Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-01
THE PULPIr.
Thanksgiving Service at the Second
Presbyterian Church,

Religious services were held at the Sec
epd Presbyterian church Thursday, on
which occasion, DR.. Hoyte, the pastor,
preached All emiuently practical sermon TO
a large and attentive congregation, of which
serma IA we present our readers with q syn
opsis.
The services were opened by the choir
consisting of twelve singers, singing that
grand old anthem, ssPraise the Lord.n AT
ter reading selection from Psalms appro-
pirate to the occasion, the Doctor saiG:
IL is my pleasant daty, ing brethren, to
Join with you in tina ksgiylDg to God, Our
nation, to-day, vindicates its claim to be
Christian nation-a God fearing people,
by this calling of the people together By
order of the Chief III agistrate and head of
the Government, as we'll as of the Com
monwealth, 10 bow down in our houses of
worship before the great God, who, though
unseen, manifests himself to every humble
worshipper in the world, sa isf,ing all bis
necessities and fulfilling all bis desires.
We have no formal enactment in our
constitution, pToclaiming that we are ma
ton fearing God. Ii has been criticised
that in the formation of our constitution,
the formal and definite recognition of our al
l-giance 10 Jehovah, was omitted, but since
the Government was established, begin
ming with the great and immortal patriot,
Washington, it has been the custom of the
people to meet to thank God for his kindness
unto us. We meet together again
to-day, and in Imagination can sea the
thousands in the North aud the South; the
E Ast and the West--frOm where the At
lantic beats on our northeast coast, with
all the fierceness of the winters gale, to
the shores of the far Pacific, where the
waters so smooth, come in and lave those
peaceful shores; and from the spicy gulf to
frozen North, the people to-day have come
together to take ''new departure" for an
other year.
In the proclamation, the harvest is spoken
of-the harvest, bountiful, and rich, and
sufi lent. What pleasing images CONS as
we think Of That word, and Of that season!
The labor Of the summer ended, with
full haryest--the granary bursting with its
treasures. What pleasant images come up
as ethink of the abundant harvest which
is gathered and housed for the needs Of
this year. And we never forget, when we
think Of the harvest, Of the tolls and priya-
lions OF those who prepared for that harvest.
We sit down to-day, and ri ice in the
harvest which has been reaped by the ma
ton; nation less than one hundred years
old as yet, standing nation free, yet
obedisn5 TO law, nation abouading in
Notwithstanding in the means OF plysi.
cal comfort-none graaier, non5 so great,
4 motion established on the great princi-
pies of right and carrying cut tIose princi-
pies day Dy day, and year by ysar, aud the
mind goes back to Tho patiencs and faith of
our ancestors, who came here to fad the
whole land possessed by q savage, barbarous
foe. When We cast our minds back through
al our history We fni that every principle
that we now esteem has been secured by
The blood of those who died 10 establish and
maintain this heritage which God gives to
us.
To-day we thank God for the good way
in which he has lel each one OF US. But
while We are at peace as children Of God,
this day has been preceded by days OF
trial. Each one of us has his peculiar his
Jory-bis peculiar blessings 10 thank God
for. And we have suffered, for death has
been in our midst-in our congregation
in every family. And yet, when We come
10 Think il over, who would miss tue sweet
lesson which has been taught us? VINO
would not say at is better 10 have loved
ana lost, than not to have loved at all?'
Let US briefly review the eyea.s of the
past year:
Oar Government is peculiar. 1t is not a
pure democracy, where all the msu IN the
nation come together in one assembly, to
declare their will. That is m2ulfesuy i'm
possible III our land; SO we appeal, once in
Jour years, to the b,llot-the iudiVidu i bal
lot. And that crisis has just come aud goue.
40 RTIsf W
pass every four years? We have armed To
vote aud abide by the result. In the South
American republics, they vote AID thea
fight; they DO not abide by the result.
heie they count the votes TO see whom Jne
pgopte have CHOSEN. The result is annOunc-
ed, and all the people .acqIiesce. Thank
Cos, there is one people Un th9 earth that
show that they are capable Of self govern
ment. IL seems that there is no other PEG
ole on the face OF the earth thai have
proven themselves capable of doing this
hat we think SO easy. We have elected for
another term a man whom, by 100000
N 1ritv, the people Cf the land said hey
want. In this peaceful solution Of 2 diIi-
Guilty, we may ras5 satisfied that certain
questions are settled, and settled forever.
Nouarchial nations say, "You can Fight,
The nation has just pronounced ruin upOa
any man, or any set OF men, WAC dareS to
think Of IepIdating our debt.
There is another great and noble thing
that the two leading christian nations Of the
world have done in the last twelve months.
Our nation had claims dam ages which she
thought she had sustained a. the hands of
England during the war. Representatives
OF the nations Of the, earth have met 10
the peaceful city of Geneva, at the foot of
.be Alps, aud there have spent the summer,
looking st the question fairly, justly, and IN
friendly spiri5, and the award comes out,
''AmericA is right, England is wrong, and
the damages must be paid" England &C
cepts the award, and the two nations stand
today knit together moro closely tnan ever
before.
a few words regarding our '1ndian Pol
icy" It is well known that this land, flew
years ago, belonged by righ5 OF occupation
10 the Indian tribes, whopossessed the land
from the EXTREMIST North to the extr emest
South. Aboat 100000 are now al that are
left Of the millions who once possessed the
land. The policy which has been o5sec ged
in our dealings with these Indians, has been
found radically defective. If understand
the p0llcy OF the movement az preS505, ID IS
this: To put the interests of the Indians 10
charge Of men elected by the various lead
ing religious denominations Of the land.
This is a triumph of the christian religion,
A nation must answer for its policy, anu
its deeds, the same IS individuals, in the
great day OF accounts
The last year has been one of great agi-
alton on the part Of the public mind, with
respect to the labor question. Labor uni
ons have made strikes for higher wages aud
fever hours. What is to be the outcome
of all tbs excitement? Who can say that
he does rot sympathiza with the working
man? But let the lzboring man beware of
selisbuess. You Cannos regulate these
matters by legislation and trades unions.
Everything brings what it is worth, and
no more. just so much soul and mind
and effort as man puts into bis work, will