Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-29
THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

ture reading ana prayer by Rev. r.
II. Pitt, of the Baptist Church; 96th
Psalm by Rev. A. S. Hank, of the
Nj. <. Church; prayer by Rev. f. M.
Woods, of the Presbyterian Church
Thanksgiving sermon by Rev. r. C.
Holland, of the Lutheran Church :;
appropriate remarks on the festival
by Rev. Woods.
ABSTRACT OF REV. r. c. HOLLANDS
ADDRESS.
Few peoples have been more highly
favored than the people of the United
States. The hand of beneficent
Providence is distinctly visible in the
founding, the establishment, the de-
velopment, and present glory Of the
great republic. Ifany people on earth
should render thanks to God for per-
sonal and national blessing, it is the
citizenship of the United States in
this year of grace 1884. A national
Thanksgiving Day is not only proper
as matter of custom, but is in accord
with the eternal fitness of things. We
should be prompt to respond to the
call for thanksgiving, and "give glory
to the Lord our God before He cause
darkness.
The Jewish nation had their annual
thanksgiving. 1t was divinely APP
pointed. In their seventh month,
corresponding to our October, this
people of God, after they had gather
ed in the rich fruitage of their or
chards, vineyards, and fields, assem-
bled themselves about the temple of
Jehovah, and with demonstrations of
universal joy, shouted their " Harvest
Home" 1t was their great feast of
TaDernacles-thef feast Of ingathering.
OF the three great festivals, Passover,
Penticost, and Tabernacles, this was
the most joyous. Laden with branches
of pine, myrtle, palm and olive, men,
women, and children, could be seen
thronging the gateways and crowding
the streets of Jerusalem, to fit up their
homes in holiday attire, or erect
booths on the house-tops, or in the
courts of the temple. On the great
brazen altar, offerings burnt
continually, and the air was resonent
with songs of praise from the reioic-
ing multitudes. The day commem-
Grated the divine watch. care over
them while they dwelt in tents in the
wilderness, and the divine favor
which brought them safely to this
beautiful land, and now amid the
luXuries of the goodly Canaan they
annually make general thanksgiving
in the remembrance of how they were
guided by the pillar of Providence
that guided them safely to the bord-
ers of this land of promise.
AS Canaan had succeeded to the
wilderness, so the temple had taken
the place of the Tabernacle. Their
brightest hopes gathered around this
temple. Here was the pledge, and
seal of their glory as people; and SO
in the courts of this temple of God,
they catch inspiration for grateful
praise.
But more they praise God for the
bountiful ingathering of the harvest.
The Lord had crowned the year with
goodness, and blessed their labors Of
sowing and reaping, of planting and
gathering, and now they wave the
palm and myrtle in glad thanksgiving
to their God and the God of their
fathers.
From Palestine, now captive of the
! Moslem, this autumnal feast of thanks
giving has formed a place in the
Christian civilization of this land of
the pilgrim-this land of promise, of
blessing, and privilege, Of plenty and
hope; and in pursuance of procla-
nation of our Chief Magistrates, we
are to-day uniting with millions of
our Acknowledged in rendering
thanks to God for our common heritage
of blessing. What an inspiring view
is presented us in this vast country
to-day Is 1t not fit for angelic APP
plause? Is it not pleasing to the God
of nations? Shall we not be glad p
Shall we not make haste to offer the
sacrifice of thanksgiving?
Israel, in her annual thanksgiving,
beheld God in her past history, reck-
oned up her historic Ebenezers, and
offered up her sacrifice of praise. Can
we fail to recognize in our brief history
the guiding hand and fostering care of a
kind Providence ? Can we not thankful
ly say, Hitherto hath the Lord helped
us 2" In the original settlement upon
the Atlantic coast, through our Colonial
history, in the days of the revolution and
the treaty of 1888, we behold the particu-
lar care of our God. Out of the perils
and wilderness of the period immediate
~
the infant cause of freedom to a happy
issue in the framing and adoption of the
Constitution, styled by John Bright to be
the most wonderful instrument ever
struck off from the human brain at any
given time" Under this Constitution,
through the help of God so perfect, we
have ATTAINED to marvellous growth and
prosperity. We are the most prosperous,
contented and thrifty people on the globe,
and in the possession of all that goes to
make up true national greatness the Uni
ted States is unrivaled among the nation
alities of earth. The hand OF God is WISH
BILE in our history. If we are true to our
heritage, we shall behold grander things
yet to come. 1t is great privilege to be
an American citizen, but it is RESPONSE
BILE one. Let us make haste to render the
praise due unto His name.
1t was Harvest Home p" also with
grateful Israel 1t was the feast of the
" Ingathering. A nation S gratitude for
the fruits of the field helped to swell the
chorus of praise on this festal day.
In the midst of our abundance shall we
not be glad? Let us speak rather OF the
kindness Of God than of the kindness of
nature. Let us think rather of the mer-
cy of God than of our own goodness or
prudence. Have our labors been follow
with success ? let us thank God for the
strength to toll and the blessing that has
attended it. = Not unto us, o Lord, but
unto thy name give glory"
That temple of God in their midst was
to the patriots of Israel the symbol of
their chiefest glory. God in their midst
was their great national security , and so
they assembled in its courts to offer sac
rifice of praise. We must attribute our