Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-11-28

verty which has sometimes seemed to invite aad
provoke the ageressions of foreign states. peace
has been preserved with all nations order has been
maintained tine laws have been respected and
obeye,l, and harmony has prevailed everywhere,
except in the theatre Of military conflict, while that
theatre has been greatly contracted by the ad' ancng
armies and navies Of the Union. The needtul
diversion of wealth and strength from the nevis OF
peaceful industry 10 the national defence mas nor
arrested the plough. the shuttle or the snip. lhe
axe has enlarged the borders OF our settlements,
and the mines, as well of iron and coal as OF The
precious metals, have yielded even more abun-
dainty than heretofore. Population has steadily
increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been
made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield
ami the country re JOicing IN the consciousness Of
augmented strength and yigOr. is permitted to eX-
Of freedom.
To human counsel hath devised. nor hath any
mortal hand worked out these great things. They
the gracious gitts Of the Most High God who,
while dealing villa Us with anger for our sins,
hath nevertheless remembered mercy
1t has seemed TO me iii and proper inai they
should he sOlemnly revcTently, and gratefully &C
knOwledged, as with one heart and voice, by the
whole American people. / do, therefore, invite my
fellOwcitZens in every part Of the United States,
and also those who are at sea, and those who are
sojOurnng in foreign lands, to set apart and OBJ
serve the last Thursday of November next a. day
OF Thanksgiving and prayer 10 our benencent Fatn-
er, who dwelleth in The heavens And.l recon-
mend to them that. while Offering up the descriptions
justly due to Him for such singular deiveTances
and blessings, they do also with humble penitence
for our national peryerseness and disobedience,
some widows, orphans, mOurners, or sufferers IN
the lamentable civil strife in which we are unayOid
ably engaged, and fervenfly impOre the lnterposl-
ton of the Almighty hand TO heal the wounds Of the
nation, and TO restore II, as soon as may be con-
sistent with the divine purposes TO the full enjoy
ment OF peace, harmony, tranquility, and unlon.'
The example thus set by President Lin
coin has been followed by his successors in
the Executive chair, and the nationality of
Thanksgiving Day has now become an es-
tablished fact not only in the consciousness.
but in the yearly experience of the Ameri
can people.
THE EPISCOPAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE
Although, as has been shown, the custom
of the Government of the United States did
not provide for the annual observance Of such
an occasion, yet in the book of common
prayer of the Protestant Episcopal church in
the United States of America, established by
the bishops, clergy and laity of that church,
on Oct 1G 11719, there was established "a
form of prayer and thanksgivingt to Almighty
God for the fruits of the earth, and all the
other blessings of His merciful providence
to be used yearly on the first Thursday in
November or on such other day As shall be
appointed by the civil authority" Tbs, it i
believed, is the only provision made by any
religious body in the United States for the
! Observance Of such an occasion.