The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-28
Thanksgiving in 1853.

The Times has received, through the
courtesy of Colonel r. D. Buford, of Bed
ford City, a copy Of a Thanksgiving SER
mon delivered at the Episcopal Church
in Lexington on Thanksgiving Day in
November, 1858, by the late Eev. w. N.
Pendleton. The sermon was SO impress
sive that, at the request of t. j. jack
son, Francis II. Smith, j. Brocllenhrough.
r. E. Colston and others, DR.. Pend!eton
consented to have the discourse published
in pamphlet fern.
The subject of he discourse was Unto
WHO msocver much is given oy him shal
:iu1ll be reuI1. CO." The cacher began
by calling the attention of his hearers
to the many rich personal blessings which
they had received from the Lord and for
which they should be truly grateful. He
spoke of the blessings of mind and body
and spirit, of sunshine and landscape
and flowers, OF friendship and affection,
and above all of Gods care over us, for
the means of grace and for the hope of
glory.
but he pointed out that the people of
this country were especially under obi
cations to God for his goodness to US as
a nation. THE first thing Calming the
attention Of thoughtful mind, in mark
ing the pcculiarities of Gods dealings
with this young but already gigantic
land said he, in this connection, lis
the period and manner OF It's blrth.
When the mind of civilized man was be-
ginning to awake from a long night Of
comparative darkness, in ignorance and
superstition; when letters We're revived
and ingenious men, guided by the light
of a better day about TO dawn, had
reached the simple but mighty Invention
of printing; when means were thus pro
vided by which truth could be spread
before the minds with the readiness of
thought and freedom of the air: when
that beginning was opening the way for
the grandest OF all revolutions since the
gospel was given to man, the glorious
Reformation: when other nations had
reached that point of preparation at
which new arrangements were needed
towards a great advance in the plans Of
Providence for human welfare; then,
and not until then. was this fair portion
of the earth laid open to civilized man.
He then went on to say That no hoary
superstitors had grown venerable hare;
no false systems of religion or govern
ment had been pressed oy tim. into the
hearts and habits of WORKOUT generations,
but that the land, fresh and free. was
open to the occupancy of Il new, vigc-
rous and virtuous Christian race. France
and Spain had attempted to get a foot
hold here, but God would have here 4
people Of Protestant ancestry. and by the
most striking chain of Drovidences he
caused the best division of the New
World to be occupied and maintained by
the thoughtful. sound-judsing. firm
hearted : Anglo-SaXon race. And mark
by what signal arrangements, not OF
mans devising, improvements in this
race were provided for, exactly adapted
TO the new country. and to the new order
of things it was to develop. The Cava-
liers brought to Virginia their refinement
and their religion. And though they
had many noble traits and much true
,,iety. thew were not fit to be more than
one element among nlanScin the new and
great nation here TO exist. The Puritans
brought to New England their religion
and their independence, but though they
had faith in God never surpassed and
uncomfortable resolution, neither We're
thew fated to be more than another ele-
ment in the composition of a mighty peo-
pie The virtuous Penn. with his peaceful
followers, introduced in Pennsylvania
another element, composed of true piety
and worthy character in another form.
The prosecuted Huguenots brought to
Carolina the steadfast Protestant faith,
which had braved many dangers. and
the c1livalry of their fathers. tempered
by the good sense of the people among
whom exile had thrown them
In view Of the fact that God had be-
slowed so much upon this nation, it was
plain that He expected much of them;
that He had a great work for. Americans
to do. and that through us the whole
world was to be conquered for GOD.