The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-08
Local Matters.
ThanIksgiving in Dayton.

with the recommendation of the President.
The business houses were mostly closed,
and public services were held in number
of the churches.
The Rev. Mr.. Stcck, of st. Johns Luthe-
ran church, delivered amost impressive and
appropriate sermon at Clegg's Hall. His
text was 14th and 18th verses of the Goth
Psalm.
"Oner unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows
unto the Most Bigh;
And call upon me in the day of troube. will de-
lverthee and thou shall gloriiy me-"
The discourse was one of the best efforts
of this eminent and eloquent divine. The
theme was the duty of thankfulness by ma
tions as well as individuals. The inspired
poet and King of Isreal had sung 1.-THE
Lord reigns let the earth rejoice" II was
our duty to respond TO this sublime senti-
ment, especially on the occasion Of our Ma
tional Feast Day, We had been requested
by our Chief Magistrate TO observe the day
by religious services and suspension of
business avocations. As to whether the fire.
quency of their occasions had, oflate years,
benefited the people, the speaker had no
opinion to offer. If they had been or
should yet prove to be the means of bring
ing the people to acknowledge that God
reigns they would be beneficial in their
results to all.
He referred to the early days of our
countryside simplicity, good order and
happiness which had marked its progress
but in our eXultation we had forgotten the
Author of our blessings and ignored His
goodness. God, for time, had forsaken
us, and as consequence a long, bloody and
relentless war had ensued, from the terri
BILE and desolating effects of which the ma
ton still trembles. 1t would be well to
return to the simplicity and honesty of
former times, as the best means to secure
the continued favor of the Giver of all
good. BLESSED is that people whose God
is the Lord"
The leading topic of the discourse was the
duty of thankfulness on the part of all who
constitute community or nation-an
hourly, daily and earnest acknowledge
ment by every one of the love and good
ness of the Father of All. Although the
war had filed thousands of households with
sorrow and mourning, all over the land
although the cries and tears of 50 many
widows and orphans went up TO heaven,
and its desoations had almost amounted to
a pestilence, still we had much to be thank
ful for. Our harvests had been abundant
and the past season fruitful with blessings
there was enough and to spare-but above
all, we could rejoice and be thankful that
the war is over-peace, health and joy once
more reigned throughout our borders
heaven forbid that our people should ever
be afflicted with another visitation of the
scourge that is now lifted from the nation.
The next duty enforced was that of indi-
vidual christians paying their daily VOWS
to God and never losing sight of their COW
cnant engagements to Him. This was an
imperative duty which christians We're
never to forget or omit. A nation is made
up of individuals, and if they would be
saved from utter and hopeless ruin, God
must have people sincerely and faithfully
devoted TO His service. God had forsaken
his ancient and chosen people because they
had forgotten and disregarded their VOWS
TO Him. The same truth would apply to
professod christians now-they have for
saken their vows in many ways, but espe-
cially in their disregard of the poor and
their haste to get rich.
Prayer was another imperative and in
dispensable duty. If the people would re-
ceive the blessings of the Creator, they
must ask for them. The storm of the past
few years is over, but the sea is still rough,
and the5hipo of state invested with breakers.
To avert impending danger, the people must
pray for themselves and their rulers-not
that the wrong doing or mistaken policy of
the latter may be sustained, but that they
may do right. The practice of incorpora-
ting stump speeches and political platforms
into prayers from the pulpit, is all wrong
and forms no part of the preachers duty,
neither is itrequired of the people to coun-
tenance or sustain such practice.
The speaker then referred iIk. eloquent
terms TO the promises contained iRthe text.
Great as have been our past trials and suf-
ferings as a nation, God will deliver us, II
implored by faithful, devoted and prayer
full people. IL His hand is recognized in
past events, as it should be, He will yet
exalt the nation to grander and sublimer
destiny than it has hitherto achieved. Let
every true christian and patriot pray foE
this.
He fully approved of and endorsed the
concluding passage in the Presidents mes
sage which is in the following words:
"Who will not join with me in the prayer
that the invisible hand which has led us