Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-12-07
THANKS SEWING DAY
In ST. ElairSVille.


vile as religiously as it could have been in q
down East village. But very few places of
business were open, and a stranger might
have thought the day Sunday instead of a
week day set apart by common usage and the
proclamation of the chic, Executives of the
State and Nation, for the people of this great
country to give thanks for the privileges and
mercies enjoyed during this eventful Centen-
nial year, 1876. A piercing cold air, dull
leaden heavens, from which fieecy fakes of
snow occasionally sifted slowly down, led
many to gather around blazing fires to discuss
social topics, and perchanee at intervals the
Turkish question, with a fervor to be ad
mired.
THANKSGIVING SERVICES
Union Thanksgiving services were held in
the NJ. E. Church, which were well attended
The music was rendered by the N. E. Church
Choir, assisted by Prof. Burns. In opening,
the choir sang the hymn beginning
''Grest God of nations, now to thee,
Our hymn of gratitude we raise"
The Rev Thomas Balph delivered the open
ing prayer, invoking eloquently the divine
blessing upon our land.
The choir then sang
External source of every Joy,
Well may thy praise our lips employ" &c.
The sermon for the day was then delivered
by the Rev. B. F. Beazelle, pastor of the VI.
Z. Church, and was from the text, s'Be We
thankful, Colossians, Sd chap. 18th verse.
The Pharisee in prayer thanked God
he was not as other men. We must
all have touch of that feeling or we
will not give thanks at ALL If, in look
ing about you, you conclude your con-
diticn is in every respect worst of all
you will be filled with other feelings
than those of thaDkfulness. Let US re-
member that thankfulness must be
personal, and real, if it exists at all. 1t
cannot be simulated. Though the
Proclamation addresses all Churches.
all States-the whole people of ma
tiOn, yet we cannot give thanks by
proxy; because we are in the assembled
congregation, it is not at all certain our
hearts possess the thankful feeling.
To Peter came the question direct,
sharp-"LOvest thou me-" In such
direct way we ought to pass upon the
question: 'DO | give thanks always
for all things unto God"
If we are sincere in our observance
to-day we shall not fail to put to our.
selves some such questions as these
In the manifold experiences, thoughts,
feelings of the past year how much oi
gratitude has there been. Has there
been cause for any? Have l received
anyfayOrs in person or family, temporal
or religious, and how have l used
them? Have l enjoyed them, and felt
them to he blessings, or have I, ip the
laLguage of another, 'hOarded them
until they grew mOuldy, and called
them curses?"
Gratitude, in one aspect at least, and
various manifestations, seems to be-
one of the natural virtues surviving
the Fall. 1t is column in the temple
of humanity, though defaced. 1t is
one OF the fruits of the ever-preseni
Spirit. Perhaps no man lacks it wholly
and even the beasts in their measure
have it. In some way we may get al
men and call it forth. 1t may be by
ministering to the lowest set of facui
ties-by gratifying their selfishness.
We are compelled to befriend escf,
other. We are helpless, dependent on
each other. What if the ready pav OF
gratefulness were not current. saws
some one. 1t is the worlds currency.
made such before the silver and gold
of commerce were discovered. 1t is a
sort of lubricating oil. II secures
friendship, and insures for the needy
that help. without which they must
perish. But i'm all this you will OBJ
serve, the idea of God may not be
present. These are certain virtues that
belong to the race Independent of the
developing powers Of Revelation.
Plants will grow away from the light,
but it is only its fullness that Can bring
them to perfection. Gods presence
with the world has always kept alive
these faculties. Jesus came that thew
might have more abundant life. This
brings out a higher view of the subject.
1t is good thing to be moved at times
to gratitude. 1t is better and greater
thing to have the feeling asa continuous
one. 1t is only as we look at life from a
religious standpoint that it is possible.
Talk of the obligation to be grateful.
where does it come from? Ii this life
be all, if God is simply the Creator /
don't know why l should cherish the
feelings! What is this life worth except
as it is connected with the life to come.
If were an Atheist, or even a Deist.
should despise the very idea of thank
fulness. No, there is something back
of all this. Men are governed by con.
sequences. 1t is to win the good or
escape the evil for which We try. What
strange infatuatiOn is it makes a man
forget the ordinary care he has for life.
and cOvet death! How is it he can so
far overlook surroundings as to feel
that adverse circumstances, as well AZ
favorable call forth THANKSGIVING?
But this Thanksgiving day falls near
the close OF our national centenary
year. AS consequence he can hardly
fail to pass from the consideration OF
local and personal reasons for grateful.
ness, to such rs are national. In this
case, we look not at the results of one
year, but of Il hundred years. As we
read afresh the history of our country
do we find anything gratifying in the
results of the century? you will not
think strange i'll put it in form of a
question, when you remember there
are not few persons of acute observa
ton, who have reached the conclusion.
that as a nation we are on the high
road to failure. / take it you do not so
believe, and shall at once call your at
to what l regard as some of
the substantial reasons for
GRATIFICATION AND
THANKFULNESS.
Let US take our observations from
two points of view-the Political and
the Religious.
las CITIZENS. "
LAS CHRISTIANS.
According to the philosopher Kant,
The true nature and only possible
proof OF liberty, is in mans power, as
possessed of reason to give laws TO him.