The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-11
Thanksgiving sermons.

Below are abstracts of the sermons
preached on Thanksgiving day-the first
by Rev. Mr.. Carpenter, the rector, at st.
Stephens, and the other by Rev. Mr..
dist church:
REV. MR.. CARPENTERS DISCOURSE.
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to
the children and the heart of the children to their
| fathers, lest come and smte the earth with a
curse.-Mal. iv.,6 ..
This is the prophesied work of him who
was to prepare the way of the Lord at
his first coming, and this must still be the
work of Gods ministers and the stewards
of his mysteries. 1t needs no argument
to show how the family is the fountain
of life and strength alike to the church
and the nation OF the three fundament-
al agencies by which divine wisdom seeks
to reform and save the world the family
is the first and principal one; without it
the State and the church would not long
survive. The governor in his procla-
nation requests the people to assemble
today in their customary places of wOr-
snip and around the sacred affairs of home
to return thanks to God. The sacred
affairs of home" Oh. that every family
among us had its altar where daily wor-
ship was offered. Household consecra-
ton is the leading feature of primitive
and gospel goodness. Parents and child
rem and home piety are the chief factors
in enkindling better religious life and in
bringing about moral and social reforms.
One is alarmed at the fearful results
eatened by the increase of divorce.
During the past thirty years divorces
have more than doubled, not only in this
county but throughout Europe. Various
statistics were given to show this facs.
In Vermont the latest statistics show that
one marriage in every ten is thus broken
up. One-tenth of all our families are
torn violently assunder by the hands Of
the law. There is not the same strict
legal enactments to protect the most sa-
cred relationship of marriage as there is
TO defend property. The statute book of
this State allows five causes as grounds
for divorce. Many of our States allow
more. The law of God and his church
allows but the one cause of adultery. St.
Marks gospel. 10th chapter from the I'd
to the 18th verse, tells us what our bles-
sed Saviour's judgment is upon the sub
lect of divorce.
The law of the church based upon this
is contained in the 18th Canon, Title III.
of the General Convention, and is as fol-
lows: mo minister, knowingly. after
due inquiry, shall solemnize the marriage
of any person who has divorced hus-
band or wife still living, if such husband
or VIE mas been put away for any cause
arising after marriage; but this canon
snail not be held TO apply TO the innocent
party in divorce for the cause of adult
cry or to parties once divorced seeking to
be united again.
Sec. Ill. If any minister of the church
shall have reasonable cause to doubt
whether person DESTROYS of being ad-
mitted to holy baptism or to contirma.
ton or to the holy communion has been
married otherwise than as the word of
God and discipline of this church allow.
such minister, before receiving such per-
SOL to these ordinances. shall refer the
case to the bishop for his godly judg-
ment thereupon; provided. however, that
no minister shall, in any case, refuse the
sacraments to penitent person in immi-
nent danger of death"
Without going infinitely into the vari-
GUS causes which contribute to the
alarming frequency of divorce and the
sundering of family ties, let me urge
upon every family to assemble frequent
| - diOuhu lhV dlldT VI nome IOI
family worship. Let me enioin that
greater care be employed in training the
young in the spirit of obedience and self
denial, that each one, BOY and girl and
man and woman,may know not only how
to maintain their own rights, but also to
have due Difference and regard for the
| rights of others.
| REV. MIR. SPEARE'S SERMON.
Bless the Lord, o my soul, and forget not all
| his bene1ts.-Ps. CHI, q
Thanksgiving day. Who of New Eng
land birth does not remember it with ten
derness? Family reunions: well-aden
tables; kindly welcomes pensive
thoughts for the absent, some of them
never to return; none of us are without
such "reminiscences this morning. Our
hearts are mellowed and all our better
natures freshened. 1t were well if our
thoughts should center in some large
theme that would bring us near to God.
No one questions the literal accuracy
of Gladstone's sweeping indictment when
he said I'VE suffer more. year by year,
from intemperance than from war, pes
thence, and famine combned-those
three great scourges of the human fami-
lV.n Plainly the raVaUas of alonhoIic