Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-12-14
EXTRACTS FROM A
THANKSGIVING SERMON,

the Union Services In the
Presbyterian Church,
bridgeport, ON Thurs
day. Nov. 20, 1876.
TExr-"Give thanks unto the Lord, -cst
upon his name, make known his deeds among
the people "AI Chronicles 16-S
In the year 1929. Q large company of men.
women and children, came over from En-
gland, arriving in this country in June They
settled around and in Boston and in Charles
ton. The voyage from England was tedi-
ous one, and many of the settlers were sickly
they could not raise crops, build hosses and
prepare themselves for the rigors of winter,
consequently many Of them were frozen to
DEATH many died from disease, and worst OF
sll their food began to fail them-hsving left
but little corn, which they made into meal,
with acorns and ground nuts As they were
so near starving they appointed the 9th day of
February, 1880, as day. of fasting and pray
er. But on the 9th, they saw vessel coming
ny the harbor of Boston, which proved to be
the ship Lion, that had been sent to England
for provisions, and SO their sorrow was turned
to gladness, their hunger was satisfied, and
the day of fasting was turned into day Of
Thanksgiving. That was the first Thanksgiv-
ing Day ever held in this country. This beari-
tiful custom, thus originating, has been kept
up ever since, and we are here to-day to per-
petuate it.
A righteous man and righteous nation will
be thankful in proportion to the benefits re-
ceived. Gratitude is the rent we owe to God.
and the greater the farm the greater the rent
America is the best farm or heritage, that God
ever gave to any people; hence, the purest and
most complete gratitude should be willingly
and continually offered by the American peo-
pie. 1t is owing to the moral sentiment that
obtains among us that this proper and time
honored custom is still adhered to. t'i
Those peoples and nations that are anti
religion and apti-Christ, have seldom any
gratitude to render. 'The powers that be-
have for the year 1876 appointed this day for
the national offering up of praise, worship and
thanksgiving TO Almighty God. IN obedience
to the Presidential call, the fair temples of our
land-the strongest bulwarks of the nation
are to-day being visited by thousands of sin
cere worshippers, who join with us in the
spirit of the text-.'Give thanks .unto the
Lord, call upon bis name, make known his
deeds among the people"
Our text, we think, teaches three important
duties:
LIST. The duty of giving thanks unto the
Lord.
I'd. The duty of calling upon His name.
Sd. The duty of making known His deeds
among the people.
The two first propositions were eloquently
and elaborately discussed. All present felt
that there were ''oldsthings and new" being
brought out from the store-house of truth, that
we venture nothing in saying impressed every
heart in the house most favorably. The third
head was discussed with fervor, as follows:
Let US notice the duty of making known His
deeds smung the people. With our limited
time. we canlbnt take birds eye view-a
cursory glance-st what God has done and is
doing for US as Nation, temperally, civilly,
Intellectually and spiritually. stand before
you to-day asan American from choice, hence
claim to be a better American than you are.
You are Americans because you cannot help
it. / like mother England pretty well, but
America-my wife-I like much better Per-
init me to say then, IN MY humble opinion, God
has given US the best country under the bend
ing heavens. America is the Goshen of the
world-the hub of creation-the best earthly
paradise man can possibly find. Like Jo-
seph of old, through the providence of God,
have found my way to this land of Goshen,
and since coming here, God, in his amazing
goodness has promoted me from the weavers
loom to the pulpit, theloftiest throne of mans
intellect. But lest I wander, let me saw, this
is literally great country, made on a mann
moth scale, with infinite skill. Our lofty
night caps of fire, coronets Of flame-some di-
adems of snow crystals--some crowns of nev-
er-fadiDg verdure-some helmets made of
granite rock. Their bowels are replete with
gold, silver, platinum, copper, iron, lead, coal,
stone, water, and mines of inexhaustible
wealth. We have sweeping valleys, rich and
fertile, full of corn and wine, and gushing
fountains of oil. We have extensive plains,
undulating like the waves of the sea; some
mighty sand-beds, big enough for the worlds
graveyard; some grand flower gardens,
"Where many flower is born to blush un-
seen,
And waste its sweetness on the desertair."
The soil of much of our prairie land is deep,
rich and black; SO vast in extent are they, that
if they were under proper cultivation, they
would feed the world. Our rivers are beauti
| ful--long, broad, and deep; many of them
| navigable, and swarming with fishes of al.
most every kind and size. The bosoms oi
| these rivers are ornamented with the crafts Of
commerce, floating the wealth and produce
of the nation. Our smaller brooks, sparkling
in all their virgin beauty, and like SO many
silvery threads embroidering the green lands
they go, singing by day and by night, as the,
run home to the ocean. Our springs are lie
gion, bubbling up almost everywhere-srnal
springs, large springs, mineral springs, coli
springs, warm springs. hot springs, perpetua
and spasmedic. The earth is 50 benevolen
and rich, that she becomes constant giver
calling for constant thankfulness. Wha
\ would your farm be worth, or your milk @
\ your butter, without these springs? All, the
| put money into your pockets and health int
your veins. Our chain of beautiful frcs
water lakes. pure enoughfor angels looking
glasses, are the largest in the world, and ar