The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-01
THE GOODNESS OF OUR CREATOR.
OUR NEED OF THANKFULNESs TO HIM FOR
HIS UNcEAsING CARE OF US AS WELL
AS FOR ANCIENT ISRAEL.
Sermon by the Rev. J. LOwrie Will
son, ID. D.. In the Methodist Church
Mt Abbeville, :. C., on ThanksSiv-

son, ID. D.. In the Methodist Church
Mt AbbeviIIe, :. c., on ThanksSiv-
ing Day, November 25. 1856.
Trxr-And forget not al His benefts-Psalm
ciii: = sst clause.
Agreeably to a time-honorcd custom, this
day has been set apart as day OF National
ThankSgiving for National mcrcics. All over
this broad land the Gail OF our Chief Migis-
trate has gone forth summoning the people IN
every nouk and corner of it-alike in It's great
trade-centres and its more sparscly-settled
cnmmunities-io turn aside from their ordl'
nary av0cations and do homage to him "irom
whom all blessings fow, to unite us 1t were
& every good and perfect Sft. In response
10 that suamons we are here this morning to
recognize with devout gratitude the good
hand OF our God upon u.s. us people and as
individuals.
THE CUSTOM.
The custom which has brought us together
is not only time-honored in Itself, but it Is one
also that IS emincnily right and proper. Noth-
Ing sutc!y is more becoming people, than
that they pause amid HES busy scenes, amid
the blessings which have crowned their days,
and manifest in some hetitling manner their
appreciation of these benefits. 1t Is a princl.
pie OF universal acceptation. that q good ana
kindly act deserves a grateful acknowledge
inent The sentiment even Of ordinary graft
slde demands it; and the man who with
holds It, wss8 shows total disregard or the
favor conferred upon him by another, Is look
ed upon as no part OF man, u very ingrate
Much more Is 1t true Of a people. whose cup
has been filled TO over-tlOw,ng with the mtr-
cies Of God, as ours has been. 1t is a due we
OF nature and the principles OF our h"ly re-
1igion. 20 praise the Lord, all ye nations :
praise Him. all ye people. For His mcrciful
kindness is great toward us: and the truth OIL
the Lord endureth forever" y
ITS SOCIAL ASPECT.
In Its social aspect the custom Is alike pleas,
Ing and promutIve of good. II is cmincnty
suggestive of cheer and good will to men," i.
truly beneticent appointment TO poor labor
ing humanity. 1t implies the release OF toll
Ing masses from the drudgerieS OF daily life
the liberation of multitudes from the conilnc-
InentS OF trade and businesS-onc day OF enjoy
ment OF natures own sweet sunshine, ana OF
drinking In the pure, fresh and invigorating
farnilies-the joyful convening of fkindred and
friends around the CHEEKY heartll.stone. and
the sumptuouS board, ladenPd with the boun.
ties OF Providence. 1t implies all these, and
what also Is perhaps still better-a kindly re-
mcmbrance OF the poor, and Il generous dis
Iribution OF our plenty to relieve their neces-
stiles. So that it carries JOY, eladness, sun
shine along with It,
ITS RELIGIOUS ASPECT.
In It's religious aspect, 1t is just what its
name imports-a Day OF ofThankSsiving, whose
principal feature Is The remembrance of mcr.
cies q grateful review of the jnnumerable and
almost forgotten benefits received at the hands
or God IL Is thus Il gladstone survey of the
many precious SUn-beamS which have lighted
up our paths, and which show that these have
not been altogether shaded, as we too often
seem TO think. we are all too prone to re.
member only the dark and sOrrowful In our
experience, to brood over these until wecomc
to murmur at our lot and lay unklndncsS 10
the charge of God-foigetful OF the many
mcrcy-dr0ps that have been poured into OuI
cups. A day of calm, thoughtful review, de-
yoied to the search for these Is sure To aston
ish us with their number. All Is not cloud
above US: all Is not bitter in our cups. We
have much to be thankful for. 1t thus tends
to develope sentiments OF gratitude within
us, and to cultivate all that Is best ana most
ennObling in this poor nature OF ours.
Coming, as IL does, near the close or the
wear, when the harveSts have all been garner
ed when the fields have yielded generous re
turns for the labOrs bestowed upon them, and
when the husbandman rests from his tolls. IT
Is eminently a feast of in-gathcriRg-our char
vest home" by 1t we are made TO recognize
the God Of Providence, aud the Providence O
God-to adore the one, while joyfuily ac
knowledging the other.
ITS OBSERVANCE.
Then, too, It's general observance from ocean
to ocean, from the great lakes to the gull, Is
proof unmstakable that the American Re
public is not Il nation of Atheists. On this
feature of 1t special emphasis should be laid
For the II noiSy clamor of many, and the law
defying attitude of Others. might lead tho
casual observer to n contrary conclusion
There are, g. =. the SOcialiStic, and some %
the great Labor movements OF our day, which
arc essentially aLheistic-ilS much So as tDt