The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-08

sacred desk on day appointed for
Thanksgiving and prayer" we
feel that We are bound In hon
est duty TO specify, what we conceive In
honest truth TO be, the blessings for
which we should be thankful, and the
existing State-evils for the correction
Of which we should this day pray. We
might now go on to point out many Sins
that are prevalent among our people,
such as the facility with which ofense Is
taken, and the proneness to seek redress
In the use of deadly weapons, drunken
ness, profaneness, extraVa8ance, and
many other prevalent wrongs and fol-
lies. But 1t Is our appointed duty TO
speak continually against all such; and
here, to-day, feeling justified In the oc-
casion, we only particularize those
State-evils which we do not feel at lib
erty to bring forward in our ordinary
ministrstions. And this part OF our
duty Is now done-faithfully and fear
lessly, but humbly and tremblingly,
done. .r-Y
As we have shown that we, as Com.
monwealth, have amplest cause for both
gratitude and prayer, We wish now TO
show that We have Scriptural authority
for the procedure In our ssnctnaries in
which we are now engaged; and here
comes In the text. At the close OF every
year the fsraelites were commanded to
observe such festival for Thanksgiving
and prayer as we are this day obsery-
ing. The tribes of Jacob constituted the
"UEited States" of Israel The essen
tial idea of their Feast of Tabernacles,"
which was partly civil and partly reli-
gious, is perpetuated among us in the
day that is annually appointed for
d" thanksgiving and prayer" There
were those things in the Feast, as cele-
brated by tho Israelites, which were Pc
culiar to themselves as people, and
also those things which were typical in
their significance; all of which Fave
passed away, leaving the essential idea
ofthe Feast remaining with US as per-
petual obligation, TO observe an annual
day Of Thanksgiving and prayer unto
our God, in which to recognize Him as
the Lord of our harvest, and the KING
OF our rulers. Thanksgiving Day is not
thing OF human origin; it did not, as
some suppose, originate in tho New
England States. II originated i'm the
divine appointment Of the Lord Jeho-
yah. made thousands OF wears ago.
Some OF tho customs per-aining to the
day are human inyentions-man-m made
additions. 1t is not day for hunting.
sporting, frolicing, and carousal. 1t il
not hoiiddy-it is q hOiyddv-and as a
,.olyday it should be observed in the
Church and in the Family-a day Tor
public Thanksgiving and prayer in the
sanctuary, and day for family reunion
and joyous festivities in the home.
In our Churches we should meet i'll
the spirit OF religious patriotism-as
fellow citizens enjoying common bless
ings and exposed to common dangers
MI al oil =.
should together render thanks for our
common blessings, and together pray
for protection against our common dam
gers. Patriotism is q Christian duty,
and il shonld be sanctified by the spirit
OF religion. il is right anc Scriptural
for our Governors to appoint n day, and
for our people TO assemble in their
Churches on the appointed day, to rem
der thanks TO our God for past favors
and present blessings, and to pray for
natiCDsl prosperity, and Tor peace. plen-
ty, and purity in the Commonwealth.
And now, IS we are about to leave the
Church, let us go 10 our homes ~ con-
tinue in our families the worship that
we have here begun-not in gloomy and
long faced services, but in joyous, hap
py, heart-overiiOwing and festive family
thank fuiuess. 10, make your homes
tN OtS anu bIiHut, huu klnUIc Name
OF love and family-thankf ulness in the
heart Of every one-in the husband.
wife, children, kindred and friends-a
flame that shall bum an, az "a incense
of gratitude cn tho familv-altar,
throughout the year, and be found still!
burning when Thanksgiving Day shall
come round again. We are not making
enough OF the home-of the family. Ii
il Gods first and best institution ON
earth; out Of il both the Church and the
State have grown, We are here to day
in the sanctuary "a Church and State
united, rendering thanks and making
prayers. Let us now go back into the
Family, from which both these In.titu
tons have srisen-l5t us go and recount
Gods blessings to US as families. and
assemble around our festive boards to
enjoy His bounties in our houses To His
praise.
And as We go to your hsppy homes.
and as We mako them still brighter with
the joyous testify ies ~ tbix iay, Fen.en-
Der the poor that have no homes. or
homes in which there is no light OF low !;
and, as the thank-ofiering for this dav,
let each family set apart some gin for the
poor, and let your gin bo proporiIoncd
to Gods blessingson your family during
tho year. 60, and give this one day to
thanks and to joy in the family, and to
efforts 10 make others happy. Recount
God's bounties to you in the wear. and
string the pearls OF II, fsvoys that you
and your families ENJOY. And as God
greatest gift TO Us WAS for the forgive
ness of our sins, let US this day forgive
all our enemies. Lot Us remember the
poor, and forget not the stranger. sscri-
| lice oEr anmities, and augment our
charities. As We give thanks, let us
purify our hearts, and dedicate our lives
to Him, from whom cometh every good
and perfect gift that we enjoy.
Fire.
Although We have had great many
alarms OF nre during the past year or so,
tho ringing Of the fire bell on last Tu as-
day evening set everybody to running
to and fro, and spreading the alarm with
all the power OF their lungs. The new
house erected on Pulaski street, and
owned by Miss SARAH FRIERsoN, was
soon found to be on fire, and Eugir e
No. was soon OH the spot. There was
no cistern on the lot, and even after
water WAS found, it was iICzen, and
many PRECIOUS moments were spent IN
looking on in utter helplossness at the
devJuring fumes, rs they spread over
the roof OF the combustible-lookin ing
house. 4 few men with axes, and 9TH
ers with buckets of water, vsinly at
tempted to stop its progress. All hope
of saving the building had fled, when
| the joyous cry was heard, and carried
from mouth to mouth, that the water
was coming along the hose. Sure
enough, there it CONF. swelling the hose
, round gnI ia 4ght, aud now Mar, Russ
and others, are sending yoluines along
the root. The supply OF wator gave out
before the fire was entirely eItingu jahed,
and tea.s E:ess puteftainsd That the
house would burn down at last. The
engine received another supply, how
ever, and TIE hre was squelched,' rs
CHARLEY SIcnoLs would saw. Tho
building, which received damage to the
exteDt OF about $500, was insured in the
Commercial for sI.e0 It il ;egy
sppropfiGt3 l.aes Ilspt ne,s 10. us 10
say sihnei hing about the inadcguacy OF
the water supply in our town. Every
! residence shonld have a good cistern.
Mr.. \. RosENTHAL was living in The
house. The ire caught from the iiue,
which was made defective in the cree.
ton OF the building, it is said, bet III.
Steele duties u. w "
Dancing school.