, 1873-11-28
NINTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Thanksgiving Services Yesterday
Foronoon--Sermon BY tho Rev. u.
KcE1ai-.
The Ninth Presbyterian Church, On Ellis ava~
nuo, was the scono Of . large meeting. asaou,-
bled to listen to the nov. .. 3IcKaig. His text
WIS found in ThessalonianB 3.9, and road ~
follows: Tor what thanks can no ronder to
God again for you, for all tue joy wherewith 10
Joy for your sakes before God" Tho reverend
gentleman went on to show by scripsural e1an-
plos that gratitude TO God was not hes! exhib-
itod by any sudden emotion of gratitude, but
by wise improvement OF tho powers and bless
ings which He bestowed upon US. It WIS only
in wiso and useful activity that tho soul found
po rmanens enjoyment. Thomoat vigorous growth
and abiding atrength Of tho aoul was roalized BY
oyor roaohing after something now,-by con-
stent ceekinG after truth and righteousneas. Tho
mind should seek utter mental woalth and any
neglect or abuae of intellectual power wAs crim-
islnl ingratitnde to God. Tho mind should not
be confused by dosultory and fragmontary read-
ing Of all kinda, but should DO trained to stoady
hubits Ut thought, aud stored with wel1-dlgostod
knowledge. Unhappily. mental culture was
neglected by those who preferred to spend their
leisure hours on cardn, billiards. whisky.
and other forms OF dissipation. This was
laneutablo waate Of aoul force. Tlo iutel-
lactual powers Of lnan woro tho gift OF God, aud
no ono could claim to bo even tolorably relgiouH
who cnrolessly or williully allowed them to full
that could bo given WAS the proper use and exer-
cise Of the intellectual powers III acquiring
knowledge.
As moral beings. men should keep their inuato
sonso Of right and wrong clear and well defined.
and not allow 1t to be oloudod or confused.
Mon allowed worldly cares to disturb and
darkon their moral perceptions. 1u their
haste to get rich, mon frequently forgot what
was right. Thoy found 1t easy to ''Iitoh on their
ooneoienccR. to q thriving speculation. md keep
it running in tho oily groove Of aelt-intorcat,
profit, and pleasure" Men "have boon know!
to got on 1uch hoad Of steam as to d1iyo
straight through the thuudor-cloud Of the Deca-
lcgua, oloar across the Old Teutamsut DiBpensa-
OF hell in tlioir lssd chase for place, power. aud
monoy." Many of the standards Of businogB,
POLITICAL and nocla! eouduct slant from tlls per-
jIendicniar. Mon mold old Bourbon alsd brandy
ticso that moro thn any other, holpol to feed tho
alulccwnya OF eil'nt, poverty, and dcath. Otleth
went iut0 tho lossory husinoAs, and acted Hi II
strategy antl aexIerity wore the !sncat buslneo1
qualities. Others got up "ooruors' to begGar
olectly on tic abstract principles Of truth,
right, and duty, aud yat tlloy perverted nlinnp-
pied, Or wholly neg!cotea the1n under tho pres
sure OF docpIy'ruotel cllHtoM. or wore hurried
along OIL tho 1ashing toyreAt OF eeli-lutoreAt.
hlelt should rcmolnber that ''no man lvath
for hlnnolf," but that all ara mutually depend.
ont. Man wps in the world to do good as .woll
na to rseoive good. Society wns Q school Or
mental he1p, au exchange Of useful end rocip-
rucat houol:s. Men should bo careful III thoir
own nots. for tho salo OF nthors as vol aB fur
themselves. Men should live upright and puro
1yeu for, by 10 doing, they give conatant pIaisa
to uod: In alor't trl1a thalastulness couassta
In lnAking all nature tsansubstantlati0n OF
fiod'a real prosonco, and all our secular and 10.
oi:l duties, all our joys aud sorrowa, = sors Of
oonMuniuu.talIo,