East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-05-17


go A NJ. and p. Al. Sabbath School at nine
o clock, A. M.
LUTHERAN, Rev. Conrad yoir, at II A. NJ and
JPN
Tho Christian Anniversaries.
We have OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, times
marked as annual feasts of gladness
to commemorate births, weddings and
the like, or days of sad remembrance,
which each year open afresh our sor-
rows for some sore bereavement. We
have national anniversaries Washing
tons birthday, the fourth Of July
the great ones, and less conspicuous
and less general ones, like those which
commemorate the evacuation of New
York, the battle of New Orleans, and
the landing at Plymouth. Why should
we not have Christian anniversaries
also? And what better to fix such
anniversaries than the marked events
in the personal history Of our Blessed
Saviour? In fact all Christian lands,
all Christian nations have such ami
versarios and, sars in this country, they
are almost universally Observed
Christmas, the Circumcision, the Epiph-
any, or manifestation to the wise
men, Lent, Good Friday, Easter, the
Ascension, Whit Sunday, are names
aud terms familiar to all Christians,
save certain Protestant denominations
in this country and Great Britain
These denominations, though compris-
ing less than one-fftieth part of the
whole number Of Christians, have yet
by reason of their intelligence, piety
and warm Christian zeal, great infu-
ence. And these sacred days are so
entirely sighted among them, that
christmas excepted, few among them
know their meaning. Is it right to
persevere in such course, in oppo-
sition to the testimony and practice of
oil times and people in the Christian
church, and in opposition to princi-
pie so natural, So reasonable, SO true
to the heart, that in other things, in
household and national matters, they
cannot help to follow it? 1t was an
extravagant and mistaken prejudice
that led the extreme Puritan party in
the Reformation, to reject these Holy
Would that prejudice might be SO far
removed that all Christians could unite,
in doing honor and offering worship
TO our dear Redeemer, by q devout
commemoration Of these sacred ami
versaries.
The people of this nation have more
than all others, set these days aside.
In doing SO they have (unintentional-
ly, but really, done dishonor to the
Saviour. Is it reverent for us to
mark how on recent events, God seems
to have forced the people to take note
of them, made them prominent and
callod their attention to them? The
Governor of the State of New York
appointed Friday, April 18th, as the
day of joyful celebration for national
victories. Christian men reminded
him that it was Good Friday, the day
Of fasting or sadness for our Saviour's
Crucifixion, and tho Governor with
drew his appointment and gave the
reasons in a public proclamation
Combined with this, the notorious
blunder of q prominent preacher who
called Good Friday the festival Of
the Resurrection, drew further atten-
ton to the subject, and now, in New
York at least, most men know when
Good Friday comes and what it means.
Then also, in Gods mysterious provi-
dence, that very day was made the
nations day Of darkness by the muir.
der of the President. Men forgetting
our Saviour would have made it day
of rejoicing. God made it o day of
sorrow. Yet again. The President of
the United States issued his procla-
nation appointing Thursday, May
Goth, as day of fasting, humiliation
and prayer, in reference to tho muir
der of President Lincoln. But God,
In His Sacred Providence and through
eighteen centuries Of unbroken Chris
tan usage, had already set apart that
day for holy gladness, in memory of
Chr,sfs ascension. To make it fast,
in memory Of an earthly ruler, would
be putting earth before Heaven, man
before Christ. So now the President
withdraws his appointment; and in q
public proclamation, tells the whole
people that that day is sacredly OBJ
served by Christian people as a Fest.
ral Of the Sario,v's ascension.
You who keep national anniversa-
ries and fast for national sorrows, and
rejoice in national triumphs, unite as
Christians, TO dc honor to your Re.