The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-11-23
THANKSGIVING.

Thanksgiving day was generally OBJ
served in our city, and most of the pla-
ces of business we're closed during the
hours of religious services. The three
Methodist congregations held united
services in
CENTRAL NJ. s. CHURCH. -s.lI
i The Rev. C. w. Miller opened the ex
| ercises by giving out an appropriate
hymn. Rev. V R Miller then read the
Presidents proclamation, after which the
congregation sang the hymn beginning:
sGreat God Of nations, now to thee,
i.sss Our hymns of gratitude we raise
Rev V Lemon followed by reading
, as the lesson of the hour the 10th
Psalm. Rev. j V r Miller took as his
text portion of the LII Psm-'Praise
the Lord, all We nations and began by
saying that we must make this occasion q
giving of thanks in spirit and not mere
ly ceremony. Nations are creatures Of
G Cd as well as individuals, and just as
nations submit to his Word, they sue
ceed- Man having fallen, the will of
God is not accepted as it would be if
MN were pure. Evils have accumulated
power, and demand increased govern
ment. Notwithstanding the doctrine of
Love thy neighbor as thyself,' men
have arrogated to theins elves right
over the mass OF people, and assumed
the e direction in their affairs,
spiritual as well as temporal. Religion
has suffered wherever there is despot-
ism. But freedom is being secured.
Free thought, free conscience, the liber-
ty to read, print and speak, are among
! the things that we should be thankful
for. America is the wonder to the Old
world in the fact that churches are kept
mp and religious duties are better attend
ed to, without the support of the Gov
eminent.
We are almost free from proscrip
| tons in this country-the only kind be-
/ ing social. But since the overthrow Of
Slavery there has been much less pro-.
! scription on the freedom of expression.
There is still in some quarters proscrip
ton by those whose selfish interests are
4 touched, upon such subjects as intern
perance, etc. But it may be said to be
a characteristic of this country that a
man may preach any IDEAS, denounce
any evil and be unmolested. The in
crease of freedom, therefore is a subject
of thanks.
/ Another great movement Of the age,
the drawing Of the lines between truth
and righteousness, and evil and oppres-
| sion. is a cause for thanks. The re-
| suits of freedom in this country are at
| tracing the attention Of nations of Eu-
rope, and the popular elements are ari-
sing and demanding extended privile-
ges from the m onarchs. Peace is about
TO be given to our politics upon the ne
gro question, by the removal of all dis
tinction of Color. The spiritual bless
ings of the past year have been many,
and churches have prospered, and
christian denominations have Joined
hands and worked harmonious in com
mon objects.
Nations should praise Him, for they
are objects of His care. We should do so
to day, with hearts full. The praise of
the Lord is not expression of thanks
merely, but when We tell of his works.
God has protected this nation from pes
thence, and blessed it with genera
good health, bounteous crops, and above
all, peace at home and abroad. Where
ever education has gone, light has fol-
lowed, and led to the discovery Of in
terests, which result i'll unity among
all our people. This is not an occasion
for pride, but for gratitude.
| Rev. Mr.. Kinnan then led the congre.
CATION in singing:
| Fountain of mercy, God of love,
! How rich thy bounties are.
| The rolling seasons, as they move,
! Proclaim thy constant care.
| We and bless thy gracious swae;
Thy hand all nations hail:
Seed-time nor harvest, night nor day,
Summer nor winte r, fail.
After prayer by Mr.. KIM an, the Dox-
ology was sung. and the benediction
pronounced by Mr. Lemon.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
An audience of some two hundred
gathered at this church. The prelimi-
nary services were the same as on ordi-
nary occasions-wi.h the exception Of
the ''voluntary''-the choir opening the
services with the beautiful and well rem
| dered anthem, 80 give thanks unto the
Lord" The Psalms appropriately Sc
iected were the 100 and 1O3. The render
ing of these were succeeded by an elo-
quent prayer Of some twenty minutes
| duration, at the close Of which the con.
gregation sang I'VE nations round the
earth rejoice, Mr. Chairman took as