Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-29
Zotal an0 State Nems.
Observance of Thanksgiving.
sermon by Rev. c. L. Penney.


the Free Baptist church, to observe Thanks
wing according to the accommodation of the
overnor. There was excellent singing by
e choir Of the church, assisted by two or
rec members CT other choirs in the city.
be preliminary exercises in the pulpit were
nducted by Rev. Mr. Ecob of the Congre-
tional church, and Rev. Mr.. TIton of the
rst Baptist church The sermon vas
cached by the able and popular pastor OF
Free Baptist church, Rev. Mr.. Penney,
d in its breadth of thought and hopeful,
eerful character, was certainly one Of his
|ppiest efforts.
Mr.. Penney's text was from Exodus. 23 :l6,
he Feast of Harvest" The Thank sgiyings
the separate States have taken on IA
nal character, and have become part of our
nmon and ceremonial law. This is proper
has tor its foundations great national
tivals celebrated by G. IDS ancient GOV crauI
bple. The Hebrew religion was full OF
Gus rites; its natural solemnity was hope
and triumphant; they had their religious
rivals of divine appointment. among the
st prominent of which was "rhe Feast of
rvest." 1t WAS q harvest festival in which
Jew offered Thanksgiving unto God for
ripened fruits of the earth, The Israclitps
Pr their establishment in Canaan, were
post entirely a nation of farmers, and by
ir law the poorest jew was u tull propriv-
Of the soil, and all Improvements on his
ehold were for the benefit of himself and
children. The land was in the highest
e OF cultivation-the Land of Promise was
garden of the world. SO the annual re-
- 81, g. I, ~. Il
llting were the rites of that old holiday,
IN from every hamlet and home. from the
hs Of the vine and the olive, and from val
golden with corn, the tribes of Israel
t up to Zion to present their thank offer
hese festivals, personality politically, and
Hiousty, were necessity i'll their history.
too, want great national religious hol-
TO keep in mind great national proy.
res. We need them, as much as the Jews,
ounteract the sectional and unsocial ten
cies of our great tribal division. As
kept alive on these occasions the memo
of the old heroes, so would II be with US.
could have, like them, a grand national
tecost-something like our Fourth Of July,
lay in the thought OF old John Adams
George Westinghouse il ought to be
would be without its gas and gunpowder
sublime natio lal tribe gathcring-reviying
hgly in the American heart the memories
ymouth Rock and jamestown and Bunker
and Mount Fernon-memores Of our
1eliyerances and triur phs-dtepe ming rs
the chisel of an Old Mortality the in
btlons which the lapse of time and the
less storms of party fanaticism have SO
defaced on our own monuments Of a
mon and glorious past hanging new gar
b. woven by lovirg hands and fragrant
the dew Of old memories, upon the tomhs
en- that, like Israel's champions, led US in
-xodus and established us in our Canaan,
We could come up nationally 10 such
ecosts, then no living man would ever
dare breathe of discord and disuniOn
hords, tender as love and stronger than
ives, would bind US together and bind US
Cd.
need these occasions for the relaxation
exemption FROM labor and care which they
sh We need pleasures that will lift and
ATE the soul, and recreation that will give
life and strength TO the oyerworked body.
moral nature needs them: human virtues
ike flowers that thrive but in the sun
Our religious nature Graves them.
ion is not the stern herusm of the soul,
ed in sackclUth, and marching to mar
pm but rather the perfect harmony OF all
Oul iaIullIfS INV tuS ttEtAhVt III ttAt
of joy and love in which the whole man
hes heayenward. True religion asks for
|ations.
anks giving for the kindly fruits Of the
was next considered. In considering
vidences of our prosperity we ignore the
ultural. Arts, manufactures, commerce,
oCk and money market, clam our atten-
but we forget the great interest wher-on
hers hinge = the simpler thrift, and slow
surer, gains of the husbandmin. Let
smut up the heavens that they rain not,
arch the plowed ground into barrenness.
hat becomes of the rich man.: Can he
his gold with miil>toues, or heaven lis
stock into bread? With all his boarded
h, will he not starve side by side with
hggar in the midst of the fAminc: SuS-
tor a single twclvemonth the worlds
cal agriculture, and deaths shadow is
(. II is scarcely possible to overesiima'e
Importance of agriculture. both IN its
and reflex iufluences-blessing the
with its material productions and men,
d moral power. 1t were II great stride
nan progress. if the whole multitude Of
reducing drones that swarm in cur mar
aces-polticians, spectators, fast men.
llers,-werc driven into the rural dis
TO cultivate at the same time cabbages
emselves.
this festival has higher objects. as it
the jews. In respect 10 all great hui
interests, this is truly the harvest time of =.
brld. Human freedom being the grand
civil progress, the successive stages OF
chies aud oligarchies were the germs of
that have given US the ripened iiult of
pc democracy. They planted the seed
enjoy the fruit. Our American republic
first fruits" of the great harvest o: re-
3. Who questions that this is Gods
hdryl Verify the progress of our ma
a story of marves. That feeble folk,
ed by the wayside, on Plymouth Rock
peninsula Of JamestowL-that strug
existence, as of untimely buds for life,
he chill blasts and rank grOwths of the
ness; but the miraculous progressively
ity, state after state, the stupendous
of q virgin world, rising up in their
h-verily, here is divine working!
same thought is true in regard to tie
ctual; we live in the harvest time of
and thought. The generations past
cen preparing the way; they have been
asons of thought-g+rn and blossom,
than of thougbt-fruit. This point was
illustral ed by the preacher in citing the
tribes Of science, showing that in die
pro kress of the race, every great phil
discovery p sses slowly, like the ger
Pn and growth of plan, from the en-
fought to the practic a and useful OF
Feat realities.