Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-12-27
THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE.

Delivered Christ Church, Warren, Ohio, By The Rector Rev
c. s Abbott. National Thanksgiving Day. Dec. 7, 1865
Moreover shall The and the light
Lord
5ndh up people
IsAraH.
We brought together to-day my hearers, under
what peculiar There something the ap
pointment this Thanksgiving Day that reminds US OF our
former Thanksgiving Days before the storm of civil
broke heads and yet there much to mark it as
an occasion different from what we have ever had
There is one other appointment Of the kind in the history
of country bearS point OF view, the most
striking resemblance to it, and whother regard
of those remarkable condolences which often
occurring by design is interesting to know that this day
j. the anniversary of the general thanksgiving
appointed by Continental Congress the suppression OF
the of Benedict Arnold, during the Revolution
And my mind and gathers in material OF
description which return thanks to-day 20 Al
mighty COD finding it tiled do with heterogeneous
things declaring the love and goodness OF God 1t
difficult reduce the thoughts to that order necessary to
considerations suitable and prohaoe Tor the DAY IN the
Church and in the State famy and in society in the
mart in the farm evidences OF tbe goodness OF
the Lord upon profuse abundance And as we
look especially upon National banner for four years IN
despsed both home and abroad and now see
WAVING with moro beauty and elegance ever,
united land indeed The land of the free and the homo
of the braveas realize that under God this success of
Government armed and defiant rebellion oEe great
cause prosperity the Church. for thrift in business for
security in The harvest for happiness at the hrede and of
peace and harmony sOcetywe also feel this restoration
of law and order to country to be the absorbing consider
alton in this days thanksgiving For all thy mercles,
God especially for this great mercy and deverance we oe
and magnify thy glorious Name and in the language os
the Psalmis would say Oh, that men would praise tne
Lord for goodness and for his wonderful works to the
children of men,
The text that selected has reference primarily per
haps peace that follow to the Jews on the de-
srucon Assyrans. They in great distress at
the the overwhelming of Sennacherb and IN
the prophet bid speak such words to them
as should them repose confluence God and trust
him deiverance The chief reference OF the text how
ever only by rejecting the gospel have
these words for my theme because, in modified
indeed they appear represent what we may
reasonably conclude country During the years OF
the again and again placed ourselves under the pro
of God felt That the disposition OF battles was IN
hands of the Almighty humbed ourselves when IN
trouble we macuifed Jehovah when successful Thus
STAYED ourselves upon mighty God Of Jacob for deliver
ance light in the midst of and out OIL our
We, people, learned lessons during these
years marvellous think Of learned tnat 1t was duty
fast and pray when IN trouble, ana TO render THANKS
when delivered trouble the bestowment OF
mercy and that such conduct secures on hg
we how be generous and liberal with the means
besses his children with; learned that God hah
made blood all nations OF men, for to dwell on all the
face of the earth and we have, trust ana thihk'
learned beautiful lesson of the Gospel, Love your
enemies bless them that you do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despefuy you
and persecute you Let give earnest heed, beloved,
that we do forget these lessons which God has
taught Considering therefore, that we nave Deen,
and that are placing in Cod and IN spite OF
much the contrary, natlon, are uls
posed believe reality, that God King over all kings
Power above all powers and that nations as well as ho
vduals subject him. cannot but hope that the text
in some degree describes what future TO be- eonse
accommodate 10 Ourselves
euage-s The light OF the shall be US the light
of the san, and the light o the shall DC seven-old
as the light days. the day that the Lord bndeh
up breach of his people, and heaeth the stroke OF the
wound"
No reflect what has happened to us without rec
ognizing fact that to-day, II were, newborn
nation 1t when look back as it we mad been
advancing along on certain path from the formation
of our up the day when rebellion became
reality here the path ended and before us was deep
chasm threatening desIrncU ona chasm SO woe ana oe
taking the whole way in 'front.' that was mposoe
to 90 tive before the end OF the road on
which had been travelling; have now as conceive
eaped this chasn and have entered new path IN
another The broad does completely
separae the new world the old world, than in jud
nent years do the present and future OF Cur
country from what in the past. The child new Doru
is ushered of existence and begins, as we
may say live nation; through the pains OF rebelon
has been the word u existed before
she is now to live The whole Of the national lie has
undergone change, and change great that he must be
blind who cannot it. We may nduige whatever hopes
may choose with respect return to the Old uej we
may nothing the political sky save the GvIog OF
freedom to race IN bondage, Dnt believe lhat our cV
war; cOnvulsons and heavng has effected changes In
the national constitution which DO not and Will not and can
not wait any formal ratification by the people cannot
but feel that am living in the yet different country
under the same yet different government Anu however
much the distance Of the past lends euchantment to
the vew may sigh for the good old days we have left be
hind and say, Oh that in mouths past 1t is but
ghng for days of his CHILDHOOD for of the time
when shall get present of chaotic orna
tive state may be said The light OF the moon shall be
the light of the sum- and the light of the shall be
fod the light OF days. The new born child comes
weeping into the world and at first unsued for the
breath OF the world but shows that it able live
and to meet both the sun and storms OF life
do pretend guess at the alteration that may
be effected in national appearance Events they
WILL has been clearly the IN the past be shaped
for US by God himself.
But the chief thought upon which would centre the
tention the great that awaits people The
nations of the world have attentvey looked during the
conflict that just passed The governments of the Old
World felt that the trying time of democratic institutions
had arrived They doubtful as to the result, yet
with the wish father the thought they inclined the
belief that death struggle They could under
stand nation with central head in which consol
idated all its power could quel and subdue wide
spread powerful rebellion but they could conceive
how government which is but the embodiment of the viii
of the peope-a government whose authority and support