Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-11-29
Thanksgiving Services.

At almost all the churches in town the
national day of Thanksgiving was OBJ
served by the various congregations. So
far as we were able to do 80, we obtained
reports Of the several services. AT the
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
There was a Union service, the Baptist
congregation participating, and Rev. Mr..
Peters taking part in the exercises. The
choir gave two appropriate anthems, in
the best manner, and the pastor, Rev. j.
A. Daily, followed with a sermon from the
text, Psalm, 103, 1; ''Bless the Lord, o,
Ny Soul, and forget not all His Benefits"
After alluding to the call of the Chief
Magistrate of the nation and of the State,
and the ftness Of our assembling to-day,
the Speaker said the text enjoined two
things Of which we all have need-thank-
fnlness and thoughtfulness. God values
thankfulness, incites us to gratitude and
praise. In all our praying we need to pray
for one thing more-a thankful heart. The
best thing about a gift Is the love that
goes with it. Thankfulness Is an evidence
of Christian growth. Unthankfuiness is
breaking OF all the commandments. The
Psalmist calls on all Gods works to praise
Him, and the refrain is, "Bless the Lord,
o, my SoulW But our souls, from want
Of thankfulness are cheerless--ars crude
land spiritless. We find no response to the
words of the Psalmist. Gods goodness
Is unrecognized; we do not rejoice in the
noblest things; like children, we love toys
and trihes. and like children who are Ill,
we do not appreciate medicine or chas-
tisement. Most of Gods dealings are de
aligned to promote health or character, and
| we should be thankful for all His beneits
and all His dealings are benefits; but
we are like young children in the nursery.
He then spoke of several blessings or
| reasons We have for thankfulness. The
| first was Life. To be created living
soul, in Gods own image, with such won-
| drous endowments and capacities, and to
| endure forever. Second, our position in
its plan and object. This world is like q
school house, place Of training, and de-
yelopmeIt. There are difficulties, it is
true, but these are for us to overcome,
and not for our discouragemeht. Then
| there is SO much of knowledge 70 be gain-
ed and beauty to be admired, and God has
given US appetites for knowledge and
| beauty, to stimulate and rev ard us. There
| ought to be no grumblers in such a world
as this; but, alas, there are srumblers and
| an enemy has done this. Satan has wro't
mischief, but he is doing his worst, and
God is giving him rope that he may go and
hang himself. Third, our tfms In the
world is the very best time. rhis is the
epoch for US. God might have made lis
ages ago. Now all the past is treasure
for us. The science and wisdom of all
the past ages is left q heritage to us -
Some men say, Chow good the times were
years ago." But why? Think OF the ad-
yantages that we enjoy, as compared With
any former age or time. The means Of
comfort and enjoyment Of life, the facili-
ties of travel and of communications
And these things are to go on and multi
ply beyond all ordinary conception. Still
better things are to come; and all should
adjust themselves to the times and work
to be done. Let 10 man be fossil. DO
not become obsolete. Good 10 aug
menting. The religion OF Jesus Christ is
imparting glory to the world.
! We ought also to be thankful tor our
Country, Contrast it with dark Heathen-
dora. Our aoiaain Is not CONFERENCE.-The q
grand field for entsrpriss-cslls for men