, 1874-11-27
GRACE.

Sermon by tic Rev. DIR. Locke.
Tho Roy. Dr.. Locke preached the Thanksgiv-
ing sermon in Grace Church (P. e., on Wabash
avenue, before largo congregation. Tho
church WAS worry handsomely decorated. On tho
altar waa q cross, fashioned out Of wheat stub
bic, and ornamented with roses; at each support
Of tho communion VAS fashioned sheaf OF
wheat; lofty plumos of corn leaned against tho
chancel pillars: \ jardiuiere Of marble standing
in front and In tho middle Of tho ohancal atopa
contained pyramid OF choicest fruits, kept in
position, 1t scomed, by doftIy-vovon
strings Of eyergreena and aowers;
while ali around in beautifully forms
woro disposed tho national colors. The sceno
Was indeed handsome, aud entirely expressive Of
tho occasion. Tho flowers and fruit wesc do
natel by Mrs- N. K. Fa,rbank, and after tho Ser
vice WAS ended thoy woro removed TO st. Lukes
Hospital to givo pleasure to thoso who worc in
mates there yesterday. Tho musi c, under tho
direction Of A. Baumbaoh, waB very good. DR..
Locke took Us hia tezt theso words:
Syrian ready to perish was my fs,her and sl1 b.
Egypt md aso ths
aoa and hs 1ora brought US in'o til, es n]aee
bavo brousht tho rat fruits Of tho lana Which Thou,
O Lord lsaat given me.-Deut., XVII, sill.
Tho following is summary Of tho eormon:
| The scene is In Jerusalom, and In the splendid
court Of tho Temple Of tile Most High God. Tho
| altar md tho altar.Btops, my tho Whole court-
and olives, and al tho rich vegetation Of tho
passed tue night before in tho open
air. . short distance from Jerusalem,
aud eary IN the morning they lad come enc in so sol
bore ou his shouldera bissbAskot OF first frulta
tho rich carrying baskets OF beautifully -ohlHeled
| silver, tho poor euoh as they could afford, and
| on tho top Of each basket Huttsred pair OF
altar Of sacrifice The doves we1o aaorifleod as a
burnt offering. Tho priests lifted tho baskets
toward high heaven, and, standing at tho south
west corhor Of tho altar, moved them In tho air,
assembled Levites, tho national ceremony wAs
concluded. It waa tho offering Of Thanksgiving
| ;or tho iugathering OF the harvest.
This ceremony was by no means peculiar to
tho Jows, nor confined to tho worshipers OF
the true God. procosstons OF this character
| wore frequent IN Rome, when beautiful girls
bore on tlier heads golden baskets OF fruit aud
1lowors as tho tribute to Ceres, goddess Of tho
fields. Tho GreekB and perBinus had similar
obsorvanoea. Even In tho degraded Worship Of
| ripo banana to tho apo or idol. or perhaps q
moro BIZ Of stiek, which tho dpBky savage had
chosen for his God.
Tho univeraality Of tho practice proves that Il
| IN Aat"A q - t1e uoaAb u Aat! " 4ooA ufo4 In
waving fields and his ompurplcd vineyards, and tc
cry" God gavo mo all this let mo shnwmy graft
tudo by offering to Him some slight portion as
an acknowledgement OF my Indebtedness Oh q
Thanksgiving for His favor" am not aware
TINT any mpdorn nation beside ourselves haf
formulated this foollng OF tue hoaEt fn nation
81 festival. Tie Church ovorywhero l,as her
Haryost-IIomes and her days OF thanksgiving.
Wo do not depend on tho Rtato to teach us that.
Il tho State should forget 1t, our Prayer
Look has provided d. service fol-
her children. But do mol
hnow TINT my other Government hat
sek apart by common consent one day In every
year as natural recognition to tho God ol
Heaven that this loyaly land Of ours ia acknowl
edged to DO His land. und all the treasures II
boasa OH It's bosom. tho product of ita taoua'
tatns, and valloyg. and lakes, aud rigots, its
mines and pralrses the Gift Of His baud. Tht
Government Of tho UntDd States has douo THY
and every ycar tho President and tho Hovera
Governors put forth their proclamRtlonB asking
ua to assemble III our placoa OF worship ant
oftor up THINKS to Almighty God for tho blcsH
inga Of tho year. That IL all tho Stato could do
and all 1t ought to do. I'M iealouB Of tho STATE
uaurping any Of tho functions OF religion, or IN
torferlnE with tho froedom OF conaconGe OF 0yol
tho tnealloat Of llor Hubtaeta.
III obodenoo than, to tho cnll OF thoir Exool
tive, and In tho form and ingnner prescribed b,
the Catho!o Church. we are hera to-day wltl
our first fruits. and our bearta glowing viii
thankfutnoss, aald tho Bamo prayor tho ancion
JewH put up. llpna our lips. Thoro aro tho nod
ding puplos OF corn, eInblomH Of tho miles a1lt
miles Of floating granary which now have ylolsl
| op up their yellow ears here IL tho sheaf Q
whoat. symbol OF tho oqeane of hlowy Rra'!
/ Nil {.~ Il