The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-11-26
Thanksgiving.

on the day Of our national Thanks
giving. The custom which has grown
among us, especially at the North,
of observing such an occasion, is at
once wise and beautiful. God is
thus recognized as the giver of all
blessing temporal, civil and spirit
nal. 1t is well that we be thus re-
minded of our dependence and obi
CATION. On this day great Nation,
with its fifty millions of people, &C
knowledge God publicly and devout-
ly, as the source and giver of all
good. We ascribe all honor to his
rulership and omnipotence, and his
divine concern for our national we'll
being. This is peculiarly appropri-
ate. Ours has been a providential
history. Our fathers, who partici
pated in the memorable struggle that
gave us a national existence, regard
ed themselves as, in great measure,
the agents of Providence. Amid
the awful solemnity of that historic
day when the resolution was passed
in the Continental Congress declar
ing our independence, before the final
action was taken, there was q hush
in the intense excitement of the
hour, when all bowed in reverent
prayer before God for his guidance
and blessing. And it was the firm
conviction that the Lord smiled up
on their cause, that nerved many
hearts and hands through all those
doubtful years Of blood and poverty.
During the Revolution, Thanksgiv
ing day was annually recommended
by Congress. In 1874, after peace
was declared, the whole people as
semblea in their respective churches
for grateful worship. In 1889, af-
ter the adoption of the Constitution,
President Washington recommended
a day of universal Thanksgiving.
So our history has been marked by
at least formal reliance upon the
Most High for the benefits needful
for national peace, happiness and
glory.
Over our fair land the Lord has
smiled with special favor. Here He
seems to have planted us to work
out and illustrate the grand doctrine
OF free government. And from the
birth hour of a national life to these
beautiful autumnal days a good
Providence has blessed our history.
Though we have passed through pc
RODS of trial and arkness-though
sometimes the strain upon our ma,
tional yigor seemed more than it
could endure-yet we have survived,
and are to-day more powerful, peace
full and happy than at any time in
the past.
The year has been crowned with
goodness. Our broad and fertile
acres have never yielded more am
pie supply of bread. The husband
mans labor has been richly reward
ed. We have enjoyed the early and
the latter rain, the warm sunshine
and morning dew. Every thing has
been pr"pitious for well-directed in
dustry. The elements have con
spired to advance our prosperity
and rebuild our fallen fortunes.
There is new spirit in the people,
and the dawn of a new day is chas-
ing away the long night that has
shrouded the Southern parallels of
our great country. Thanksgiving
and praise will become us, and
should be uttered by every joyful
tongue.
With few exceptions our whole
land has enjoyed good health. In
the Southwest we have been richly
favored. Pestilence has kept far
from our dwellings, and blessings
abundant have been vouchsafed the
people. The scriptural exhortation
is the appropriate motto for this and
every other day, SIN every thing
niye thnDEsr