Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-12-07
Thanksgiving Day.
"HARvEsT HOME" FESTIVAL AT TRINITY
CHURCH.

HARVEST HOME FESTIVAL Al TRINITY
CHURCH.
These combined services were celebrat-
ed at Trinity Church, Rutland, Thurs
day, at 1045 a. m, the rector, the Rev.
VIM. J. Harris, officiating.
Besides the ordinary morning service.
the parts especially appointed, were as fol.
lows:
1.Openiug sentences from Holy Writ.
2. Special Anthem.
g. Special Psalms, the 65th and 14Sth.
4. Lessons, Dent viii. /; l Thess. viz "a.
5. "Benedicite," 30, all ye works of the
Lord, bless ye the Lord" etc.
6. The Prayer after General Thanks
giving,
7. The Collect, Epistle, (st James
1922 and Gospel, (5t. Matt. v:43-4S.l
8. The Collect for st. Andrews Day,
Nov. 30th.)
The metrical Psalm was the 10Th, 1st
3 vrs. the Hymn, SD, 1st part.
The rsotsr's sermon was very appropri-
ate and instructive, from the Gospel, l
Thess. Wis: ain everything give thanks"
To do this was the duty of all, at all times,
and excellent provision was made there
for in the offices of the Book of Common
Prayer. But special days were needed for
special thanks TO God, for His great mer
cies-such are Christmas, Easter, Whit
sunday, Ascension Day, Trinity Sunday.
while on Good Friday we commemorate
the passion and death of our dear Savior
The Church has appointed one day in the
year for special thanksgiving in view of
the temporal blessings bestowed by the
Almighty. This day is the first Thurs
dag an NoUemoer, unless the civil author
ity appoints day for general observance,
and then the Church adopts that.
He then spoke of the history of Thanks
giving Day. 1t has come down to us as a
custom of orr Puritan Forefathers, and
we trace it further back still, to observ-
ance in the Church of Enpland. In the
church it is intended to be day fer spec
ial "prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty
God for the fruits Of the earth, and all the
other blessings of His meroiful Provi-
dence." The rector here referred to its
special services in proof of this as the
chief object of the Church in the appoint
ment of the day. With us,i is not a day for
political harangues or other inappropri-
ate topics. But while we keep thus prom
inently in view G DDS temporal mercies,
we are. by no means, to be unmindful Of
His spiritual blessings which infinitely
surpsss the former.
The rector then referred to the present
commingling of the festival of the old
Harvest Home" with that of Thanksgiv-
ing Day. It was derived from the custom
of the English church, and is fast obtain
ing in this country. He explained the
meaning of it's symbols lying near him,
being "the fruits of the EARTH" in happy
profusion. After an appropriate close,
and the offertory, the concluding prayer
was said, and the blessing given. Thus
ended an impressive and beautiful service,
which seemed to be much enjoyed by all
present, and for which all due credit
should be given to the painstaking rector.
The ofertory referred to, after the SER
mon, was given to the impoverished
churches of Chicago. This was done ac-
cording to the pastoral letter of Bishop
Bissell, requesting contributions to be
made for that purpose, in all the parishes
of his diocese on this day. The letter
was read by the rector. A goodly sum
was realized.
"Ths fruits of the earth" formed a large
and attractive pile in front of the Chancel
rail, and between the prayer desk and
font. It rested on suitable wooden
frame, several feet high, which receded,
step by step, as it arose from the bottom
to the top. The right and left sides Of
the piles were supported by shesves Of
wheat, while the middle space was filled
with all kinds of grains and vegetables
that grew, in or upon, the ground, and
were harmoniously arranged. Surmount-
ing all, were the Bread and Wine, as sym
bols of the Holy Communion, and sug-
gesting that chief act Of praise and
thanksgiving as SO appropriate to the day.
The ri ght was a rare one, and lent pecu-
liar charm to the whole service. which
was very profitable and enjoyable to
thankful hearts. The music was sppro-
pirate, and sweetly rendered.
UNION SERVICE.
A union Thanksgiving service was held
at the Baptist church on Thursday at
10.45. A good congregation was assem-
bled to observe the religious services of
the day. The Scriptures were read by
Rev. Edward Mills, pastor of the Baptist
church. After singing. Rev. Barnes NJ.
Hall, pastor of the Methodist church,
offered comprehensive and exceedingly
impressive prayer. The sermon was de-
livered by Rev. James Gibson johnson.
pastor of the Congregational church, OF
which the following is an abstract:
REV. MR.. JoHNsoN's SERMON.
The Text was Psalm 106: 9-12.
"He rebuked the Red aea, sIso. and il
was dried up.
Then believed they his words; they
saw his praise"
The children of Israel had no greater
cause for thankfulness than this: that
amid all their blessings they could never
be in doubt as to the origin of them. God
was uumistaksbly revealed in them all.
1t would be an unquestionable advantage
If we could always trace in eur blessings
a divine purpose and meaning.
The speaker said that the occasions
were rare wben possible for the preacher
Of the gospel to tura bis attention to dis.
tinctly secular subjects. he proposed
to take this occasion to refer to some Of
the political causes which We have for