Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-09
SATURDAY. ......DEoEMBER 9
CITY and State.

THANKSGIVING DAY-The day desig-
mated by the Chief Executive of the ma
ton, as day of thanksgiving and praise
to Almighty Gcd for the peace and mani
fold blessings He has youchsafed to us
as nation and as individuals, was very
generally observed in this city, by gen.
eral suspension of business, by divine
services held in most of the churches,
aud by general convocation of the
Sabbath Schools of the city.
At the Walnut Street Church Rev W.
Fl. McCarer oGiciated. Instead of a
regular sermon, Mr.. McCarer read to his
congregation, which was not as large as
il should have besn, the record of the
action of the General Assembly of the
New School Presbyterian Church, in
reference to the late rebellion and the
subjects growing out of it. The Gen
eral Assembly took highly patriotic
grounds, and their action, we think, has
been generally approved by the loyal
men of the nation The documents
read by the reverend gentleman should
be in the hands of the whole people.
The music at this church was extreme
ly fine and highly appropriate to the oc-
casion. Indeed, we doubt if there is a
better choir in the West, and Mr.. Rus
sell deserves much credit for the high
state of cultivation in music-to which
this choir has attained. y
Quite large congregation assembled
at the Third Street NJ E. church to listen
to sermon by its Pastor, Rev. G. N.
Sims. He chose as the basis for bis re-
marks, the well known words: Righte-
BUSINESS exalteth nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people" After few
preliminary remarks, he gave as his
theme "the influence of individual,
upon national, character" We shall
not attempt synopsis of his sermon.
1t was pointed and practical, as are
most of his efforts. He insisted that the
individual who systematically debauched
himself and ruined his character was rs
systematically wronging the Govern
ment and REASONABLY engaged in under
mining its strength. So, too, with the
individual who labored to destroy the
physical, mental and moral manhood OF
his neighbors, by selling them intoxi-
eating drink OF persuading them to in
dulge in amusements contrary to the
law Of God, and derogatory to the best
interests of society; they we're all traitors
to the Government, for they were en-
gagged in destroying its resources and
power, for the power of government
depended upon the intellectual, moral
and physical character of the men com
posing it, and the means which they by
lives of industry and sobriety could &C.
cumulate. ffFrrr
The sermon was listened to with
marked interest and attention. a&
At st. Paurs protestant Episco-
paD church, the day was appropriately
observed, the services commencing at
lO4 o'clock, A. M. After the solemn
and impressive ritual of the Church, and
the prayers, lessons, and music spe cial
to the occasion, were concluded. the
Rector, Rev. Fl. w. SPALDrsG, delivered a
sermon from the following text, taken
from the 18th Psalm, lst verse:
30 give thanks to the Lord, for He is good ;
because His mercy endureth forever"
The sermon was one of great power
and deep feeling, chaste in composition,
patriotic and highly devotional in senti-
ment, and was delivered in the most elo-
quent and impressive manner. The
passage lamenting the death of the late
President and paying feeling tribute
to his memory, was one of unexcelled
pathos; and those which hailed the re-
turn of peace and good viii to our strick-
en- land, and recited the special occa-
sions calling for the gratitude of our
people, excited in the hearts of the hear
ers the liveliest emotions of reverence TO
God, and thankfuIness to Him for His
great mercies
A collection was taken up on the oc-
casion, which yielded the sum of fifty
dollars, for the benefit of the freedmen,
through the Protestant Episcopal Freed
mems Commission; and twenty dollars
for the use of the Episcopal Theological
Seminary at Nashotah, Wisconsin.
The church edifce has been enlarged
and beautifed, and will now accommo9
date large congregation. Under the
ministrations of Rev. Mr.. Spalding, the
Church in this locality is prospecting,
and the congregation of st. Paurs is
increasing in numbers. The occasion un-
der consideration was also one of thank
fitness in the minds of this congrega-
ton, for the increasing prosperity of the
Church in general and this branch of it
in particular. Surely the Lord is be-
slowing his blessings in this direction
with free hand.
From the other churches where SER
vices were held we have been unable to
obtain any report The great feature of
the day was the grand
coNvocATIoN OF THE SABBATH SCHOOLS
at the Walnut Street Church, at two
o'clock, which was one of the most
pleasing and interesting sights we ever
witnessed. At an early hour after dinner
the crowd commenced to gather, and the
church was densely crowded by the time
the hour had arrived to commence the
exercises. The two middle blocks of
pews were almost exclusively occupied
by Sabbath school scholars, who, neatly
dressed, with smiling faces and happy
hearts seemed uroud that thav heIon0ad