The New York herald., 1864-11-25
OUR NATIONAL THANKSGIVING. 0.
The General Observance OF
the Day.
SERVICES At TEE CHURCHES.
Scltnn rasses for Peace 6fitrtd Up by The
lsh9lie Clergy,

-ne Ft,pnLl Thanksgiving WAS observed yesterday
with remarkable uuanimty general holiday Was en-
oyed al classes the storee closed and business
suspended every part OF The city Only those ss
IIeshmenis which Close except Sunday lsach
- ibe liquor stores The theatres} remained open.
The churches crowded the theatres creffowed and
The streets alive with people sautes were nred
The Battery under OF General Yates, and
sle American Gag noaed from all the public buidngs
psiiona State and municipal. The inmates OF The dner
charitable institutions aud military hospitals were
resaled with agreeable dinners and IN the
eoc& circle the occasion was observed in The good old
fashion which prevailed from the days ibs porau
fathers down 10 our own lime.
Tie only feature OF the celebration was the solom
nnaiion Of the kis.a Pro Pace 10 all the Catholic
churches by order Of the Most Rev. Archbishop AcCio
hey. Until the present year the Thanksgiving festival
has never been observed by special service in The Csho
DC churches Of this diocese. Blu, 1t thought judi
depart slightly from this rule the present year
account Of the unhappy condition o. country. Hence
Archbishop kcCoskey directed the pastors OF all the
Catholic churches Of this city TO commemorate the day
by Offering up the for peace prescribed in the
Roman Kissal. This ls the same the ordinary
with tie exception Of three prayers for peace,
which are recited s the proper place 10 tie service
These prayers freely translated, are as follows
j.
Let us pray O God, Thou from whom proceed all holy
decree righteous counseis and just works give 10 Thy
that peace which the world csnncs give ha.
ened aSans. all fear OF The enemy days through hy
projection, may be peaceful. Through Christ. our ord
lives, and reenest with Thee, the unity OF
Boly Ghost one God, world without end. Amen.
o God, who sursrest not Thy people who believe 10
Thee 70 be overwhelmed by any terrors, voucnsaie 10
the prayers and oblaous or thy servan,s-ths
peace being obtained by Thy loving xndness the CHRIS
tan territories may be secure from si hostile altaeS
fnroagh C1rist, our Lord Amen.
3.
God the author and lover of peace, whom is
10 i've apd whom 70 serve 70 reign, protect my sup
yhanH from all hostile attempts, and grant that who
put us in Thy defence may not fear the might of
any enemy. Through Christ our Lord Amen.
Besides The churches mentioned below, may remark
thai the Aissd Pro Pae offered up 81 Gneriels
church, Eas, Thrtysixtb street. by The Rev. william
Gowrey at ST. Bonifsce's church o. Forty
sDtb street and Second avenue, by the Rev. NJ Nicot al
- Peters church. in Barclay street, by the Rev. William
Quinn, and 10 BRIEF at all The Catholic churches To the
city.
SAINT PATRICxs CATHEDRAL.
There were services held 10 this church al haf
yAst ten o'clock yesterday morning. Solemn high
sn surg 10 the usual way, without apy particular alter
kSop 10 the Of the prayer wae offered for
Jtsce. No sermon was preached. AT the close OF the
ass the Rev Father Stars announced the congrega.
iiob that solem prayer for peace had rccea in
she mAss and exhored them 10 unite in PRAYER that
peace may be restored TO the whole land The
concluded IN the form prescribed by The ritual
church.
sERvIcEs AT ST. AIMS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
IMPORTANT SERMON OF REV. Mr.. BIEDsALL-
REUNION TBR PROMOTER OF CArHoLIcrrY.
Al 81. Ann's Roman Catholic church, in Eighth street.
high offered up nine O'Clock the morning
Rev. M. Dirdsai acting ceebrant Al the customary
pari OF the services he ascended Inc pulpit and dc
hvsred the following important and spfroprate
exbortstion:-
tits becoming 10 say few words on The occasion
up Law 4 Il
tee have set aside nis day, called Thanksgiving day. in
order :. sye thanks m 10 Almighty God for ine many
good 10 see this religious tone IN ru'ers by which
seey sesnowease SSas % 81 rrssaeniia workings our
erang by special prayers 10 Cod since the Aost Reve
eas ss WE ,0q give 70 me
dual 10 affection and sorro. VIII npd most conseston
rood an ly ~. eagerly oseI prsyer and sapncaous 70
God Tor the relief OF each individual member OF That
family When JOY gwen TO eacn heart when ten raj
spiritual blessings are conferred upon suy one II be
desires 10 insure 10 himself the continuance OF them be
must thank beautifully Almighty God from whom De
scends every best gift II be be not esrnes, 10 this God
viii punish his ngrattude by Withdrawing from b'm
those special fsvors Csreess1ess IN exercising crsi
sude is truly ingratltude This IS much the case
when The welfare Of our country TO be considered
We have been 10 The midst o. aiiciion and ami
tbe country has been overwhelmed by serious troubles.
WHAT more proper then that should pray 70 Almighty
who alone can save us ana bring us 10 STATE 3,
quc, and peace And II God deigbs 70 help US IS BE
seems most evidently dong q late, to MAINTAIN The
billy OF cur country, bow much more before
The Throne o. Grace hearts filed with gratitude Tor
GODS gooiness, and begging The continuance Of HIS ia
ros u not improper Tor the Christian Church
notice of tbe connections civil society, and seek by
prayer that they may disappear The Christian Church.
that concerns The welfare Of civil Society. s.. raul
showed toe necessity Of Christians dong their part tor
s them ss% sS obey s' Ssssa
God, and exhorting the faithful 10 pray FOR
emenos hor lar sss. "sSrs: vsss
abusing their power TO put 10 death men and
women because they were Christians, when we
member that such advice addressed 10 those who
were being hunted for that they might given
70 the wild beasts, that the rulers OF society
greater part o ts members might crafty their barbar
Gus tastes This was heroism, and must not wonder
thai - Paul expected 10 be prac.sed BY the faithful
.or by The law Of Christ every Christian is expected TO
be hero u similar circumstances. He s TO pray for
those ~ whom be prosecuted and 10 do good those
who wrong him The Christian Romans OF the Drst asd
second and third centuries goried in the welfare Or
Rome, aud were enthusiastic the defeat Of their
ioes and prayed for the welfare OF the pagan emperos
Dotwiihsianding their tyrannica persecution Of the
Christian name How much more are wo 10 show
eoihussasm 10 loving country, which has bcmlsh
o. wiiul tyranny in rs treatment OF any of those
aosnoweesed 20 be It's subjects And let remember
that only the Unos Of country that will insure
Tor us through all its extent the most precious privilege
q sdorns God in the way that pesses him II our
country we're to be subdvded into many parts, then
ony would there be chance for petty blgotry 10 de
Drive aoy par, Of It's inhabitants OF this moe, cherished
ngnl Le' rs remember thu is the flag OF the whole
cooouy that rrevocably besrstbe motto Of religious
conscience and We must seek 10 keep ibis country
on'sa thAl lns privilege may be held 10 the eye.
snsn that Ibe true faith be kuown tnrourhout All our
lsno, sno ~ pfogres. has been advanced by the
u1on oi government which has enabled those o. one
section 70 ASSIST even by pohiicn influence those on
eno,ner Mssls Were were few of our tsith their
nAs oeen aea oy The strength the sections
where tbey we're more numerous And a. iong a. his
rnop preseryed we csn have this political r.,
tbvat abe oseEns OF peryerse that nigh, no IA h,
JveJudioe 70 use undue influence against oor ho,y ssE
the unity Of our country be preserved we bsve 1obla
90 fear TINS We thus have even ere. sans,
natural motives 10 seek common count,y's
welfare. Let US. then, pray earnestly that our
country may pass undivided through tbe troub,s.
h which IL is involved. Charity, true Chr,sttsn
charity will make forget toe bitter feelings that
have provoked and continue troubles II this
charity that springs the peace which the can.
pe give II this charity tnst will 10 the only sclid