The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-12-05


Leighton. Unitarian: Rev. John F. Til
ton, Baptist: Rev. S. L. Hanscom, Metho-
dist The services were from a leatet Of
the Congre gatonalist series. and We're as
follows:
Organ Prelude.
Selection from Psalms,
Rev. q. $. Mills.
Response by the people.
Reading Jubilate Dec.
Pastor and people.
Hymn. ooh. worship the King
Arr from Haydn
Choir and congregation.
Responsive service,
Key. q. s. Mills and people.
Thanksgiving selection,
Rev. 6. $. Mills and people in unison
Hymn, praise, @ praise our God and
King" Malan
Chorns choir
Prayer BY Rev , f. Tilton.
Responsive service,
Rev, J F. Triton and people
Hymn, From all that dwell below the
Skies Franc
Chorus choir.
Responsive service,
Eev G s. Mills and people,
Hymn, Praise to God, immortal praise
Chorns choir Able
PRAYER IN Kev. S. L. Hanscom.
Reading Tw enty- third Psalm,
Rev. >. NJ. Leighton.
Anthem. "Ye shall dwell in the land,
Chorus choir. Stalner
Address, The Heart Of the Infinite Bounty
Rev. J NJ Leighton.
Responsive service
Rev. G, S. Mills and people.
Hymn, "My God, how endless is thy love"
Chorus choir Hastings
Benetilcton.
Rev. s. L. Hanscom.
Organ rostlude.
Following is MI Leighton address ia
full:
TnE HEART OF THE INFINITE BOUNTY.
Our President. and the Governors Of
the respective States, in appointing the
last Thursday of November as a day Of
Thank sgiying. allege the custom Of the
Fathers in 50 doing. But it we turn to
the records of the Fathers we learn that
neither their days OF Thanksgiving nor
Fast We're subject to the routine, OF select
ed with any reference to the calendar Or
season Of the year. The occasions had
their source rather in their spiritual
moods. and We're assigned through all
seasons.
With rs it is the constant and unfailing
bounty OF God which prompts periodical
Thanksgivings. Whether the wear be an
usually fruitful. prosperous, and free
from national disaster: or characterized
by the devastation OF crops, or the blast
ing Of wide and fruitful area bv frost
as in the South last season; or the wide
spread depression Of business with conse-
quent hard times and suffering: the Proc
lamation Of day Of Thanksgiving is
periodically made. With the Fathers both
Thanksgiving and Fast were in each case
conditioned upon well-defned and en-
eney. Thanksgiving and Fast followed
each other in close proximity, as they
We're delivered from impending calamity
or oveIshadowed by some threatening dis
aster; as they were elated by conscious
ness of their mercies or depressed by a
sense of their sins.
Our fore elders experienced a pro
founuer belief than we in the immediate
and direct dealing of God with them in
all their affairs. God was not to them the
Eternal Power who steadfastly worked
within and through nature and their own
faculties by natural law and order. and
thus provided for, and cared for them
He was rather an absolute sovereign, who
rewarded them when they pleased him,
and punished them when they offended
him: material prosperity was token Of
his favor, and disaster of his displeasure.
Therefore they publicly gave thanks to
Him in hearty and manful fashion when
tokens of his approval were received, and
Inundated themselves before Him when
fear OF calamity befell in the belief that it
was Gods stern rebuke Of some short
coming or sin. For each Thanksgiving
proclaimed, their Governors set forth
specific reason. which was put before tie
whole people as ma ter which would De
sure to engage their devotional senti-
ments.
In their old records may be found in
stances in which, at the same session the
Court appointed both Thanksgiving and
Fast day, with only few days inter
vening. the reasons for each being very
distinctly set forth in detail, and the ma
terials very definitely assigned. In 1862,
for example, the first Wednesday Of the
coming November was appointed as a day
of Thanksgiving Hfor merces at home and
abroad;'' and at the same session of the
Court the first Wednesday Of December,
just one month later, as day of humil-
iation ION account of the prevailing pow
er Of anti Christ, together with some pub
lie rebukes Of God among ourselves. =
Momentous and startling indeed were
some Of the occasions which prompted
those public expressions Of gratitude and
humiliation. We must not fail to take
into account, along with their ideas Of
God and his dealings with them, the fact
that they were but few in numbers, sur
rounded ton every side by dangers, and
apprehensive every moment of impending
calamity. They felt themselves defense
less without the strong arm Of the Lord
to battle for them. For the entire sum
mer of 1741 the negro slaves in one sec
ton We're in such state Of discomfort
and disorder that an uprising was hourly
expected, and the whole people with their
officials were for time paralized by fear
At last, driven to action by their desper-
ate situation, they apprehended and mer-
cilessly tortured to death the alleged lead
ers, thus quelling the threatened insur-
rection. The next. and the most natural
thing under the circumstances, was the