Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-04
MILERsBURe HOLMES COUNTY, o. THURSDAY, Dec 4, 1873

+ for purposes of business or recrea
tion. We should come to the hous
of God, to enumerate His mercies
and thank Him in the presence o
all the people.
f We should observe this day b,
sharing our own blessings witt
those less favored than ourselves
, With DAVID we should offer to tn
Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
We should remember the poor ant
the comfortless. giving them reason
for thankfulness because of the goot
things we bestow. Let the heart o
the widow be cheered, and the lot O
the orphan improved, by our bene
factions, flowing from truly thank
full heart.
We should observe this day with
rejoicing. The ancient Feast ol
Tabernacles was the occasion of the
widest rejoicing among the Jews.
Music and feasting we're the accom-
lpaniments of this festival, together
with such brilliant illuminations as
lighted up the whole city. There
should be family reunions under the
paternal roof, while those who are
separated from the homes of their
childhood, should act in turn, the
part of host and guest. There should
be songs of praise. not only in the
house of God, but at our homes,
with the accompaniment of musical
instruments; while in the associa-
tions and rejoicings of the present,
we forget the burdens and anxieties
of the past. On the occurrence of
the first day of thanksgiving in the
New World, there could be few fam
lily reunions. The deep rolled be-
tween the Cofonists and their native
land, yet they were not without
guests. Massasoit the friendly In
dian chief, with ninety Of his men,
sat down with them to that thanks
giving feast, to which the Indians
contributed five deer, the fruits of.
the chase. We are also informed,
that four men dispatched by the
colonists to hunt for fowl, returned
with a sufficient supply to last the
entire colony week. And as we are
assured that turkeys abounded in
that region, it is not improbable
that the since famous turkey, graced
the board on that occasion, though
not specifically mentioned by the
historian.
We should mingle with our re
joicing fervent prayer for the pros
perity of our nation. There are
those who believe that our prosper
ity is assured-that, after encount-
ering the dangers and conflicts OF
the past, there is no foe we need to
fear.
But there are dangers yet before us,
which will require all the skill and
courage of our wisestand strongest
men to avert. A foreign people, in |
vast numbers, is coming to our
shores; speaking another tongue,
with widely different culture, op-
posed to our wholesome laws, our
free institutions, and our religious
convictions and morals. They come
with their Sabbath-breaking and
beer-drinking habits, and wage a
determined warfare upon our laws
which conflict with them. In some
instances they have nearly succeed
ed in securing the repeal Of these
laws, while in Others, they have vio-
lated them with impunity. They
come bringing their religions with
them. The Chinaman brings his
idols, and proceeds to erect.his joss
house. Some are Materialists; 9TH
ers without any religious belief.
Some are Catholics, while others are
Jews. We welcome them to homes
among us, and after a brief proba-
ton, confer upon them the rights of
citizenship, place the ballot in their
hands, and give them voice in the
affairs Of the Government. Many
of these become the tools of cor
rupt politicians, who care more for
their own advancement than for
their country's good. The influence
Of these, added to the power of
money and personal aggrandize-
ment, to sway the minds, and con-
troll the consciences of our legisla-
tors, has been, and still is felt
These things give us just occasion
for the exercise of strong faith in
our national prosperity.
In thus observing this day, we
shall gather strength for the work
before us. Our prayers should
in work. Hard work needs
be done for our country's sake.
We are to labor for the publication
Of high places,-for the elevation of
The masses, for the proper education
Of public sentiment. Where reform
is neeled we should work for it, both
by precept and example, until it is
accomplished, or we die in the con-
Ilict. 1t may be unpopular--proba-
bly, will be,-for reformers are usually
and treated with the great
est indignities during their lives,
but later generations acknowledge
heir services, and honor their mem
ories.
Then "let US come before his
presence with thanksgiving and
make joyful noise unto him with
psalms" or songs of praise. Debo
rah and Barak sung at the overthrow
Of their enemies. Hannah sung at
The answering of her earnest petition.
David sung at the removal Of the
ark to its resting-place, and Mary,
she mother of Jesus, sung in view
Of the fulfilment of the long-delayed
promise of Deliverer.
1t is well that we begin our songs
IF praise on earth, that with the re
leemed we may sing, "Great and
marvellous are thy works, Lord God
just and true are thy
ways thou King of saints" to which
Ill heaven shall respond in the
grand chorus, "Blessing, and glory,
md wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honor, and power, and might, be un
% our God for ever and ever.
Amen"
The matrimonial business Is re-
ported to be unusually brisk this
season in Baltimore.
An Indiana jury recently returned