Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-12-04
Thanksgiving Day In Burlington.

tuis year, was III Str0i1g cOutiass wiz" WV
heavy snow storm and severe weather oil the
day, year ago. and was conducive to good
attendance at the churches and general
cheerfulness. The Epi scopal, Unitarian,
Baptist and College Street Congregational
Churches were opened for rhe customary
services.
| AT THE COLLEGE STREET CHURCH.
the two Congregational CHURCHES united in
the service. Rev. Mr.. Brastow of the First
Church conducted the opening exercises,
and the sermon was by Rev. G. B. Stafford.
MR.. sAFFoRD's SERMON.
And the third day there was marriage in Cana
! of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus were there.
And both Jesus called and his disciples to the
marriage. John ii, |, ,.
The preacher began by remarking that
Christ, by his presence at scenes of festlvity,
introduced new rule for the religious
teacher. The early conceptions of the duty
of Gods prophets, required them to hold
themselves apart from the world, to deny
themselves the pleasu IS and comforts OF
social enjoyment, and } live lives of great
austerity and priyation Christ establish
ed a principle the reverse of this. lie came
eating and drinking, and never held himself
aloof from the social life of men. The fact
that we have not yet ceased to wonder that
he should have selected scene of festlvlty
J for the occasion at which he worked his
first miracle, indicates that we have not yet
fully learned the lesson of His custom. In
His life we do not find the man hidden under
the Christ. He deemed it part of His
mission to show His true manhood: and
thus to keep in clear view the connection
between God and man. And it was doubt
less for this, that lie deliberately selected a
human festival, for the first miraculous
manifestation of His divine character. From
His example we may derive The Christian
principle respecting use Of the good things Of
this ilte.
Christ's example then, shows US that
every good creature of tod is to be received.
The Christian is not to cast away any
earthly good as unelean. Doubtless We
need the discipline of priyation and sorrow
for our sins; but God knows the measure
of it that we need, and it is for Him to al
lot it. 1t is a false view of the gospel that
leads any man to deprive himself of the
benefits that God has not deprived him Of.
Christ's example shows US that We may
enjoy the good things Of this life. He adds
HIS blessing to all lawful enioyments.
But a question here naturally occurs, as
to particular point, now much before the
public mind. Does not Christ's presence
at this wedding, at which wine was used.
and his agency in providing a supply Of
wine for the occasion, indicate that mo-
derate use Of wine is lawful, and better
than a rigidly enforced total abstinence
Is not Christian freedom in the proper use
Of wine, better than a removal from temp
tation which removes individual freedom
Doubtless Christ does here teach US that
wine Is included among the good things Of
this life. the right use of which is allow
able. But this miracle does not exclude
the teachings of other miracles. 1t must
not hide the lesson of His last great miracle,
in His death On the cross, in which He
taught the great. duty Of self-sacrifce for
the good Of others. Paul was an earnest
advocate of Christian freedom; but in his
declaration that he would not eat or drink
If thereby he caused a brother to offend, he
laid down right rule of conduct, and one
not cOntradicted by any act or teaching OF
Christ. W may learn from this miracle at
Cana, that the moderate use Of good wine
may be good; but We learn also from
/ Chrlst's life and death that it i good to
sacrifice personal good for the salvation Of
Others. 1t Is better to be so strong that we
need fear no assaults Of the adversary. than
to be obliged to curtail our freedom in order
to avoid temptation But none of Us have
reached this highest ideal. Our daily petit
ton here must still be Lead Us not into
temptation" In the state OF highest pur-
ity and freedom, held forth to Us in the
future here below, there may be use Of wine,
as Of the other good things of this life. but
that mIllennial state will be soonest reach
cd, il total abstinence is now made the rule
of individual practice and if stern repres-
sion Of traffic, whose practical results are
widespread misery, madness and death, Is
made tie law Of civil government. We
must ackuoH4-lcc our infrmity and
that we cannot IN ali things accept the
largest principle Of Christian freedom.
But most earthly gifts We may freely en-
/ joy-the gifts Of Nature around Us; the
/ special blessings of each land and cline and
/ Nation, and State, and household. CHRIS
/ :.ac faith should make Us see the bright
| side of even the dark things Of life. God
/ has given Us much Of worldly good; what
| could lie have intended, but that we should
/ enjoy 1t? Let Us do so, not scOrnfully re-
iecting any Of our blessings, because God
has not seen fit to give Us Others. The
/ Christian should be the happiest man amid
| his earthly blessings
But again, Christian enjoyment OF earth
| " good should turn into Thanksgiving The
/ benefits we receive are earthly: but our Joy
should not be earthly. \ heart grateful 10
the Divine giyer, Is our safeguard against
worliliness. God teaches Us a heavenly
meaning in his worldly gifts, and thus lifts
the earthly into the Likeness OF the Heaven
/ ly. We should rejoice in Him who bestOws
the gift. more than in the good itself. \
soul absorbed in contemplation Of Gods
! goodness, Is safe from the temptation to
abuse HIS gifts.
Let Us, then keep our family festival true
to its name II We fear lest our Thanks
/ giving should be an empty thing, a voice
and nothing more, LEI u reflect that by
copying the Divine benIfcence we praise
HIM best. The thanks inspired by His good
ness demand other expression than words.
The poor We have always with Us, and the
law Of love Is revealed airesh every day; but
/ fhiS day of all. should be most sacred to
deeds OF Christian liberality. 1t will be bnt
mockery tor Us to feast, if our thoughts and
aims do not 90 forth to the homeless and
suffering and needy. Such Christian charity
Is doubly blessed. 1t comes blessing, and
leaves behind a blessing.
In conclusion Mr.. Stafford commended the
Home for Destitute Children, as a proper
object Of charity, and announced that
the customary Thanksgiving contribution
(Which was then ;aken) would be for that
institution.
Al THE UNITARIAN CHURCH,