Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-02
THANKSGIVING DAY.
How the Day was Observed I'm this city
aud VIcin ;ty-Rsiigious and Other Ex-

1t is usual for cur people 10 take suiiiccn note
Of Thanksgiving Day, and the significant lessor
which it teaches, TO assemble themselves at church,
representatives fiom all the different denomina-
tons in the city BEN represented. The splendid
weather of Thu sdsy brought out large congre
| CATION on Thursday forenoon, to attend the union
services held at the Free Baptist church, In the
audience were Gov. Connor, the members of his
Executive Council, and several other distinguished
gentlemen from abroad Music was furnished
by the very excellent choir connected with the
church, led by Mr.. j. Howard Chandler The
preliminary services in the pulpit, were conducted
by Rev. Mr.. Ecob Of the Congregational church.
and Rev. Mr.. Tilden of the First Baptist church
| The sermon ON the occasion was preached by Rev.
C.. F. Penney, pastor OF the Free Baptist church.
For breadth of thought, patriotic sentiment and
grace of utterance, it was perhaps the best public
effort of his life, and was greatly commended.
We are able to present to our readers very full
abstract of the discourse.
| Rev. Mr.. Penney's Sermon.
Mr.. Penney's subject was "Moral Culture in Cit
izenship." Text, Acts % %, "And Paul said,
But was free-born." Paul had been arrested
on a most rivilous charge, and was about to be
scourged, but he stood upon his rights as Roman
| citizen. That was to him q proto His
civ il position not matter Of indifference to
| the Apostle. Though he was occupied with the
highest themes and tasks, as the business OF his
ife yet when the occasion came that required it,
| no man was ever more prompt in showing the es-
innate which he placed on his political privileges,
but he made them ell subordinate to the cause of
God. lie insisted upon his political rights for the
sake of the cause to which his life dedicated
Citizenship. like every gift, is TO be corsecrated
BY the spirit of religion, is to be held under moral
restraints and Is to be dedicated to the very
| of God. Have we always been accustomed to
| think of citizenship as being any part of our
Christian spherei We have thought of our per-
| sonal opportunities, our various relations to one
| another in business, but have We considered that
citizenship is, in and Of ITSELF matter which every
christian man should consecrate and hold subject
| to the laws of Gods services How can this be
done?
We must educate men to christian ideas of citi-
zenship. At present society and State are almost
regarded by men something set up for their ben
eft, without enjoining corresponding duties upon
u.s. We are apt to feel that the State Is in the ma
ture of o car, which we use for own purposes.
We pay fare, and take transportation, and that
| is ALL Men think that by paying their taxes they
paying their passage, thinking that there is no
interests our own that we are bound TO serve
But the State is Gods ordinance, and the that
is born into the State is born into Gods ordinance,
| as really as he would be if he were born into
church. or . spiritual communion. The State
| means men, and God puts us into the midst of
fellow men, giving no liberty to any one TO de-
nude himself of those benevolences and those great
duties which every man owes to his brother man
everywhere. Contrast this with the wicked and
selfish attitude in this regard To obtain every
thing possible Of protection and immunity and
privilege and benefit, without thinking of any
equivalent serv ice rendered, seems natural. 1t is
| scarcely considered selfish. We never think of
pay ing the skies for the sunshine never think
of paying the clouds for the rain and men receive
the benefits of the State almost insensitive to
I-L.- L. A. Il. 49, a
down light upon them, the clouds that drop fat
ness on their fields. Civil responsibility is
sidered hardship, and men shift it from them
| selves upon their fellow men. They are will
ing that the magistrate whom they have elected
should do as he plesses, SO long as their times
and means not drawn upon. There many
even who seek their good at the expense of the
public. They feel that the public is q vague, imper
sOnal thing, sort of generality before which men
lay aside the r moral scrupes that obtain betwe
man and man. And there is a wide spread feeling
that that which men 6.ch and fleece from the State
is gain that is scarcely dishonesty acquired. Men
feel that robbing the State, is robbing, not fell
low man, but an impersonality. And when homes
ty, and honor and noble conduct is taught as due
to the State, many think it romantic sentiment
| alism. They laugh At the idea that man must
not make his profit out of the community. "Gov-
eminent is rich the State is strong" they say
and so take from the State and the government
what they can, without any idea Of benevolence,
or honor, or truth, or justice.
When such is the practice is it not time to
| educate!
First. Every man, then, owes himself to the
State, and all his powers, to be held according to
the law of Gospel benevolence for the public good
Every one should seek for the development in
himself of character for integrity and truth and
honor and usefulness, for the sake of the State
and the nation to which he belongs. Material
| wealth does not make nation rich the power of
men to produce material wealth may make q ma
tion rich, but material wealth itself does not. Mil
itary power does not necessarily make . nation
strong. The power of q citizenship to generate
military power may make nation strong, but the
mere existence Of arms does not The triumphs
Of art and ingenuity do not necessarily make ma
tion conspicuous. The living power of art and
ingenuity among the masses of men make 3 ma
ton conspicuous; but the triumph Of art and in
genuty do not 1t is the living force and not the
products of that force that gives strength. 1t is
| not so much what the hand does, as what the
hand has in it the reserved force TO do, that makes
the State strong.
This is the peculiar Christian idea. We are
taught by Christianity to take care of the ipdvd-
uals of society, beginning at the bottom, where
the masses are. Not to take cognizance simply
Of the best specimens, but of all mankind. The
elements of strength are in the individuals of the
masses of men. Men are dangerous just so far
as they are undeveloped, and safe just so far as
they are int lligent and Christian. And here lies
the difference between what may be called the
American idea Of society, and the European idea.
We hold that the masses OF men, being thorough
ly educated, are the most trustworthy and the
easiest to govern. We trust men, and found our
government on trust. We educate them that we
may trust them. Trust 10 the very root of our
system Of government. We take all laws and in
stitutons, and say "they are safe with the masses
of the people," The European idea says, "Pick
out the best men in society, and the laws and in
situations may be safe with them but they would
not be safe with the masses of men," But it can
be shown that all the wsest men have been able
to devise, has not been equal to the instincts of
the great masses of men in respect to those SUBJ
jects which belong to the great masses of men.
We do not easily understand what is the strength
that comes to the State from giving each one Of its
citizens to it q we'll developed man. The best
gift that person can give to the State is himself
equipped and armed with intelligence and virtue.
For Illustration the preacher referred to the differ
ence between society in the North and society in
the South, in our own land; which was shown
conspicuously in our late war.
Second. Christian citizenship requires that ev-
cry man should hold his profession, his trade. his
avocation, whatever 1t is, for the public good, as
for his own good. Of course every man has per-
sonal right of benefit in that which he pursues for
livelihood. This is not selfish. Justice to ones
self is not selfshness. But the benefit which &C.
crues TO mans own self from his calling, is Joined
in the economy of God TO the benefit con-