Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-11-26
tina NKSGIVING SERMON,
PREACHED AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH, BRAT
TLEBoRo, nov. 20, 1876,


Is very general disposition in this radical
age TO lay vandal hands on existing insitu-
tons IL they date back in by-gone times.
We go prying about them, and when we
| find anything little cracked or unsound
we cry, "Down with them, that we may
rear something more in accordance with
prevailing notions and modern IDEAS"
Douglas Jerrold said that some people
were so conservative that they would not
so much as look at the new moon, out of
respect for that ancient institution the old.
do not have much sympathy for such,
| yet do believe that much good originated
before the present fast age Of social, pollti-
cal and moral transformation. When we
are rummaging among the relics aud lega-
cies of other days, 1 think we can find
much that is worth careful handling, much
that we should preserve and reverence.
We are here on this occasion to commem-
crate a usage OF our ancestors, and 1 trust
with some degree of that spirit that fist
prompted them TO officially set apart one
day of The year for especial thanksgiving
and praise to the God of our merces.
1t is possible that the day has been some
what perverted from its original purpose.
1t has seemed to me that the public thanks
giving in the house of the Lord has some
times degenerated into political harangues,
sour criticisms upon civil affairs, or
glorification of ourselves as the greatest
people the world need ever expect TO see.
The thanksgiving incense on the affairs of
the Lord sometimes seems rather vapid
and stinted, perhaps in consequence oil the
more odorilerous SAVIOR of fat fowls, and
the anticipated good cheer of the festive
board. The custom which requires the
minister 10 present a lengthy, elaborate
discourse, is moi in accordance with my
personal taste, and do not propose 10 fol-
low it.
1t would seem more appropriate TO heed
the suggestion Of the Psalmist, "Let the
people praise thee, oh Lord, let all the peo
Pile praise thee" Could not more good be
accomplished by meeting for general
praise and thanksgiving, that the world
might know who are thankful, and how
thankful they are2 I wish 1 knew how
much thanksgiving there is here to-day-I
wish we all knew.
We all must have some remembrance of
the goodness of God, and can we not feel TO
praise him for his wonderful works TO us?
Let us to-day offer thanksgiving and forget
fault-finding. There may be clouds that
darken our individual memories and hopes
to- day, but would have you look and try
if you cannot trace ont silver lining for
them.
fe ell that as nation we nave reason for
thanksgiving and praise, and it is hopeful
ign that of late years we have had ma
tional proclamation, which appeals not 10
the bad passions and sectional prejudices
of our countrymcn, but invites their graft
tude to the great Disposer of events and
| Sovereign of worlds.
1t is well that during a reasonable degree
of general prosperity, we, as people, are
| officially reminded of God-of God as a
God OF peace and love. II hardly seems
possible that within the past decade OF
years we could have made greater progress
| in civil government after our great social
and political revolution. We are reminded,
however, by our political demagogues of 0
South yet sullen aud disposed 10 iepol the
ubiquitous Yankee, whether he comes as
a carpet Dagger or capitalist. Afler all, is
this very wonderful Is it 10 be expected
that people that fought with such desper-
ate energy, such deadly determination for
the supremacy of their principles could
surrender their ideas when they surrender
| ed the weapons of their rebellion9 Can
| we force them amer these few years 10
think our thoughts and see with our eyes ?
Have we any reason TO become very much
exasperated, because they are not more
generally, as yet, converted from the
prejudces and education of generationsH
| Ifti1een years ago one had said that in
this year of our Lord 1875, not a slave
should stand on American soil, not hu-
man chattel should he offered in any of the
markets of our land, it is very certain that
| in some localities he would have been
stoned 10 death as Il false prophet. 1t is
possible that in this high latitude of Ver-
mont he might lave suffered some for his
prophetic information. Surely these are
some of the wonderful works, the marvel
lous doings of the Lord God Almighty.
Have we forgotten those days of the old
en- time when the government mails would
not carry below a certain latitude any
newspaper or other printed matter that was
suspected of the least sympathy with the
ensaved?
l said the otden time but ii is not so
very long ago, when a spelling book
in the cabin of a poor fettered negro was
something as much to be dreaded by Amer
lean chivalry as the pixies of old John
Brown.
Is it nothing that the government which
once chased and hunted men and women
in their flight from bondage 10 freedom
has since lavlshed so much blood and treas
IRE to secure for an enslaved race, life, lib
erty and the pursuit OF happinessP
Let us 60 back little farther into the
past two or three score years.
About the year 1880, before the Abolition
movement was much thought of, the south
was very much agitated by pamphlet
that had been circulated among the more
intelligent slaves. 1t had been published
at the expense OF a few colcred men at the
north, and its author was a negro, one
David Walker, who lived in Boston. II
was an inaammalory appeal 10 the colored
people Of the world, setting forth in power
full but illiterate language, the wrongs OF
the enslaved of their race, and melting
them TO concerted action for breaking the
hard yoke of oppression. Walker in this
appeal urged them to effort for their own
elevation and education. lie says, 81
would crawl on my hands and knees to
the feet of "a learned man where 1 would
humbly sit and supplicate him 10 inslil
that into me which men nor devils could
remove from me only with my life. For
colorel people TO acquire learning in this
country, makes tyrants quake and tremble
on their sandy foundations. The bare