Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-27
THE OLD AND THE NEW.

day discourse delivered yes ;erday by Rev. James L. Willard at the Westville Congregational church:
 Ps. 50. 40. Offer unto God thanksgiving.
 Fifty years ago, and New England boy looked forward to Thanksgiving day with of great delight. He had sub- sisted through twelve long months on diet that was neither rich nor costly; had known nothing of Christmas turkey or of New Years feast; for these his frugal father and careful mother could not afford. Hence, in late November, when the fall was about to drop into the winter, he looked into the great red oven, and clapped his hands for joy. Though the vision had tarried long, the wished for hour was near at hand. He could eat and be filled.
 The boys of to-day have had no such fasting or narrow living, and their appe- tites are not SO keen for better things. Would it be desirable to get back to the culinary ways that were in vogue when some of us were in our teenss do not think so, and am thankful to have been delivered. A good and generous dinner is, in my judgment, conducive to health. Not that would commend intemperance in eating, but there is golden mean; and that, in my boyhood, was higher than l. I could not attain to it. would not have my children and children's children de- priyed of the many things that gratify the taste and nourish the body, that were not allowed to me. And yet my own home was not an exception. My father, though a farmer, was we'll to do, nor was it in his heart to impose unusual hardships upon his children. But the table, around which we gathered for our daily meals, never groaned under dainties nor tidbits, nor would it, as rule, tempt any but the hungry. Were I to be put back to that mode of living, I should long for Thanks giving days as did in early lifetime, and am very sure that more than one a year would be necessary for any reasonable measure of health and strength. In 8 word, think we ought to be thankful that our tables are more bountifully supplied than they were fifty years ago. Good liv ing is not deleterious to health. We in these modern days not only live longer, but we have better health than did our grand fathers and grandmothers. This may be doubted, but the facts are all against the doubt; it is even so. And if our nourish- ment is better in quality and richer in variety than in other days, why not be thankful to God and bless his holy name?
 But we should be thankful, not only for better furnished tables, but also for i'm proved comforts in many ways. There may be poetry in large open fireplace, where great logs are burning on cold winter night, but do know that in a low roofed upper room was breath to make the very flesh creep, and mock the poetry into sober prose. And when the Sabbath came, as it did once in seven days, Dobbin was harnessed to the square-boxed wagon and while some rode others walked on their way to meeting. Having reached our destination, with benumoed fingers and chilled feet, what was our relief? A spa cious building in which the ice king reigned supreme At 10 o'clock in the morning we left our home; about o'clock in the afternoon we were back again-six long hours of freezing and misery. And now, more than probable, the fire had gone out upon our own hearthstone, and if so John nie or Willie must hasten to the nearest neighbor and get live brand. Then, with much bellows blowing, there was crack ling and snapping that told us of a warmer breath further on. And now comes prep aration for the evening meal. Mother is there, the good angel of us all Paterfa milias is in the barn, feeding the cattle and meditating upon the two long ser mons. He knows they were orthodox, ,and at the supper table will ask us "What were the headss'' The boy that can repeat them is praised; the others eat in silence
 One can hardly realize the change that has come to New England homes in the growth of half century. The inventive our modes of living and of doing, and, al I think, very much for the better. And
 must confess that have no tears for tn "good old times" The former days, as rule, were not better than these. Coule one take June day, full of buds and flow CTS, and birds, and sunbeams, and mur muring brooks, and humming bees, ant coaxing wind, soft and sweet with tn breath of new made hay, and put it righ into the heart of December snow storm the contrast would hardly be more strik ing than is that between the home com forts of to-day and those of fifty year ago.
 And in religious appliances the change if possible, has been greater still. Bu one way they had which we do we'll sanctuary" The New England father and mothers of half century since wer true to the house of God, and they locke l to it that their children were true also l Nor were they scattered, some in on place and some in another. In their ow l pew and in their own church the Sabbat | found them always. Sensationalism i the churches was thing unknown. No1
 one can hardly tell what will come nex, | A writer in one of our daily papers sayt
 ''In Colorado town, on recent Sunda
 evening, performance was given whic was advertised as "A Grand Sacred Do Fight" That many gathered to both se
 and hear I have no manner of doubt, an l to not few it was interesting, very inter
 esting. Recently ministers have been fs
 vored with letters, telling them ho, to draw the multitude, by new mode
 of preaching, and testifying that thes
 methods are attended or followed
 revivals, in which many are converted
 and the appliances can be furnished witt out much expense, etc. know one mir
 ister that will never resort to any ( 1 these methods, but he will on each re | turning Sabbath preach two as thoughtft | and instructive sermons as he can possibi
 prepare with the ability God has give l him. If this is not what is wanted, the
 his service is not wanted, for he canne
 and will not cater to 8 sensationalism ths | is seeking in so many ways to entertain Some one says: ''Never work on the ss1
 sational plan; if you do you may have flo
 while a good sized congregation of relis
 ious tramps, but you will never build u 1 solid society of Christian believers. 1 The real character men and women wi
 not leave a thoughtful, suggestive sermon
 fresh with careful study. for any novelt 1 or out of the order performance. Nc
 will wise parents allow their children |
 scatter abroad, but will keep them
 their place in their own Sabbath home.
 But, returning from our Aggression,
 believe in Thanksgiving Day with all ID
 heart, because it may, and should, brin
 fresh health and strength to the nation.
 It serves to keep in mind the deeds (
 famous men. We have had our Washing
 ton, our Lincoln, our Grant. And thes
 in this year of our Lord 1891, are the thr,
 greatest names in American history. IT
 first named had that dignity of charaot'
 which, at that time, was an absolute necs
 sity and without which the American arm
 could not have been kept compact togetl
 er The second had that aptitude and pl
 ability and readiness to meet and equ
 each and every occasion that made him u
 "wonder man" of all the world. The thi1
 had in him the metal of which heroes 8
 made, and having grappled with the en
 my he would not let go. I have read
 wilds. One of these caught a bear by u
 and then that. Not liking to be bumpt
 about against rock and tree, he shoute
 "Tom! Tom! Come and help me let {
 of the bears taill' Not so General Gran
 He had the bear by the tail and when