The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-11-26
Eng. EE1ai1. lutheran church.

Services were held IN the new CuaEei,
adjoining the Postoflce, and were attend
ed by the largest Thanksgiving audience
kIo%En'fh the history ofthe congregation
On account ofindisposttiOn on The part Of
tho pastor, no requested that the morning
lessons be read by, Geo. W.stoner, and
prayers oaered,by Chas. schoonoVer and
Thos, Mcclellan. The sermon was based
upon EeeleHGGtea YfI; 10: . Say not thou,
what Is the cause that the former days
were better than tteses for thou dost not
inquire wisely concerning thiS," u +, I'd.
There are always croakers and grum-
blers ready to say that "tlIe. Jornet days
gave greater reason for nksgiVing "'tIdn
fheSo days" This class absent themselves
from the places Of worship, and "all the
day long" COMPLAINED hard times; hard
lot, &c. They hing their heads like q
bulrush, and can eee{po cause for calling
upon God in songs Of rejoicing. Even
some Christians, who. look at the dark or
the shady side 81 affairs, are disposed to
make these times in which we live COM
pare unhvorably with the olden times.
; - = 20 Let this class but ZEN
Quire wisely concerning this" and make
fair comparisons OF tho present with the
past, and they will realize that these days
are better than the past-flll OIL, the mercy
and loving kindness Of Our Father 10
Heaven. k7tH Call to mind, /, Our Shole
land isat peace. We look away from home
and we behold nation rising against
nation In deadly conflict widows hearts
wrung by the ruin that has befallen their
homes, and orphans reduced TO utter de-
pendence-yet not knowing on whom to
depend. We sec universal distrlSt, fraud,
intemperance shattering all the
ties by which society has hitherto been
bound. In our land, blessed DO God, we
have peace -permanent and lasting peace,
We trust-and prosperity that astonishes
the world: Surely, II we compare our
condition with that OF the Old World, or
recall or own strife Of brothers, we will
not say the former days were better than
these. = II Consider,
II. There Is no famine in the land, and
for this give thanks to God and praise His
name. Perhaps in no period Of our his
tory h8s God given US Of His things good
more literally than in the past harvest
season. 80" The husbandman now looks
upon well.filled barns, while the valleys
also have been covered with corn. = = No
" former days" reported so great harvestS,
neither such ample recompenSe to the
labors Of the husbandman. = Re.
member, also rE
III. We are andhave been free from pcs
thence. We havelot fires Of pitch burn.
ing at every corner Of our streets to help
dispel foul contagion, for God has in His
mercy Ryertsd pestilenGe,
Say not thep that the former days were
". Industry and the Mechanic Arts
have been proSpered.
IsllV, Many parts Of the land have been
blessed with precious revivals Of religion.
There have been few or no "foTmer
days." in which true Christians have been
so active, and great religious agencies like
the Bible, and Tract Societies, and Y. n.
@. Associations so efficient : !,
Efforts TO, reclaim tho fallen, recall tho
Wanderer, and help the. helpless, have
been crowned with remarkable Snec8s.
i" The past year has shown a.
VI. 4 decided tendency 70 Christian
Union.