The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-30
FOR WHAT SHOULD THE NATION
BE THANKFUL!
Sermon Delivered ut the First Inde-
pendent Church, by the Rev. John
Chambers.

Sermon Delivered Mt the First Inde-
pendent Church, by the Rev. John
Chambers.
Rev. Mr.. Chambers preached yesterday TO
very, very small congregation, from the follow
ing teXt, found IN Ephesians v, 17-2O:-"Where
fore be ye not unwlse, but understanding wnat
the will OF the Lord is; and be uot drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart in the Lord, giving thanks
always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name Of our Lord Jesus Christ"
The preacher said the congregation had met
for the great purpose OF giving thanks. There
are many reasons why thanks should be given.
There never was period in which we enjoyed
greater blessings than the present He con.
ana ungratetul man. The grateful man is
always an honorable man; whilst the ungrateul
man, he whom we call an migrate, is always
contemplate and mean. This those before him
had seen in the character and conduct OF those
whom they haG had in their employ. There is
something in the grateful heart upon which
solid superstructure can be raised, whilst in
that OF the migrate we sec only that which Is
base and disgusting.
When you have dene iavors TO another, which
have not only not been appreciated, but which
have been turned 10 your disadvantage, you can
not avoid speaking of the ingratltude, and saying
how badly you have been treated. We al eX
pect men to be grateful TO us in proportion to
the extent of the tavors we bestow. Let us apply
the subject. When we consider the amount OF
the blessings that God has bestowed upon us,
and the return we have made, we cannot avoid
regarding ourselves as ingrates. NotWithstand-
ing all these blessings (Which the speaker elo-
quently enumerated), we find to-day, even under
the call of the President Of the United States,
of the Governor of the Common wealth, and of
the municipal authorities, we cannot get people
to come to place of worship to acknowledge
the tayors they have received, and render their
thankseivings to the bountitul Giver.
EYeryW herein the streets, our homes, the
fields, the skies, the cr0ps-in all things, we
behold causes for gratitude; and our text
assures US that we should always give thanks III
the name OF the Lord Jesus Christ. 1t is true
that pestilence has stalked abroad in the land;
it is true that there has been a comparative
failure of crops, and that breadstutfs are scarce
and costly; but it is also true that we have been
delivered from the diabocal horrors of civil
war-a cruel, horrible, bloodthirsty, damnable
war. The preacher SAID there was nothing in
the world he hated aud abhorred so much as
war; and, in his opinion, we should DO all IN our
power to promote peace, brOtherly kindness, and
charity.
II was the duty of the pulpit everywhere to
preach the doctrines OF peace: 1t was the duty
also of the religious press, and especially the
duty of the secular press. Yet II was untor-
tunately the case that the press Is endeavoriug
to stir up strife. Every press that endeaYors TO
set one portion of this country against another
should be banished from the land-eYery one OF
them
II is a question now whether this country
should be clothed in garments OF mourning or
arrayed in the vestments of praise. There Is
much 10 be done. We must have those men
who are going over the country to stir up the
passions and arraying one section against
another, converted and turned from their de-
strUctive WAYS.
The reverend gentleman referred to the
lameniable condition OF certain classes OF people
in the South. We are told that in the State OF
Alabama there are three thousand and five hun
dred whites and blacks in condition OF actual
starvation. The Washington Star tells US that
| i'm the District of Columbia there are thirty
| thousand colored persons who do not get one
daJis work in seven, and are literally rushing
INTO the laws OF starvation. All the poor-houses
| are crowded. Only think of it At the city Of
| Washington, from twenty to thirty thousand,
| who have been taken from comfortable homes,
| are left TO starye!
| EIHis blood almost curdles in his veins when
| ne goes along Chestnut street and sees a man
! sitting on the curbstone grinding OUT music Ior
| The pennies that are thrown to him, with both
| ms legs severed from his body by the crueltles
| of war In looking upon SIGHTS ike tnls' ms
blood boils with Indignation against the Gov
| ernment for its neglect of such men. Ana 'hey
| come thus manned and helpless trom every part
of the land, 1t is wonder that God shouiu give
| n nation SO horribly depraved as this, even so
| much as a shower OF rain. mn, -,
| We must lock at these things. All there knew
| he was man of peace-that he loves the country
AND that It is bis greatest desire TO see IL united
| by the immutable principles OF righteousness.
| He spoke OF ladies he Yesterday saw Degglng ioI
| the suffering poor of Virginia, and was grauoed
| 10 perceive upon their subscriptior-p the
| tributcd hundred dollars and other nOera'