The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-23
TuANHssIVINa yUoUoUrs

Into custody ana straignt-iaclct them into a
state Of thankiulness. They have receive /
from God exhaustless treasures each Of which
has q tongue 20 speak FOR itself and lau1 is
own worth. Our national advantages point
themselves out so clearly TO even the most
unreGecting, that the religions observaures of
Thanksgiving day are felt to be the m urll
exponent Of the peoples heart.
We have no need to work ourselves NJ on
the subject, no inducemnnt to lcign q pros
perity which we d. not possess, and 10 rcnder
our thanks hypocritical also. The actions o.
our armies In The Geld, the good service OF
those private workers who toll at home for
the well-being of the soldiers. and the una.
nimity Of feeling prevailing between these
two vast divisions, are sufficient causes for
good fortune, even without taliug into con
alteration all those immense valuable rcssr-
voirs Of strength which il seems impossible to
drain. We have been lecture for our national
sins, and we have been told that the nation
Is being punished for them.
This may be so. But it is good to turn
our thoughts away from our sins sometimes.
Il is to take a one-sided view of ones self to
reflect wholly upon ones shortcomings. we
have some natural good in rs. The circum-
stances under which the FIRST colonists made a
home for themselves argue this, and the con-
strution Of human nature asserts it. Let ia
then take q more cheering view Of ourselyo..
A perpetual shadow should not intruda into
the genial atmosphere ofrcpentance. We IN Ist
lave something to smile at as well as to weep
over. We cannot be forever mourning over
our sins. The aackcloth VIII wear Out, and
She ashes will be dissipated by the gales o
time five do not, then, give thanks attirci
In purple-and-1ne-linen robes OF rejoicing, let
Us at least anoint our hands, and 90 with a
decent countenanco to the sanctuary. II ever
a nation has met with retrbution W, have
met withit; If ever great people could work
out their own atonenent and salvation, we
are doing it.
When we speak Of our prosperity at home
and in the field, we do not forget the mutilAted
scenes of war nor the dreadful anguish OF
thousands of households. But we compare
these Affections with the grand principles
they are evolving, aud the ultimate good they
viii establish. If through sorrows night
and dangers path" only the individual can
bope 10 enter world Of happiness, the sane
discipline is necessary for a nation. Aud now
that so much Of that discipline is over, lie! u
not brood too constantly over our sus, but
take heart Of grace for the good that yet is
mus.
What thousands on thousands of Thanks
giving tables tomorrow will be gracei By the
result Of the electionl How many plain dishes
will be sauced with the conviction that ABRA-
BAN LINCOLN is to be the next President of
the United Statesl How many a rich melaage
will have its indigestlbility corrected by the
came thought That remembrance itseI" Is
the good digestion that waits on appetite, and
the knowledge that the premium on gold does
not after all affect the price of provisions az
much as might be anticipated, is the health
that waits on both.
Let grumbling, then, be banished from the
board; slet cOmplainings be ignominiousy
sent away from the table. Let sweet charity
tincture the atmosphere of soc ETY. with its
neutral tint. For all the pums in the pud
diDg-and may they be the reverse of angels
vsits-let there be bright smiles and genia
Jokes. We can take an example from tn,
soldiers In this. They never murmur il
giving thanks. With them gratitude is no
an affecting sense of future favOrs. The,
never swaddle curse up in smile The
work the hardest for all they get, and they
not umble so very much even when they 9
uLTeWarded.
Some people give thanks as they give aims
they never give them at all, or are rs lou
before paying them as they are in paying the
debts. Some, again, go to work at them
though they were driving a bargain, and a
bent on having the best oft, and Others are
Shoughtlessly free with them as with so mu
borrowed money. How many take qu
and sober view of themselves, society,
ns,ion, and reckoning up tbe sum-total, 6
with humility from the oVerfowings Of hon
hearts?
In some Of their aspects our Thanksgv
da IS are the Partisan Sabbath Americana
The worldly and the religious are out in
force All social resources are drawn {
The genius Of our people shows itself as v
in the feryOr with which religious meeti
arc sustained, as wen as in the int
erergy with which the masses seek mean
amusement. Fasting and teasting hob
mob with each other. Men pray and care
70 an identical reason, The fact that
cltrgy are sustained in their consecrdtio
this day, and in employment of all the al
mcut and eloquence in their power shows
disposition of a large body Of the people
The very sermons are worth collating
illustrating the bent Of not few emir
minds, modified by the mutual influence
pastor and congr cation.
At such a season as this, when cool rhi
tion is mingled with much that is gay
joyial one takes a peculiar interest in liV
if such mode OF speaking be allowable.
only 10 crafty his curiosity in regard to
precise issues of this contest, he would tai
long lease Of life, assured that each year
provide fresh national reasons for natiC
thanks.
THE UNITED STA TEs CHRIS CTAN CG
MISSION.
Widespread as is the knowledge Of the
portance Of the United States Christian g,
mission, the conviction Of its immense in
ence for doing oood Is daily growing deer