of science,
that our homes are left, and the temples of
God are opened to us, as in the days Of peace,
contrasting all these blessings with what might
have been had not the tide of rebellion been
turned back to plague its inventors.
tho elnsa of Mr. SewalIfS rauaarts fax
stanzas Of an appropriate hymn was sung by
the vast congregation, and it was done with a
scttl, all making melody in their hearts.
DIR. Adams then said that they were happy
in having with them their old neighbor and
friend, the Rev. Mr.. Fales, Rector Of the Epfs
copal church. Waltham, Mass.
Mr.. Fales came forward and made an ad-
dress characterized by heart and fervor. He
reviewed the past and looked forward with
hope to the future; with deyout gratitude he
acknowledged the hand of God in leading us
in paths that we knew not OF, and called upon
all now and ever to praise Almighty God for
all his goodness to us as people. There was
an nnction and fervor about his remarks that
took lold OF the heart, and not few were in
warAly exclaiming, "verily it is good for us
TO De here.n
Dr. Adams then mentioned that their friend
aud neighbor, Col. Chamberlain was in the
house direct from the battle field, and though
fatigued and feeble, yet all would rejoice TO
see his face once more. The Col. then came
upon the stage and was received with rounds
of applause. He looked thin and care-worn,
but he spoke words of cheer, OF comfort, of
hope, of assurance. 'Tis said that seeing is
believing, and here the audience looked upoa
the man who like many others) had LIFT
home and family and the peaceful pursuits of
literature for the tented field, that he might
do something for his country and his God.
Col. c. related many thrilling incidents of the
battlefield and assured us that the army of
the Potomac were hopeful, cheerful and jaibi-
liant.
DIR. Adams then said that of two evils he
always chose the least, and that he had rather
offend one man than multitude Of men.
That Prof. II. b. Smith Of New York had pos
itively enjoined him not to call upon him, but
that the audience could never forgive him il
he neglected to call upon him, and he should
put himself right with the people, even at the
risk Of the dispeasure of the Professor, and
he therefore called upon DIR. Smith to make q
few remarks.
telling speech TO which no hasty report OF
mine can do justice. Those who were fortu-
nate enough TO hear him at the Commence.
ment dinner, need not be told as TO IFS quality
Snfiice ii TO say there was the true ring 10 e.
the ore was unalloyed; no brass, for it was
characterized by humility, and no copper, fol
u was patriotic, from root TO branch, from
bark TO core
we have seldom seen a meeting where
there was more marked solemnity, united
with deep feeling OF thankftIlness. All went
away with a feeling that the gdod pine had
been kept for that occasion. A.