Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-11-26


him for his M nifold blessings, ano
unitedly pray for the continuance of the
same, i, Joel Parker, governor of the
state of New Jersey, do hereby recon.
mend that Thursday, the twenGy-sev
euth day of November instant, be OBJ
served within this state as day of pub
lie thanksgiving and prayer to God Al
mighty"
1t seems to me that, taking the above
proclamation for a text, one might preach
very good sermon to select audience
Of one person. OF course, it would
be much better for said individual to at
tend church, and listen to q discourse
suitable for the day; but, allowing that
somebody must always remain at home,
for disagreeable duties must be per-
formed don't see why that fact should
deter the home-bound mortal from ex-
pressing thanks in some way Or power,
orthodox or otherwise.
Many persons will attend church to.
morrow, for the obvious purpose of list
ening to Thanksgiving sermon, and
repeating Thanksgiving prayers. Un-
doubtedly, the thoughts and feelings of
the worshipers will be as varied as the
costumes, and religious denominations.
Some will assemble there with devout
hearts and becoming humility. to render
thanks unto The Giver of all things for
the many mercies bestowed upon them
during the past year. From others, the
devotional exercises will be but mere
lip-service. instead of an earnest, heart
felt tribute of praise to the Almighty
Ruler and Director 1t may be that
many Of them, rejecting upon the diff
culties which border our pathway
through life, feel tempted to exclaim
that they have nothing to be thankful
for. Nothing to be thankful Tor? All,
my friend, think again before you de-
eide so rashly. Consider, first, if you
will, the adversities which have fallen
to your share, and then, enumerate the
blessings.
Have you, within the year, expert
enced severe business losses, reducing
you from affluence to poverty p? But,
from the financial ruins, did you not re-
scue, bright and untarnished, the reputa-
ton earned by many years of honest
patient labor Yes =? Then thank God
for that. It's thing to be doubly,
trebly proud Of.
Have you, after months of trust and
confidence, discovered that the friend
you loved and relied upon, was, after all,
but false friend, treacherous and I'M
worthy
1t is sorrowful thing to have ones
trust betrayed, to find Orestes false,
and friendship but myth ; and yet, if
you were bameless, are you not thank
full that 20 ur name is free from the bar
sinister ? That at your door can never be
placed the charge of broken faith
Perhaps that terrible intruder Death,
has entered your home circle, and rude
ly wrested from you the best loved men,
Der OF the home band. Or sickness,
weary and languishing, has fallen upon
the very one you would willingly suffer
for.
Under such Affections, it is always
difficult to bow in submission, to think
that "all things are for the best y yet
in every trial, as we are told, lies some
hidden good, some reason beyond our
comprehension.
To bear meekly, to suffer and be
strong To remember that all ill, as well
as all good, proceeds from the same
Being It's lesson hard to learn, a
task we shrink from. But after every
storm comes light, to every cloud there
is silver lining. Each new sorrow,
each fresh affection, is but test of
faith. Sadly lacking are we in the quality
for which we are tried.
1t is hard, dear reader, to accept in
perfect confidence and trust the assur-
ance that " He doeth all things we'll =
but that it is so, we know. Dark must
be the faith, unthankful the heart which
refuses to see some blessing in disguise
in every heavenly action.
If you are poor, there must be others
still moro burdened with poverty +
troubles. Though you lose all earthly
friends you still have One. And may
not the death of an indolized member OF
your family or friendship be the means
of leading you to seek them in the home
above?
There's nothing so bad but might
be worse " True in every station and
circumstance.
Glance over the occurrences of the
past year, and if, in all the many scenes
and acts through which you have pass
cd, you can discover no cause for being
thankful, then indeed, your lot must be
sorrowlnl enough,
But, safe at home, surrounded by all
you love, happy and contented--car
you still ask "Why should I render
eo, 4hsr,so T l,.o ,I-,a.,- - =. -,.<a.u