Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-04
THANKSGIVING DAY.

consideration of thatBeing upon whom we
individually, and as a nation are depend
ent. 1t would be indeed a hopeful day forus
could the idea be realized which the proc
lamation OF the President suggests-the
united, free homage of the soul in
devout praise and Thanksgiving to
God for His benefits-of every one within
the boundaries of this great republic.
This new era, we are persuaded, will
not be inaugurated in this country to-day.
SO long as such appeals are made to the
lower feelings, prejudices and baser pas
sions as disgrace the columns of a Mem
phis paper, we can hardly expect that the
blessings of Providence to US as a people,
will be acknowledged with thankfulness,
or fully recognized.
We can not close our eyes to the fact that
there are those who "are IN the United
States" enjoying the privileges and pro-
lection of the government, that care not
ofthem" who look upon all that do not
pronounce their shibboleth or entertain
their ideas,concerning politics and religion,
enemies, with whom they cannot consent
to join even in utterance of praise to God.
We must leave them to their folly and self
conceit.
There are those who entertain nobler
thoughts and views, and rejoice that the
fact of dependence upon an arm of strength
more mightier than that of man is brought
home to.their minds that they have been
led to a consideration of their manifold
blessings and of the return of thanks due
to the Great Giver.
In view of our own relations as a great
people there is abundant cause for grateful
feelings and thankful utterance.
True, there has been disaster on land
and sea, life and property have been DOOM
ed to eXtirpation, and worse than this, sin
in high places stalks with undaunted step
and haunts the low places of the earth in
secret; and with it all, the scales of justice
have hung evenly balanced. But with all
this there is an increased sensibility of the
people to the "sinfulness of sim and Of
unwillingness to tolerate its existence.
The sectional bitterness to which we have
alluded, remains, but there is an offset to
this in the expression of sympathy
for those in suffering with whom, but
a short period since, there was variance.
We have passed through an excited po-
litical canvass, but with large portion of
the people regardless of political status
there is contentment with the result. No
such fears as now disturb the serenity of
England and the continent concerning the
stability of their affairs, are moving US.
Whatever may be the depression in GER
tain localities, the country has prospered,
and our "garners are filled with the finest
of the wheat" Surely, too, it is some
thing to be thankful for, to see first of all,
great communities rising up superior to
loss and affiiction, renewing their ener-
gies, men encouraging each other to no.
BILE, heroic enterprise-and secondly to
witness the outpouring of benevolent SYM
pathy for the sufferers as if moved by
divine spirit.
IT is a dirine spirit-the spirit that is
operating through the various sects of
Protestants, uniting them in kindred oper-
ations and kindred feeling of respect and
charity.
"There are differences of gifts and of
operation''-so the great Apostle teaches
"but the same spirit, and we may well
unite in devout thanks to God that this
same spirit given to every man whereby
to profit" is in wholesome, active exer-
else.
Under the impulse of more ditfused,
general knowledge and advancement in
special science through the medium of free
schools and scientific institutions, the
narrow views of sectarists are becoming ex-
banded, and religious differences are seen
to be merely, or mainly, distinctions.
Even in the matter which the ADpeql
selects as the object of its splenitic effusion
we can see hOlier feeling. What the wri-
ter states as historic fact, viz that the
festival of Thanksgiving was instituted in
| opposition to that of Christmas, is entirely
erroneous. 1t was the devout outpouring
OF the hearts of pious people-possessing
| it must be conceded too much of that spir-
it of opposition to Prelacy now manifested
by the Memphis editor toward the puritan
descendants-in Thanksgiving to God for
his protection, and deliverance from bitter
trial. 1t is true they repudated the Christ
mas festival; but their descendants in
common with Christians of other churches
that formerly disregarded it, unite now
with RomaGists and Episcopalians in dec.
Grafton of their churches, and in celebrat-
ing with appropriate religious service the
natal day of our loved Redeemer.
u - q.