The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-19
UNION SERVICE.

cpslly from the Presbyterian, Baptist and
Methodist congregations. Rev. DR.. Davis
introduced the exercises by reading the
Presidents and the Governors proclsma'
ton recommending the observance oil tue
day. The pastor Of the church read al
appropriate hymn, the singing oil "hlch III
an animated, cheerful spirit, was followed
by a prayer from Rev Newell Another
hyron vas sung, when Rev. Burnett, pastor
or the secoad Presbyterian church, was IN
trodpeed as the speaker Of the occasion.
| Advancing to the desk with a yellow covered
roll Of manuscript, Mr.. Burnett said he had
only weeks notice Of what his brother
ministers required Of him on the occasion,
and for this reason he was compelled to
offer his crude aud unpruned reflections
He said he was confident u mistake had
been made in selecting him, and that II an |
honor wss intended to be conferred on him |
BY his brother ministers, he thanked them,
and if burden was intended to be placed
| upon him. he forgaye them, lie then pro-
ceeded to read his discourse in clear voice
and earnest manner, dwelling mainly upon
the prevalence aud ain Of ingratitude. de
thought human nature prone 10 this SIN, and
that it is nowhere more common than IN
! the domestic circle and among familiar
friends where the nuumerable litteothces
| L.. L u i. - constant
gratitude have just the opposite effect, and
lead the receiver to expect and demand
them as a right on his part, and as a duty
on the part Of the donor Children were
striking examples of this, though the fault
attached to their parents, who fail to teach
them properly. Perfectly dependent peo'
pe, above all others, were the most bssely
ungrateful. They quickly learn to expect
and demand that for which they should De
suppiants. Men we're much more ready to
acknowledge their obligations TO each other
for favors than to their Creator, which was
probably due to the fact that the heart OF
man is enmity against God, and the further
fact that in the one case the tavors are con
slant and come from al unseen hand, while
in the other they are only occasional, and
! are dispensed from familiar source.
The speaker next spoke Of the latitude
which ministers had usually felt at liberty
70 take on occasions like 49,, ""d thahReu
God thu, =. .nese late years they we're not
required to wait for thanksgiving days to
speak of politics; public sentiment OF the
country had been educated up to the proper
standard, and minister might now speat
on the Sabbath of anything that pertained
to humanity. He did not have time to
epumerate all the blessings Of the past year
which called for our thanks, and would
only mention a few. The first Of these was
the abundant crops, which although less
than was expected by the husbandman, was
vet abundant for home consumption with a
surplus for expectation. The next cause
for gratitude was the removal from the seat
of Executive authority Of Andrew Johnson
who was designated by many opproblons
epithets, unbecoming even q tar minded
politician, and certainly not becoming min
ister of God, whose duty it is to inculcate
no, only respect for ell in authority, but, as
we insist, all who have occupied the highest
Office in the nation. Something is due TO
the place from which Mr.. johnson has de.
sceuded, however uuworthily he may have
filed it. He was placed there by the "God
and morality party against the protest OF
the party supposed to possess ell the satanic
elements at work in the politics OF the
country; and as that providence which
placed him there failed to remove him, he
should at least be allowed undistUrbed re-
> tirement By preachers. Besides no one had
reason to suppose that the congregation as
: sembled in the Methodist church yesterday
met there to observe Republican thanks
giving. There were more causes for univcr
: sal gratitude than the speaker could have
enumerated in the whole period of his dis
course. and we verify believe he would have
, | NDne HliUHtll hs uutH tlbllk hHA uOHOith
his God fully as much to have mentioned
moro &c them. and ssid less Of political anC
personal matters, about which he knew hi
hearers differed as widely as the polls arr
distant. Had the puI pit been occupied BY
minister of democratic politics-if Goo
. chooses such unholy vessels for his service
r and he had Landed Mr.. johnson, and denounc
, ed Mr.. Grant or Mr.. Lincoln, we doubt
the Rev. gentleman would have felt pleased
Z, or though, such course in keeping witt
the proprietes Of the occasion.
-, OF course the allusion to Mr.. Johnso
l. was followed up by extravagant praises o
Grant, in which even great many INTEL
-, gent. impartial Republicans could not con
- scientiously join. Next come thanks fo
the respect of the early adoption ofthe 5t
y amendment, and the enfranchisement of a
&c shades of human physiognomy, including tn
~ Chinsman, and we suppose the Indian. Til
y opportunity to put in o fling at the Irist
was not permitted to pass, for the reason, v
suppose, that they, with wicked unan
=" unity, vote the Democratic ticket. He al:
~ expressed his JOY that there is fair pro
pee, Of a revision of our outrageous tariff
= though the prospect WAS not unveiled. Tn
was a subject upon which the propreties
- the occasion and his Office required as lit
" of him as did the supposed political obliqu
ty of Mr.. Johnson. Thanks were then otf'e
ed for the little favor the agitstors OF Il
woman question had met with during II