New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-27
GRATITUDE FOR COMMON BENEFITS.
TssRu O. Srs.issr at s CArr' Of The DAs Pdi,rH.v lUH
terSa.Sl

tersa,.sJ
The congregations Of the different Univer
sast societies ity united in common service
OF thank giving yesterday at the Church OF the Divine
Paternity. The services were conducted by the Rev
r. II. Chaplin the Rev. E. c. sweetser and tho Rev.
j. L. Mitchell. a Scottish clergyman. The psalms and
anthems by the choir Appropriate to the day, aud
at the conclusion Of the sermon the congregation united
IN singing My country, us OF thee" The sermon Was
delivered by the Rev L. c. SSccter who took for his
text Psalms Gill, 2, BLESS The LORD, o my SOU, ana
forget not all His benefits" and Nehemiah VIII, 10, Go
your way eat the fat and drak tho sweet. and send
portions them for whom nothing Is preparedi for
this day is holy Lord neither be sorry, for
The JOY OF the Lord is your strength"
II there anything said the preacher, which more
than all else distinguished the Pirans from tue rest O
mankind 1t their thorough acquaintance with Bib
Heal history and their constant endcavOr TO represent 1t
in the conduct of their afr.irs Sometimes, no
dlubt ans d. position led them into grave tae
when they framed the famous Blue laws; and some
tunes mo l4uglabc absurlities whom they named
their children win 'riptur words and sentences; but
on the WHOLE II served verT useful purpose aud We
Uf THIS generation are greatly inlohi' TOR our cvl and
religious BLESSINGS 10 tue stFphS po'!Niy o. OAK Iut
tan ancestors 10 form their custom, All laws upon
Biblical prccCdcnts Among the customs which they 80
Observed ana which have been trln nitjei down TO U.s.
Is the which has brought as re today. Tlanhs
The .bre Felst az Ttberna L Of Ingatler
inc rs 1t was sometime called, which was celebrated
SON. There were tlre, cro,t felsts o. the IIc-
brew year. OF which this was the last and IN
some respects tho most important o. each OF these
Occa sons every male lsrlea expected ID present
hus II in rhe courts ~ the Temple. 10 pay hSFo|N and
make his offerings Darn; the Feast o. the iab'rnl'e.
which lasted eight days, the people lived IN DDIths
hut made of branche+, which the pitched IN tue open
houses This WA done IN comncnorIit1n or The ttmc
the whole nation dwelt IN tents during TIER iong
weary marcn from Egypt 10 tae Promised Ltnd. a
Nv i ~ ,ionaI comnrm0ratI1n and o. personal
And IL 1. he d
Of festival Il refers u5 back 20 tue yrs OF oar an
cesiors. ana. Immediately to the many blessings with
Which we ourselves daily loaded, AMI by both OF
the prompting IL tends 10 MI Us VI sense OF sacred
obligation aud gratitude towards Goa, the Gvcr. Let
us consider IN TIE gSt place Il historical sl-LicInrC
!. IS go ~ ILL., are nlsT II 900. fir
ali Americans DO reminded OF the early rIIs odt OF
which our present liberty is bora, ana OF tue simple
habits and cody ways " the Dca and women who bore
those trials aud gave 80 great Inheritance IT u
good has tendency % humble our pride and
re train our eXtrdydgdnce-t"o thIn-S "hch we GER
aiuly need to done. That There l. disposition
the part o American propO To boast themselves some
what unduY, no one THINK can fnrJ deny This dis
position IL perfectly natural bat none tr better OF that
account. II Is very true thtt We nave occasion,
people, to feel an honest pride IN our country and 10
congratulate ourselves is moral worth aud material
prosperity. We are great people, there Is no DOUBT
about that. and there Is no harm IN our knowing 1t
but to thing and to brag Of II i anOtner;
TO rejoice m 1t Is one thing, and TO presume upon
1t Is another thing. Tue danger Is that we
shall be pulled up instead Of bnilt up by our
national prosperity Wien we remember that by long
series OF miraculous causes and interpretations our ber
boast ourselves, but shAl! rather be disposed to
clam Not unto Lord not unto us, but unto Tly
name give glory, for Thy mercy ana Thy truths sake"
So with extravaganza. Ii wli De checked, or re-
bued at any rate, by sniy OF the simple habits and
uupretcntious ways OF life which characterized our
ancestors and made them the sturdy, honest valiant
race Of men and women, whose blood IN the Veins Of
inherited, the pure stream that keeps Us free from
European rreh gon aud saves Us from our own corrup
on aud any custom winch serves 10 Keep these Ways
before IA blessing winch We ought 10 seize with
eagerness Tno very OF Thanksgiving Day Is redo
lent with memories OF country homes, old-fashOned
Kitchens, hrepiaces and andlrOns; long, swinging
cranes aud great brick ovens floors without carpets
ana lrrets that held all sorts OF things ana were full
OF childish mystery farmyardS and Orchdris, apple
parin4S sinoees, and all tbs simple sports and
England and which used 10 be common all over the
land. though they are rapidly passing away. What
time and those when TINS name recalls to Us!
IL would be well for II We had more
customs aud personal manners. do not mean to
unIerrltc tie progress we have surely made Or the
privileges which We have gained. But II stu ROMANS
true that tue gam IL not all on ono sde Tor the trouble
H. not that i've To the best Of our aby, but that we
mistake ability and fail 20 live up 10 II, though IN
sO.n, respects ave beyond II. Inls 10 what tue
American people need To he reminded of-at true hap
piucs- consist In outward wealth and luxury.
We happy without exrayag ince, without physi-
cal luxury. without many Of the Things when We now
regard common comforts. IL Is certain. too, thar
Snth,n% far more preciout man mere happiness
whlle simple ndbs. win pryatlOu, tends 10 give
them strength and courage and to III them for higher
Th,s is prominently day of rejoicing. It's historical
import Is only secondary characteristic us principal
feature i shown Us 1t Is day FOR rcmcmOrr
ING mrrcIes and giving tnauks II great Ike TO
devote Gnis DAY, some preachers do, To p0ncal
datrDes or solemn croakuss Of uuweloOme facts anu
more unwclcOIne prophecies. We have AL the OF
to grunbe aud IL Is pity we cannot give
one day 10 tnOuguts OF mercy uuaOyed. snaH not
pretend 10 enuinerdto ali which nave for
thanking God today neither shall seek Tor any extra
ordinary causes bat shall SELF with mention
Ing common blessing, which after all are the greater
although NO forget them with the greatest case
FIRST, then, rcmeuDcr the blessing OF life Itself our
lives have bron spared for another year, and th5 -
benefit wich ought not by means 10 OVERLOOK III
gving thanks That upon tine earth to-day, pos
sesscd Of human faculties. due TO the goodness OF our
God in whom alone 1--we aud anI have our be-
ing For whatever benefit continued life has been 80 u.s.
NC owe Hun thanks. And consider tYg m0meat how