The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-28
THANKSGIVING SERVICES.
Union service at baptist Church.

church on thanksgiving morning, KEY. j.
Gibson johnson, pastor of the Congrega-
tional church, preached A large congre-
CATION was in attendance comprising
majority o; the congregations Of the Con-
gregational, Baptist and Methodist
churches. The
SERMON By REV. J. q. JOHNSON
turned upon national and political topics
of the day as a cause for thanksgiving,
while the discourse as a whole was emil
nently appropriate for the day.
He first considered the commands OF the
psalmist in prasing God and the many
causes for praise mentioned.
Every great war entails suifeiings
greater than those directly presented.
We mourn the loss of treasure
and of life, but there is one thing we value
more than all the rest that is character.
And every nation after its wars are over
finds that severe blows fall upon It's name
and character. AS we study the influences
of our late war we see that all such suffer-
ings have been entaied upon us. we see
our condition of extravaganza not only IN
national affairs but in individual lite. Men
are brought to the surface and gam tnelr
nrovinrr through military record. We
see the nation injured by extravagances of
war. increasing and continuing, by the
strange diversions made of our finances
from their proper channels therein lie
then considered the absence of grace
among the Romans and the effect upon
them. becoming vague in their imaglna-
lions On this unusual occasion our
thoughts turned naturally TO the causes we
have for gratitude, not only as individuals,
hut asa nation in ali of which God speaks to
! us as individuals in His gifts to the nation.
We need not go far back in our history
without seeing cause for unmeasured
tbapkfulness in shielding us from danger
and in warding off evils which might come
upcn us. We cannot study the history of
| the country without being forcibly remind
| ed of the reasons we have for thankful
ness to God that we are nation to-day,
that in our organizations of victory we may
attribute our success not so much to the
genius of our leaders a. to the good pur-
poses of God.
These evils are being thrust aside in a
great measure But to-day we find the
country suffering from prostration OF
business. Those who are acute III study
| llH lDc tluJollOho vi SiNot h''ihN"N " "
ton hardly ever agree but it must be plain
to everyone that it is not alone due to our
unfortunate financial position but more to
the eXtravagances of war that our present
condition Is as it is. Throughout our state
and the whole land We know not what the
future will bring but still think with
thankful hearts that it can be but very
little worse than the past or present. And
vet we have great cause Tor thankful
ness in the fact of the wonderful elastic
power we possess as n nation and the resi-
| dunn of righteousness in our people. We
are thrusting aside this condition which the
war entailed upon us because we arc seeing
this extravaganza and irresponsibility in
its true light, while the men and methods
which they have used are being thrown
aside. We have cause to rejoice, said the
sneaker, for the position taken in the last
few weeks. because we know the uttcranco
of the people is conclusive, that whatso-
ever his name or his military record may
have been, these things are required OF
him, viz list Honesty I'd a willingness
to act for the interests of the people rather
than for his own 3D., That he shall be
man of pure life. These requirements are
demanded for this reason The people arc
not necessarily changing their politica
|
uien for our leaders merely because of somt
fortunate record of the past :; we must
have moral character, honesty and integr
ty to guide the nation in the future Thi:
IS the substratum of public opinion ant
hereafter so far as the people can contro
our government it shall be on the funda
mental principles on which the nations
life was founded and men of moral char
acter shall guide Its destinies.
We have cause for great thankfulnes
because we, as people do love the nation
Too many love themselves far better thai
they do the nation, but the people hav
spoken that hereafter our leaders must be pa
triots. Those skilled in handling the politca
machinery have learned quite recently tina
if they would present fol the suffrages O
the people men who would succeed the
. must give us men of morals whatever thei
record of the past may be, hereafter thei
claims will be decided upon the great prir
ciplcs of Righteousness and truth. w
: give praise to God that such decision
| to control the nations future history.
But, my friends, after all this Thankful
i ness we find but little ground for its use i
j our nation in comparison to the cause fc
G its exercise in natural life. We cannot bt
!, find cause for praise everywhere. We cal
J not look about us but we see great cause
y pour out our hearts in thankfulness an
v ioy for Gods infinite goodness toward u
n The preacher here read an extract frol
:, the quaint words of Isaak Walton, whc
had stood the test of two hundred year
IT 1t was a talk to his scholar, in which Il
C author says, EVERY misery miss is n ne
4 blessing we have been freed for the mar
:, miseries of human nature, free from a to
menting conscience, and we praise Him TIL
l. all these miseries we miss are new mercie
e Many thousands would give everything fl
the blessings we enjoy. | hay
rich neighbor who is SO bu:
he can't laugh he is ever drudgii
on to get more money He does not co
* slider that riches do not make happ,
40 yet God deliver us from pinching povert
% We see but the outside of rich mems hapl
ie ness, for they load themselves with car
le and are continually in trouble. Let
n. then, scholar be thankful for health and
clear conscience. Either be honestly ri
or cnntentedly poor. A clear conscience
ie the fist and greatest blessing we can hay
~ health is the second for money cannot b
~ it; money may be considered the thi
u great blessing, neglect il not. God has T.
- dwellings-in heaven and in a meek n
y thankful heart.
;" These sweet words tell us of a meekn
nc and thankfulness, and are among the b
po blessings we can carry to our homes to-di
" We may make too much of this thankg
y ing, become too full of pleasure or too Fl
" olous and gross. We must be thank
only because it is return to God, W
gives TO us so freely. | know, said
preacher, no other way of wardlng off
list sadness which too often accompanies 81
ck q day as this. But let us realize the me
-. ness of heart that receives Gods gifts d
w. not question His right to do with us I
Ter ours as He wills. We must realize that
In graces of spirit stand first and there is
os, cause in human life so full of Thankful
~ as those which bring tears to our eyes.
IT, sadness we feel for those who have left
to and do not meet with us to- day, let us W
off by realizing that these gifts OF aillic
may be fuller of graces that gives I
deeper thankfulness than all those thi
which we call joys. We need not bal
elk, the recollection of our Affections, but