Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-28


up at nine O'Clock in the morning, Rev.
Mr.. Birdsalf acting as celebrant. at the
customary part of the services he sscenaea
the pulpit, and delivered the following
important and appropriate exhoFtstioo:-
!, ia becoming to say few words on the
occasion which brings US together on TINS
dsv. The civil AUTHORITIES have set sside
mia day. called Thanksgiving day, in or
der to give thanks to Almighty God Tor
the many blessings which He has bestow-
ed upon our county, Il is good TO see
This religious tone in our rulers, by which
they acknowledge Gods Providential
workings in our couutry's welfare. we
now have q new motive for celebrating II
BIZ special prayers to God since the Most
Reverend Archbishop has required that we
should give 20 the celebration more than
nsual soIemnity. Every individual In at.
Fiction and sorrow will find most consola-
ton before the Throne of Grace, and all
the members of good family will eagerly
offer prayer and supplications to God for
the relief of each Individual member OF
that family, When joy is given to each
heart, when temporal or spiritual blessings
are conferred upon any one, if he desires
to ensure to himself the continuance OF
them. he must thank heartfully Almighty
God, from whom descends every best
gift. If he be not earnest in this, God will
punish his ingratitude by Withdrawing
from him those special faVOrs. Careless:
ness in expressing gratitude is truly in
gratitude. This is much more the case
when the welfare of our country ia to be
considered: We have been in the midst of
affection and sorrow, and the country has
been overwhelmed by serious troubles
What more proper than that we should
pray to Almighty God, who alone can save
us and bring US to q state of quiet and
peace 2 And if God deigns to help us, as
He seems most evidently GOing of late, to
maintain the stability of our country,
how much more must We go before
the Throne of Grace with hearts filed
with gratitude for Gods goodness, and
begging the continuance of His fsvors. 1t
is not improper for the Christian Church to
take notice of the connections in civil 80
ciety, and to seek by prayer that they may
disappear. The Christian Church, from its
foundation, has showed a lively interest in
all that concerns the welfare of civil socie-
ty. st. Paul showed the necessity of
Christians doing their part for it's welfare
when he told them to obey the powers that
rule society, declaring them 10 be ordained
of God, and ,exhorting the faithful TO pray
for them. This is of far greater Importance,
when we remember how these authorities
were abusing their power to put to death
innocent men and women because they
were Christians, when we remember that
such advice was addressed to those who
were being hunted for that they might be
given as food to the wild beasts, that the
rulers of society and the greater part of its
members might crafty their barbaroHs
tastes. This was heroism, and we must
not wonder that st. Paul expected it to be
practised by the faithful; for by the law of
Christ every Christian is expected to be
hero in similar circumstances. He is to
prayer for those by whom he is prosecuted
and to do good to those who wrong him.;
The Christian Romans of the fret and Sec
ond and third centuries gloried in the vel.
fare of Rome, and were enthusiastic over
the defeat of their foes, and prayed for the
welfare of the pagan emperors, notwith
standing their tyrannical persecution of
the Christian name. How much more are
we to show enthusiasm in loving our couns
try, which has no blemish of wilful tyran-
ny in it's treatment of any of those ac-
knowledged to be its subjects. And let
us remember that it is only the Union of
our country that will insure tor US through
all its extent the most precious privilege
of adorlug God in the way that most pleases
Him. 1t our country were to besubdivided
into May parts, then only would there he
chance for petty bigotry to deprive any
part of its inhabitants of this most cherish
ed right. Let us remember that it is the
Rag of the whole country that irrevoca-
bly, bears the motto of religious freedom &C.
cording 10 the rights and obligations of our
conscience; and we must seek to keep this
country united, that this privilege may be
held sacred in the eyes of all its citizens.
We have no more saRguine desire than that
the true faith be known throughout all our
land, and it's progress has been much ad-
vanced by the union of government, which
has enabled those of one section to assist
even by political influence those of another.
Where there were few of our faith their
weakness has been aided by the strength OF
the sections where they were more numer-
GUS. And as long as this Union is pre-
served We can have this political influence
to thwart the designs of perVerse men that
might be led by prejudics to use undue in
huence against our holy faith. If the unity
| of our country be preserved we have moth.
ing to fear on this score. We thus have
even great supernatural motives to seek our
common country's welfare. Let US, then,
pray earnestly that our country may pass
undivided through the troubles in which it
| is involved. Charity, true Christian char
ity, will soon make us forget the bitter
feelings that have provoked aud continue
our troubles. ltis from this charity that
springs the true peace which the world can
| not give. II is this charity that will be the
| only solid foundation of any respect for the
rights of our fellow citizens. This charity
gives us noble motives for seeking the well
fare of all sections of the country, and will
induce us to relieve from oppression all
classes, to whatsoever position or social
scale they may belong. This charity
prompts US all to uphold the natural aud
civil rights of all men. AS we wish other
men to do to us, so we must do to them
And We cannot please God unless we strive
strenuously to remove all injustice from
our midst. And Christian charity induces
us 10 take an interest in the removing of all
things which give offence oiGod, in what
ever section of our county they may be