Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-12-28

Capitol, snail we 1all 10 ackn0VleoBe tDe
hand that helped us2 We meet the issue.
7hehdad hn helped US ,ods Divinei-
''Sbield Of thy help" '.l'
Proyidenfially led through four years Of
violence and civil war, we have received our
principles purified blythe refining fire, and
in the puri6cation we have had the Divine
protection--we were saved from famine and
pestilence, from foreign intervention. and
We are now saved from New World traitors
and Old World tyranis.
And aohat shall zoe say Of our strength
and equipment for ,oarfaref
In temporal point Of view, We msy
safely say, a, our days SO has our strength
increased. Our equipment for warfare is
as near omnipotent as can be found among
the works of man in this view we have no
reason to fear But this is comparatively
q small matter. st
The substantial equipments for wafiug
against vice and ignorance are found in our
school houses, semiuaries, colleges, asylums
and churches. Aside from these, we have
bad the Sanitary and Christian Commits
sions, unequaled in the history Of any ma
tion for deeds of Christian valor aud hu-
man kindness-for since the days Of the
Marthas and the Marys there has not
gone QUE such ministering angels. as have
gone from the number Of our heroic Chris
tian women to soothe the brew and whis-
per the name Of Jesus to the ear Of our
dying pstriots on the battle field. in the
Camp and Hospitals. And now re have
the American Freedmen's Aid Society
and the Union Christian Commission"
here the churches are blending into onel-
We have great hopes that the spirit of unity
that is now existing among the churches of
our land will increase, we have reason to
believe that God will brighten the golden
chain that binds Us together as memhers of
the different branches of the church, until
with lurid brightness it shall reflect the face
and spirit of our blessed Redeemerl
Ay, we can have the hope that through
the favor Of God, and through the funda-
mental principles upon which our govern
ment is founded Toe LlaR ultimately triumph
ocer al our enemies
Time fails at this hour else I should love
to call attention at length to the deeds and
spirit of benevolencs developed among our
people, during the struggle through which
we have just passed Suffice it to say that
il, is worthy Of q Christian people, and
blessed be God it is on the increase
departed LEADER. With great Gnsar's greater
will, with HannibaPs determination, and with
charity exceeding both, he guided US in the
contest, erecting affairs to God (his calls to
thanksgiving blessing God, who when his
last call to return thanks to God was yet
sounding in our ears, was struck by the
blood red hand of the assassin and the
martyred spirit of Abraham Lincoln as
cends to God.
"rrcason hath done hi, worsi nor STEEL mn poison,
Malice domasie, foreien levy, nothi ID -lt
Can touch him fIrther' ea
Our leader has faacu. but we possess the
land. Happy art thou o Israel, who is
likeunto thee, o! peoplr, saved by heLord,
etc. Therefore, in what some of us are,
but more particularly in what We may all
become. Christian men and aeop,ea, as soeA
as american citizens. we find the reasons for
thanksgiving this day to God.
Why should We live beneath our privel
eyes? Why can we not claim the highest
spirited teaching of the text as truthful
and applicable description of our condition?
Are we loathe to do our duty this day q
May the God OF life and light, gil our
hearts with feelings of thankfunsss, and
lead us in the path Of duty.