The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-02
: : :.
THANKSGIVING SERMONS.

AS the day of national thanksgiving
and prayer approaches, it may be taken
for granted that the clergymen through
out the country, particularly those in
the loyal states, are racking their brains
for the material for what is known as n
."rhan sgiving Sermon" In the olden
times the delivery Of the annual dis
course was notable event both for the
minister and his hearers. The latter
were taught to look forward to it as the
greatest. occurrence in the church of the
whole year. To be sure, there was the
Fast-day sermon, but around that chung
memories of empty stomachs, resulting
from a limited disbursement offood at
the family table. 1t savored stongly of
biliousness on the part of the clergyman,
and unappeased hunger on the part OF the
congregation. 1t was expected or that
great man the minister, on that occasion,
to relieve himselfOfall the pent-up wrath
against personal and political opponents
which had accumulated in his brain for
a wear: and the congregation listened
to his diatribes with that mingled rever-
ence and disgust with which child
oazes upon the doctor who prescribes
| for its benefit EPSON salts. But
no ouch associations were attached
to Thanksgiving-day. TO the youth
| full mind it embraced two great
facts. to wit. the religious services
at church and the grand dinner at
home. The natural depravity OF the
| juvenile heart regarded the former as
necessary prelude to the latter, just as
| the possessors of that heart were in
duced to gulp down nauseous drugs upon
| the promise of toothsome sweetmeats
! Immediately afterwards. To the adult
mind, however the case presented diff
ferent aspect 1t regarded the sermon
as the main incident of the day. Ac-
customed to sleep soundly through the
delivery of the Sabbath discouTses, il
was both novel and pleasing to listen
TO the preacher on Thanksglving-day
For once the doctrines" were forgot,
fen. and in their stead the occupant OF
the pulpit expounded his views upon the
great questions of the day. Recreanl
Officials received their just dues the
Pilgrim Fathers were euioglsed In ian
guare that would alright rhetoriclah
cid England and the Pope were SHOWN
IN in a manner that was astonishing ioi
every thing but accuracy; whiie thf
s'stars and stripes" were apostrophizeo
in words eminentIy calculated 10 inspire
| every listener viii awe ".i" P''
Nor was this all. The minister enjoyed
tho festivities of the day as well as the
hearers. He fired his biggest gun on
that occasiou. OLD scores that had worn
nnon him for the year past he then paid
,ff With compound interest. His idea.
| of government, his views upon the grea
noiitical questions of the time, sly hit
at the management of town affairs, ant
| broad cancellations on the problems
If the age-all these slipped glibly IRON
his tongue as he pounded the pulpi
nmsbion and gazed through his silver
r;mned spectacles on the gaping as
san,hlaoe before him. Many of the ole
osanciations which, in the mind of ever!
} Nav Enplauder, cluster about this OLE
New ENGLAND festival now exist but u
!. nsn,orv' Only the service at churcl
,'d the dinner at home remain. III
e, aattsr we dismiss at this point for tn
y, ~ asapt AVE- shall confiBe our observa
k lions to the former.
'' First of all, we beg to assure the pas
,or, of the country that the people al
s, to,erohlv well informed as to the caus
oo,,sss. of the late war. Ihere Il
hlvlnot a man in the LAND, Nort
re. pnGouth tho has not well-dei1ned view
i'm This subject. Strange as II ma
ID uP Tho now historical fact that FOL
:, SMm,ter was fred upon on bright SUI
ny morning in April, 1851, and mst tine sui
arfectlv unfamiliar to the churci
no. nnrtion of the American peopt
sS; p II likely that many persons al
- N NJ nn;nformed of the surrender
Gs,l Lee and the consequent co
y" H Sanae of the rebellion early last sprin'