The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-08
THANKSGIVING SERMON.
By REV. J. y, 2. OTIS
preached and Published by Request

u !. . c. !.
preached and Published by Request.I
And thou ,h.It observe the feat Of .absr-
| nscles seven DAYS, after that thou hast gath
erod 10 thy cora, and thy wine. Deaf. XVIII
Under the proclamation OF our Cow
| ernor, we have met to observe this as
ga day OF Thanksgiving and prayer"
Among the events OF the year we can see
| many things pertaining to our Com
monweRlth, for. which we should be de-
voutly thankful; and We also have am-
pie cause for praying for continuance
Of the blessings we enjoy, iof the pardon
of sins OF which we are guilty, and for
protection against evils 10 "hich We are
expoied.
We should be thankful because, as q
Commonwealth, we have plenty, peace
and prosperity. The agricultural pro-
ducts of the year have not been as abun-
dant as in some of the past years; yet,
there is in our State plenty for man and
beast, and some to spare for the less IA
vored portions OF our country. Should
We not be thankful for this sufficient
yield of grain, and supply OF meat for
the ensuing year? II Is the Lord that
feeds the people as well as the boasts of
the field and the fowls OF the air. Let
our lips. therefore, express TO film the
gratitude that our hearts feel, for the
DOuntUul supply winch Iii' ioNluoiico
has furnished for our tables.
Whilo we thus have plenty in the
| land, we are blessed with peace in which
to enjoy 1t. Law and order now pre-
vail. Tho Commonwealth is not OPP
pressed under the iron heel OF tyrant
reigning in the name of law, nor is the
| public peace disturbed by the disorders
| of any seditious factions, nor are the
people thrown into confusion by the
presence of armed bands of soldiers
overturning our civil rights in the light
of day, nor are they made to live in ter
ror by any armed bandits of lawless men
providing and plundering in the dark
ness of the night. We have peace ; and
we this day devoutly thank the great
Ruler of the Universe for giving to our
Commonwealth rulers who are saying.
| in deed as well as word, Let us have
peace" When We remember how dis
| turbed our State was a few years ago,
and compare our present condition with
| that of many of our sister Common
wealths in the Union to-day, none can
be so blind as not to see that we have
amplest cause for the deepest gratitude
| to that Divine Providence, "from whom
| cOmeth every good and perfect GIN"
With peace and plenty, the State is also
| rejoicing in general prosperity. No de-
structive epidemics have this year pre-
vailed i'm any part OF our State. On
some of our railroads there have been
a few accidents quite serious in the loss
of life, and in some OF our cities few
fires quito destructive to property; but
when We remember the direfnl disasters
| and destructive cOnilagrations that have
happened in other States. we should be
deeply grateful that our Commonwealth
has been so comparatively exempt from
such calamities. And not only has our
state been comparatively exempt from
| calamitOus Visitations OF every kind, but
! we are prospecting in tho positive adj
vancements that have been made during
| the year in agriculture, commerce, arts,
| literature and religion. Want OF time
fnrbids our going into particulars in these
respects; but we may be allowed to say,
in general t9rIns, that tbs reports from
| the Fairs held in all parts of the State,
! indicate encouraging progress and i'm
| provement in agricultural pursuits and
! products, in the raising OF livestock,
| and in the manufacture and invention
| OF mechanical contriyances. Though
| money has not been very abundant in
circulation during the year, yet our bu-
| siness men tell us that Commerce has
| been advanced and placed upon a more
/ firm ands stable basis. We can see the
evidence of advancement in the practi-
| cal arts in the patents issued from the
general office TO TannesseSns tor several
useful inventions. We see Indications
! OF The progress in science and letters in
| The favorable and encouraging reports
I from the many colleges, academies and
| schools in the State, beth those under
| State patronage and those under control
! of the various Churches and Of private
7 s,.l1nri,9tr31a nrA IA Tt-ii.u..a 1f
/ the progress of literature, and the adj
| vancsment of educational interests
| among US, Ne would poin, to the suc-
! ccSsful formation OF the public library
! in Nashville, and similar schemes on
I foot in other places, and to tie earnest
| labors OF the State Educational COnven-
| ton. And last, and best of all. the re-
! ports from the Ecclesiastical Courts OF
! the various denominations of Chris
tians in the State, made at their fall
| meetings, indicate encouraging progress
! in all orr Churches. AZ peace has been
! restored 10 Cur State. and order and
! harmony begin 20 prevail among our
| people, the religion OF our Lord Jesus
| Christ, tho glorious Prince Of Peace, has
! advanced. Scores and hundreds have
! been added to the membership of our
! Churches, and many new Churches have
been organized in different parts OF the
state, and there has been large increase
| in the liberality OF the old Churches in
their contributions for the support and
| spread OF the Gospel. Surely, the peO-
| pie OF this Commonwealth have the
amplest cause To assemble themselves
| in their churches to-day, and to render
/ the fullest and most deyout thanksgiv-
I ing to Almighty God for His manifold
f4vors and blessings conferred upon US
during the year now drawing to its
| close.
while there are 40 many things for
/ which we should this day be So deeply
and sincerely grateful, there are also
! evils that pertain to US rs State-sins, for
! which we should humble ourselves and
| NOUN, and !cr the correction of which
we should earnestly pray. The bright
cloud lowering over our Commonwealth
has on it streaks Of darkness. In emu
| merating some or these evils, wo will
begin at the fountain head. We look at
that Constitution of the State, which is
the Iall8.:iuH OF oUr civil freedom, and
| we think that we $50 on Ii dark blur
like spot on the face of the sun. 1t
excludes ministers of the Gospel, as
! class, from seats in both our legislative
halls. Now, We do not think that min
listers ought to seek those seats, o. &C
ftlN AllFiftf iI
| il offered to them, bat We think that
the motive TO keep them out should
| arise in themselves, and be altogether
their own restraining conviction of be-
ing devoted TO higher and holier work.
| Ii does not seem to us TO be- either kind
or just to classify the holy fraternity
with Atheists and Duelists. and to bar
them from there high privileges by
| ConstlluttoDat provision, which reflects
upon tlioir manhood, their common
| sense, aud their moral integrity. Be
cause there Is now and then a black
sheep, or rather, = wolf in sleeps cloth
ing, i0uni among %, that shOud not
! have provoked q Constitutional provi-
sion against us as class-a provision
which excludes the holy brotherhood
the Commonwealth rertair!ag q our
com,oon brutherfiood' in Humanity
This is a wrong to the holy fraternity as
class, and one THAT il csluMninus in
itg Implications, but as it Is not likely
to result In any practical injury to soci-
etv, and as it can not DO easily reached
for correction, VIC will humbly and pa
tiently submit to the wrong, but always
on p,apsr Gcilasllas, eRleE or earnest
protest against it,
There arc other State-eyils, which can
DO easily reached and corrected, and
the practical tendencies of which are
full of danger, and portend immediate
injnsy 81 lae Parity apa pesfe OF soci-
ETY.; and they now nepland our earnest
at stion, we are grieTaa that the
|. legislature, which ia late years has
done so much that is so good, has by its
legislation, from time to time, dimn>
ished the sanctity of the marriage vow,
: in npeping too wide tho door for di-
vorces. III the facility with which di-
yoroes can now be obtained ~ Tepnes-