Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-08
AT TIE UNITARIAN CHURCH,
the pastor, the Rev. L. G. Ware. prcache
& timely discourse from the text:

The pastor, the Kew. L. u. Ware, preached
timely discourse from the text
60 your way, eat the fat. and drink the sweet
and send portions unto them Tor whom nothing il.
prepared Tor this day is holy unto cur LORD
neither he We sorry :or The JOY OF the Lord is your
stree sth."-Neheniah, viii TO-
This day was Just our Thanksgiving
Day. 1t was the Autumn feast, the cele-
bratiGn Of the ingathering of the corn, the
VINE and the oil. IL was in one Harvest
Home and vintage. IL was festival in every
sense OF the word. But beside the feasting
at loaded ,ebles and general exchange of
hospiiahle mirth, there was, in lsrael's
feast. this special likeness TO our Thanks
giving-it was tie home feast Within the
wide national festival eacn family held its
own. Domestic iestiyity vas the order eft the
day and it, chief distinction. II one were
seeking TO describe, with a few telling
touches. our Thanksgiving, could he do
better than take this text from the old his
tOric book which sets forth bow Israel
was hidden, = 800 years ago, to its Autumnal
least? Here l. the good eating and drinking
the Oid-tlme customs. honOrtd in the OBJ
servance. OF this hospitsble season Of ours.
Here Is the mIrth, sportive gladness, genial
Ity, which finds It's best expression and its
purest enjoyment In our home celebration
Of this Cay. And here is that remembrance
Of those who, unremembered BY the more
fortunate. might go hungry in the pleni-
tude Of our festival. After giving a de-
serlption Of the olG-iashioned New England
Thanksgiving and urging his hearers to
cultivate the virtue of charity. Mr. Ware
continued Neither be ye sorry; for the
joy of tie Lord is your strength" This is
the finishing, most important clause in the
lsF tfFtfr az r.fs5ssr -
the bidding OF u TO ours. To this all the
festival moved. keeping step to the music of
gladn6ss. True teasting az table is to add
10 social glaGness and thus temper and re-
dLce every private grief. He does not dine
who eats alone. lie merely feeds. The
salt at table Is society. l. is from gladness.
too. that We gather into churches and hold
sacred service. Bot especially is Joy part
sra element in the household feast. Mel |
ther be ye sorry" Is the main article |
In the bidding to this feast. At
TIE tine Israel had little reason to be |
glad. But useless tears and futile laments |
nre not allowed. Signing over an i-revo-
able past and grooming at present .fficul- |
ties are useless To take heart and be clad |
out Of a thankful, Fasting spirit was the
1u;y OF the hour
The application is to all time, and to &C.
aston how frequent Tears, mourning.
ilsmsy are weakness, always. The Joy
ii the Lord is our strength" If to-day
here are any-and there will always be too
"eny-inclined to dwell upon the past
nh regrets-re grets which have not learn
d the cheerful lesson OF talth-and to turn
le feast into a iamentatlon-tO them this
nay well be said. the day itself says 1t to
hem. Neither be We erieved." Hold
rur npg 90 from roanr daripa -, he ,,.o ]
- eruaning. Perhaps one will be dwell
= today les, IN personal sorrows, than !
ubic anxietios. Il i indeed difficult n
eep them cut If mind. 1t were unpatri otic
riiy to puI them by. IL has Away been
3, II IL SAID always the same fee r and
,ubts Of the Republic When tb general
derhncss and law-abiding Of our
tizens-when our peoples substantial in
sriIy and thur sell-goyernment which is
the tottor OF popular government show
ms CT strain TO breaking, then may our a
xIetles grow 10 serious fears, to we'll a
IL ded, trembling dread. Till then we '
" ieei eDcourag emept to take these anx- 5
les a. an eleEient 10 that vigilance which Il
are told as the price of our liberty.
10y. then. l. hrst and last, to-day. 1t is
lay dedicsted 10 gladness on all accounts. f
Is the day the Lord hath made more than q
President OF Governor in lis proclama- b
and We are called from on high to re- D
&c and be glad. For if anywhere the 3
ce OF the people Is the voice of Goo it is o
ea attached 10 custom venerable and D
sir n,sNeIing the fathers in continuing hi
ble.sin % ages, the people, mindful OF O
PROSE they owe, appoint ybroneb ,he;-
o-servant, their day Of ,eanksgising