New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-29
sEvENTHsT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

gEvTNTHsT. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Rev. G. w. Woodruff preached a Thanks
giving sermon yesterday in this house. TO large congre
cation from Hebrews xiii ~ LET offer the sacrifice
Of prase 10 God continually but TO do good aud 20
Inunicae forget not for with such sacrifices God IA wen
pleased" The reverend gentleman opened with al e!o-
duent description Of the true nature Of Christian thanks
giving and announced the general proposition that the
truest Thanksgiving Is 70 do good ThnnksNving IS not
hymn is not praysrt Is more THAI these; IL Ire
Of beDeYOence. We might slug hymns until mo day OF
DOOM we might say prayers until We die and both our
hymns and prayers might DO packed down with word
pYalges but after all would be utterly empty OF that
truest sort of praise that sacrifice Of ourselves for others
with which God is well pleased. Unless our hymns
end prayere are me o1'tpehng oI pehe'Oent ivlnE,
unless doing good unless the people around MS arc
made better ana happier for our being with Them all oar
TO aDnadYert IN scathing terms upon the universal
selfshness by which surrounded Inanife6tlug II
self caste IN 6eetarianlsn, in unwngnees TO lay
plans for the future and 10 sacrifice ndvdnaism 70 the
public good The world over he said classes, nnd dis
Sometimes II Is distinction OF BIRTH and few men wi
npeTOusly talk Of royal blood. Sometimes wealth Is
the ground OF difference or the color Of the SKID or inc
but matter what the reason, caste ID curse Any
distinction among men except inc distinction OF cnaT3o
ter has its source IN human vanity ana advcree 10 the
divine viii. Our own country, America, had been pos
sessed by this horrible spirit Of caste 1t would that
God wanted this new world TO solve the great prob
lem OF universal brotherhood, and at tho begin
ming OF our national existence inc mighty men
Of the country coined this glorious idea OF equality Into
an aphOTsm that viii live as long as the English language
"All born free and equal But In spite OF that
wonderful sentence this country had been torn and LAGER
ated by the spirit OF caste What ct the bottom Of
the four years rebeOna rebellion that cost half
million Of mena rebellion, the dreadful wall OF which
viii nger the Of the world for century IL was
the dreadful spirit Of caste that at the bottom oft
few thousand men wanted be the social mas
ters OF this Republic lift themselves into aIstOcracy
with four million sers crawling at their feet and to
cOmpsh their ends, placed knife at tho very throat Of
their country and for four years this mpeied Republic
had struggle for it's life against this proud, mpeOus
arstOcracy 1t question OF caste. The question
that the crushing OF the Rebellion settled not whether
should be two Republics this half Of the Western
Hemisphere, not whether 100000 OF unhappy black
people should have tary Justice done them and eanc
pated but whether proud arstOcracy of less than 900
should be the nsOlent masters OF 10000 900 Of reemen IL
was the old bOodstaned question Of the divine right OF
kings and thank God 10 day the surrender
Of Lee on the AppOmatox victory for universal
brotherhood Heaven forbid that hearted wicked
politicians should be permitted spoil the victory
that was then The preacher, who listened 10
with deep attention, concluded his discourse with
earnest and eloquent appeal to his hearers live not 10
themselves 70 the good OF humanity and tho glory OF