The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-12-07

Bless the Lord my soul, and forget not
all his benehts.-Psalm Gill;, ..
In issuing his proclamation this year
Gov. Bagley uses the followingl language:
"l636 it was enacted by Plymouth Col
ony that il be in the power OF the Gov
ernor to order days of Thanksgiving as
occasion might offer. This expression
Of the revercnt gratitude OF our fathers
has woven Thanksgiving-day, in our
national life"
Thanksgiving day is peculiarly an
American institution. Born among the
rugged hills Of New England, Of Purit-
an parentage it has grown with our na-
tional growth, strengthened with our
strength, until to-day, without compul.
sion, without law to direct, it has come
to be fixed fact in our national life.
1t is fact for which we have reason to
render 'devout thanks, that in nation
composed OF rs many elements, 80 en-.
phatically heterogeneous as ours
there should be one day in each year
taken as a day in which the people
should render thanks to Almighty God
for the bounties and blessings OF the
past year. 1t shows that despite the
fact that our land and nation permits
every faith and creed to seek and be
sought by its own unmolested, yet that
there is such deep religious expert
ence, such a real religious life. in the
h.sr.s of 0ur people that No divorsity
OF opinions, no conflict OF theories can
Danish from their nature that which
God has implanted in creation, namely,
religious aspirations, and inquiry after
God. The growth and development OF
this national institution, is to my mind
q surer indication OF the future security
OF our national life than could be found
in any formal union OF church and
state. The very fact that to-day all
over our land large proportion OF the
people meet in religious services,
to thank God for the Providential
care that has been over us in the past
year, is a guarantee that our nation il
to continue nation largely influenced
by christianity. While in Europe the
nations are agitated by the question OF
what relation the church sustains to re-
| ligion? What union there shall be be-
tween the two? What forms of relig-
ious faith SHAH ue tolerated. What
support the church shall receive from
the national government? How the
governments can so make and execute
laws that the security OF the nations
shall be guaranteed, because they are
devoted TO religious principles? While
this is true under monarchy there;
here we are settling the question with
out law, without agitation, and trust
without severe conflict. For, to my
mind, there is in the principles that lie
back OF the annual observance OF
Thanksgiving day, that which will
solve for us iu time, all OF these prob
lens that so vex Europe, and give us
the guarantee of permanency in our
national life. You will then bear with
me to-day if 1 depart from the custom
usual at such times, and before speak
ing of the things for which we have
reason to be devoutly thankful, speak
for time OF the significance and value
OF observing a national Thanksgiving
day.
We shall call attention 10 the mean
ing OF this day as it is felt in our ma
tional life.
1. And notice in the frst place that
our observance Of this day declares our
nations growing faith IN q personal
God. And this is not unimportant. II
is with large degree Of satisfaction
that we are able to chronicle tho fact
that in this land Of liberty, where every
religious faith is tolerated, where every
scheme Of religion or no religion is al
lowed its natural growth, where inf
deity and materialism can unfold their
banners, where mormonism and spirit
isn, communists and freeloveism are
unfettered entirely, that here the re-
ligious principles that belong to our
nature, as that nature is unmoyed by
lust or passion, can, and do, exert
themselves so potently as TO move the
majority of our nation year after year
to consccratc one day TO Thanksgiving
TO the Lord who made heaven and
earth, who was in the beginning, is
now, and ever will be Lord God OF
hosts. IL shows TO us that there is vi
tality in the old doctrine OF a living
God. A vitality that can grow and
strengthen, in spite OF the vaunting
boasts Of infdelity that the days OF
this doctrine are numbered, aud its
grave even now being dug. 10y material.
ism. To-day infidelity would teach the
people new language. To-day inf.
deity would, il it could, put into the
mouths OF our children language theiI
fathers spoke not. That language
would substitute, law as q better word
than God. Would bid us talk o,
forces in nature" rather than speal
of Him who spake and il was so. ;
But the hearty and willing observance
OF this day by christian nation de
clares in language not be TO mistaken,
that the sun shall never shed light on Tho
, day when We shall not love the Ian.
guage Of the book Of books, and wher
: our children shall forget 10 repeat the
words OF the inspired penman prefer
ing them to words OF uninspired theor
: lists. Itdeclares that this nation still he
lieves, and the faith is growing, tha
! whatsoever the Lord pleased that die
, he in heaven aud in earth, in the seal
, , and all deep places" That "He caus
J eth the vapors 90 ascend from tho end,
, Of the earth. lie maketh tightening
! for the rain. He Lringeth the wint
D out Of his treasures" "He eiyeth "a
the beast his food and 20 the youn,
ravens that cry. He giveth snow lik,
wool. He scsttereth the hoar frost lik,
ashes. He casteth forth his ice lik
morsels. Who can stand before hi
cold. lie sendeth out his word an,
m, l;eth them, He causeth tho win.
10 blow and the waters TO fow." III
, csuseth the grass 10 grow for the cattl
and herb for the service of man, that b