Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-04

and duty. Do you plead weakness and
past unfaithfulness 1t is better TO die
raising banner we sometimes dishonor,
than not to have raised it at all. So men
have died willing masters at last, TOR
what they had not lived faithful wit
nesses.
CASTLEToN.
Mr.. GILBERT or OUR MERCiRs.
Union services were held at the Meth
odist church, with sermon by Rev. E. p.
| Gilbert
Psalm q. was read as the ''key note"
of the discourse. Introductory remarks
were made respecting the extreme priya-
tions and hardships of the Pilgrim Faith
ers which did not shake their unfaltering
trust in the mercies of God. The Thanks
giving day grew out of a devotional
mind and heart, quick TO recognize di-
vine mercies. Thanksgiving day was
represented as desirable to cement fam
lily ties; TO serve as a reminder of the
wants of the poor and to lead US to ten
der unto God Inscriptions of praise and
thanksgiving for the abundant mercies
of the year. The famine in Persia, the
cholera at Memphis and the disturbed
state of Spanish and French politics
were introduced by way of contrast TO
our general abundance, health and pros
perity.
The speaker said-Spain and France
are not yet securely established as repub-
lies, menaced as they are by powerful
enemies. But the dial of their progress
will not turn backward Politically
| the tending of the nineteenth century is
strongly towards an intelligent democra-
cy. Our government as model, imper-
! feet, but the best on the face of the
earth, is destined to exert potent influ-
ence in the civil regeneration of the
world. Macauley predicted, as many 9th
/ er Englishmen have, the speedy dissolu-
| ton and downfall of the United States.
| Let US render to God thanksgiving for
/ his great faithfulness unto our nation
once weak, Row strong; threatened, but
now safe.
As elements of national strength men,
| ton was made of the almost universal
use of the English language among Us,
! common schools and the moral and re-
| ligious character of the American peo-
| pie. Yet we were eXhorted TO be alert
| since there are elements of national
weakness such as the heterogeneous char
acter of our people, very antagonistic
| religious views, ayarice, ambition, a
| tendency to degrade labor, extravaganza,
! speculation, scepticism and immortality.
In regard to the Bible in our schools
| he said The Romanists look with dis
| favor upon the reading of the Bible in
our schools, and advocate separate sec
tartan schools, with a division of the
| public school fund TO maintain them.
| This demand is subyersiye of our present
system of common schools, endangers
the morality of the people, and must be
an apple of discord. If questions of this
nature are always discussed and disposed
of in the spirit of kindness, serious
| trouble may be ayerted. BY all parties
| the motto must be, 'tLet us have peaoe"
| Mutual concessions must be made and
majorities must decide the course which
! the authorities must pursue.
| The Bible in our schools Is desired not
I on sectarian grounds, but because the
reading Of the Scriptures is calculated 10
have most important influence in
moulding the moral principles of the
| rising generation. Better
/ would il be for people to be possessed
/ of good principles and be deprived of
/ the steam engine, the telegraph and the
1 printing press, than possessed of all in
/ yeDtions and be destitute of religious
/ principles. Let Us never Danish
| the Book of Books from academic halls
/ or primary schools, as at least a book in
/ which TO read daily. The State should
| require this as safeguard for her liber-
/ ties. She should demand If that the eiti-
zen may honor the State. She should be
unyielding in this, since. the general
welfare Of the community of which she
/ is the. guardian, demands IL. Parents
! should give their vote and voice in lis
/ favor if they would have their sons.aDd
! their daughters grow up men and women
/, of sound moral and religious principles.
! A marked feature of the discourse was
q careful selection of inimitable Biblical
passages expressing Thanksgiving and
! praise TO God.
BENSON.
Mr.. HOLMES on THE WORLDS PRosREss.
Uhion Thanksgiving services were
held at the Congregational church on
Thursday, at II o'clock a. m. Rev. II.
NJ. Holmes preached very interesting
sermon from Fec. VII, 10: ''say not
| thou, What is the cause that the former
days were better than these p for thou
dost Aot enquire wisely concerning this. y
The preacher commenced by saying
there was time for all things, and that
this day was very proper time for
| pleasantries. People were more alike in
all ages of the world than we are in
clined to think. Those that regard the
former days and former things as better
than the present, were men of muddled
brain, and did not7take the papers.
Here the preacher compared the old
times when it was profane to have