The Dickinson press., 1891-11-28
Saturday, November %, 1891.
Thanksgiving Sermon by Rev. Edison
G., DAYTON.

cording to lot among tribes, families
and individuals. Among the means
used for distinguishing one mans
field from another was the planting
of trees in rows and the heaping of
at corners. In the latter Cas-
it might be very easy to move the
line of property. Robbery of this
character was liable to severe penal
ty. To disturb these ancient bound
aries seemed, in addition to the pri-
vate injury which was done, an act
of sacrilege and likely to introduce
an era of contention and confusion
and oppression.
We make a different, the congenial
application of the word landmark, in
including the great guiding features
of nature. The traveller, only PARTIAL
ly accustomed to the prairies, is often
governed by some familiar eminence
visible from a distance. But when
winter sets in and its SHOWS give to
the outspread oceanic panorama uni
formity and he a no longer distin-
guish the butte which once directed
him, he realizes the danger of being
lost or the fact that he is lost.
We rise to a moral and yet popular
use of the word landmark when we
thus designate epochs and epoch.mak-
ing men in history. recognizing them
as mile.stones in its advancing track,
as guide-boards of a consistent and
logical progress. To obscure such
eminences in a thoughtless or icono.
elastic way is to indicate a lack of
sympathy with what is best in the
worlds narrative, to prefer illegiti-
macy, to acknowledge no orbit, really
to doubt the present as well as the
past, and to make all history a rope
of sand instead of a natural and or.
ganic growth.
Such outstanding men and events
as 1 have indicated may be regarded
as Providential men and events, and
from this point of view they become
suitable themes for the pulpit. An
Ex-Governor of South Carolina has
named, as three overlapping emf.
nences from whose SUBMITS one
might survey the history of the
Unitea States, George Washington,
John Marshall and the civil war. The
first name in this category is that OF
him who leads the era of popular free.
dom, of democratic institutions, OF
american governmental history, and
l think it will be in keeping with this
day to direct your attention to him;
if we have come together in the spirit
of thanksgiving, not only for the
abundant crops and the continental
prosperity of the year, it's exemption
from pestilence and war, but also
steadily mindful of the general foun.
dation for congratulation and graft
tude which we find in the bountiful
country, the well.grounded institu.
tions and the splendid history which
we have inherited and to which we
ure to add in the way of development.
A partial analysis of the character
of Washington and some reflection of
contemporary and psesent opinion is
all that can be attempted in the few
moments that we pass together.
A constitutional trait, evolved by
circumstances, and of great usefulness
in mature years was that of method.
This mental trait and habit of a mi.
mute method entered into the eff.
cheney with which he conducted his
military affairs and the first adj
ministration under the new govern.
ment.
We may believe that the balanced
prudence and courage which marked
the military career of n who has
been called the American Fabius and
yet who could on occasion strike a
quick and severe blow, were in part
inherited from the mother whose
calmness and firmness held energetic
rein in the place of the husband and
father who had early in the life OF
Washington deceased; but what was
thus received at the hands of nature.
was subsequently developed by three
years. passed in surveying a wilderness
inhabited by hostile squatters and
nomadic Indians, and the period
which was spent in the midst of thu
strife for supremacy between thu
French on the one hand with theil
aboriginal allies and the English O
the colonies and the mother countr,
on the other.
In addition to these qualities o.
method and of balanced prudence anc
courage, we name what was indispen
sable to the emergencies of the wild,
theater on which he acted, namely,
manly decision. Washington SCENE
to have had in perfect proportions
sound mind in a sound body, and it j
the nature of such a person by simpl
and healthy process to think his wa
through to conclusions. He had til
habit of reaching and holding pos
lions. By antecedents and by disp,
sition he was attached to the mothe
county, but upon certain points, ;
far as he had thought, he was as in
movable and bold as Otis or Henr,
In liza he wrote, 81 think 1 can al
nounce it as a fact. that it is not tt
wish nor the interest of the COVER
ment of Massachusetts,, or any 9th,
government upon this continent. Sc
arately or collectively, to set up f