National events: Thanksgiving, Civil War, July 4th. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Nov 1863 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

National events: Thanksgiving, Civil War, July 4th. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Nov 1863

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1 November 1863

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

19 pages on 6 sheets

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 11, Folder 5

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3gx45d9z/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3gx45d9z

Provenance

Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF5_8.xml

content

A thanksgiving sermon 1863

You will pardon me, respected hearers! if while searching for a text on which to descant, my reflections involuntarily suggested one of lament. As I pondered on the vicissitudes which America has recently undergone, I beheld that venerable parent of a once happy race, wallow in ashes, exclaiming in the lan--guage of Job "Oh! who will give me back the months that "have passed; the days when God guarded me. When his lamp "shone upon my head, and by its light I could walk in darkness. "As I was in the days of my youth, when the counsel of God go--"verned my tabernacle. When the Almighty was yet with me, "when my children stood round about me." Affected to tears by that vision, I strove in vain to evoke the joyous thoughts wherewith the yearly celebration was wont to inspire me. My harp struck but plaintive strains; I hung it on my drooping heart. Aye; let me weep over the sad fare of this asylum of the oppressed.

Taught by Israel's religion and Israel's history to love freedom. Devoted to it by a strong natural tendency; doubly impressed with its inestimable worth, because of the sufferings endured through its absence; I have--(without irreverence be it said)--stood with my mind on the summit of Pisgah to survey this land of promise, which has beckoned to her hospitable shores the weary of all nations and climes. More festivals than the immortal Seer of old, I have been permitted to enter this new Canaan, every spot of which is sanctified by the footsteps of revolutionary heroes. I have often gazed upon the precious fane, whence issued the word that struck tyranny with dismay, and the world with admiration. I have contemplated the stupendous work of the founder of American greatness, whose memory alone ought to have blended the feelings of all those he benefitted, into one of indissoluble brotherhood. I have witnessed, under its auspices, the gigantic strides taken towards social equality, and towards the perfection

of all arts and sciences. I have seen the hand of a beneficent God, scatter through these fields, those plains and meadows the seeds of plenty and boundless wealth, and I said, "Surely this is the tabernacle of peace, the temple where happiness is enthroned." My soul was then ravished with delight. Every fibre of my heart thrilled with joy, when at each recurrence of the present occasion, one chorus of national thanksgiving rent the sky from the vale to the mountain-peak, from the Hudson to the Red-River; and I, joining in the anthem, extolled the Living Deliverer Redeemer of America. But now.....I-Chabod, my Brethren, I-Chabod; I sorrowfully cry like the dying mother who was apprized of her nation's dishonor in of her own bereavement. For, the glory that lent orators their burning eloquence, the glory painted pi depicted so glowingly in the halls of legislation, so blazoned in the forum and on the pulpit; that glory, alas' has been tarnished by our polluted hands. The world looks agast. It cannot believe that this palladium

of human rights has been deliberately dragged down from its lofty stand by its own custodians. For, the testimony of time has shown that on its preservation depended the welbeing of generations yet unborn. The world finds not among its records a parallel to the towering eminence rapidly attained by the nation of Washington, while knit together by the laws he enacted.
Nay, I may venture to assert, that those achievements have exceeded the most sanguine calculations of the Sages of the revolution. The idea that three millions of human beings burthened with debt, would in the course of a man's life-time, swell up to the number of upwards of thirty millions, and become the most prosperous among the nations under the canopy of heaven, seems too hyperbolical to be contemplated even by those far-sighted minds. Yet, such was the effect of that broad Constitution concocted by their wisdom. Its benign influence grew irresistible. It attracted with more than magnetic force

now votaries to its shrines. Identified with the original posses--sors of that sublime charter, by the fruition of equal rights, the welcome stranger brought all his energies to bear on the develop--ment of the exhaustless riches of the soil that had received him. The stalwart arm upturned the earth that hid treasures in its bosom. His industry enlarged the sphere of that which is useful and convenient to society. As years rolled on, so the tide of immigration increased amazingly, until the native element commingled with the foreign, attained an herculean power. But mark this well, my beloved hearers! It was not a power that crushes beneath its ponderous weight the feeble and the defenceless. It was not like that Power which prides itself on being the arbiter of nation's fate, and the dictator of minor sovereignities; but a power that gloried in diffusing the blessings of civil and religious liberty, in securing education to the masses, temporal advantages and honorable positions to

whomsoever was governed by its beneficent rules. Hence, does the civilized world look with amazement, hence "hath my harp turned to mourning, and my organ lyre into sound of weeping." For, say ye my friends! Ought not a power so gracious and so benignant to have continued on its lofty stand, until the sun ceases to illumine the earth? Ought not the breast of every being to whom it secured inestimable immunities, to have been its bulwark?...Oh eternal ignoring! Repeat it not; the hand it had filled with good, lowered it from its height. Merciless ambition has very nigh cast it at the foot of despotic thrones. Methinks I hear the oppressors of man--kind deridingly ask "Is that the clime, which was called "the completion of beauty, the delight of all the earth?" Aha! "this is the day for which we have longed, it hath arrived, we "have seen it" Man! behold the effects of liberty". The ea-"-pons of destruction are furbished, the coursers are prancing on

"the battle-field; thousands are marshalled in mortal array, "not to repel the invading stranger, but to drench a common country "in fraternal blood". Brethren, friends! what shall we answer to their taunts? Can thou be any any motive extenuated to the flagetious deed that plunged a whole nation in utter misery, and caused freedom to blush? No, let us enter these holy courts, not with triumphant looks, but with subdued thoughts and humiliation. Let us bedew the altar of our Lord, with tears of contrition, for, the heavenly boons vouchsafed unto us have been foully abused. The matchless prosperity we enjoyed, seduced us away from the path marked out by the noble founders of this Republic. The grand idea embodied in the formation of this government has been lost sight of, while craftily scheming municipal or state enlargement; while we sought the gratification of contemptible jea-lousies. We grew mighty, and with it selfish, restless, dis--satisfied with our happy lot. The simplicity that characterized

the primeval days of our nationality, was deemed unbecoming a this more self styled--enlightened age. Luxury fostered general degeneracy, satiety en--gendered the corruption of our habits, vice and pride were linked together, and the incestuous alliance gave birth to the serpents that have poisoned our vitals--perjury2, fraud1 and rebellion.
But hear now what the word the Lord saith" For the evil of your hands "do you expect good? The chieftain demandeth bribe, and "the judge acteth for pay, and the great man is only speaking "the mischievous desire of his soul & clings to it. Piety best doing is like a briar, the goodness is sharper than a thorn-edge; therefore the day of thy retention requital (thy [?] hath come, now shall they become perplexity seize them" "Shall1 I count thee pure "with the wicked balances and with the bag of deceitfulness?" Ah! My Brethren! Our national iniquity has at length is being visited upon us; we are requited only commensurately with our delinquencies. Alas! that the messenger of divine wrath has not been permitted, like in the days of yore, to pass over the houses marked with the tokens of innocence. Death and dearth have with pitiless indi--scrimination gathered their spoil. Many, many hearths where

joy reigned, are overspread with gloom. The mother whose promising son lies entombed in the ensanguined battle-field; the wife whose agonizing thoughts follow her life-copartner now to the wearisome march, anon to the fierce conflict; the sister whose brother languishes in a dungeon, where patriotism is exposed to a fiery ordeal, they, who are not amenable before the heavenly tribunal for the crime that has brought on this land a terrible scourge, they uplift their souls unto God in utter anguish and pray for comfort and deliverance. For their sake must we jointly this day address the throne of grace. The Chief Executive of our beloved Union, has been specially mindful of the sorrows of "the widows and orphans, of "the mourners and sufferers because of the lamentable civil strife in "which we are unavoidably engaged." He has expressed the desire that we should "commend them to the tender care of our beneficent "Father who dwelleth in the heavens," but our intreaties my beloved hearers! must be accompanied by deeds of charity. It is highly due to them

and imperative on us that we should evince active sympathy towards the relicts and offspring of those who flew to the rescue of a common mother when verging on death a precipice. It is incumbent principally on us to lighten the burthen of such among them, who need human succour. I say on us, as denziens of Pennsylvania, because our obligation to them is greater perhaps than that of any other state. Their sacrifice at the shrine of American honor has purchased our safety. Twice have the arms of the dear objects, who tore themselves from their embraces to respond to their country's call, averted from these shores borders impending dangers. The calamity which an assailing host urged to desperation, would have entailed upon our Community, exceeds any calculation. To the stigma which its success would have indelibly stamped on our escutcheon, would have also been added the certain de--pletion of our granaries, and the drainage of our vast resources. "The inimical sword would have destroyed without, and terror made havoc within, both of the youth man & the virgin, the suckling infant with the man of gray hairs." Shame & penury, and devastation & horror would have been

the vestiges of a long contemplated and adroitly planned invasion. But the vigilance of our brave defenders was our shield and buckler. It effectually thwarted the devices of our adversaries, and saved us and our children as at this day. Let us then prove ourselves worthy of the deliverance they wrought we experienced; worthy of the self-denial and brotherly affection that have wrought it. But our sense of thankfulness to mortals, should not abstract our minds from the debt of gratitude we owe the Immortal Protec--tor of our existence--the Sovereign of the Universe. Amidst trials most severe and of unequalled magnitude, occasioned by our own perversity, we experienced His paternal compassion. He made us palpably feel that man's wickedness did not quench the love He has ever borne to America. Though we have reasons to lament, with the words of my text, that "His lamp has not shone over our heads as in the years that have gone by, when at by its light we could walk in darkness"; though a veil raised by our misdeeds, separated us from our Eternal Creator, still, the rays of His mercy pierced it, and we were not chilled with despair.

We ate at His luxuriant table; He made our cup brimful with new oil. If the last season reduced us to lassitude, the present diffused through our bodies its balmy and invigorating effects. The Author of nature amplified the resources placed at our disposal. He stimulated labour, and gave a stranger impulse to the wheel of commerce. But why shall I trespass on your time, by the reiteration of that which has been most fittingly set forth? My beloved hearers! The motives which ought to prompt your loyal hearts souls to pour forth thanks and praises in the presence of Almighty God, have been well discussed in the proclamations of both your Governor & President. They are innumerable, and, under the existing deplorable circumstances,--most cheering to the cause we all have at heart. But it would ill comport with my station, as it surpasses my capacity, to describe the exploits achieved at Vicksburg or on the Rapid[?] & Port-Hudson. On the plains of Gettysburg or at Chattanooga. To portray the indomitable courage exhibited by our army, and the all-conquering

perseverance of our Navy. It is to me a source of extreme joy when I perceive that "the theatre of our military conflict has been greatly contracted" and the ensign of order waves over the ramparts of disorganization, for, such progress is the dawn announcing the sun which will bring healing in its wings to our national troubles; still the task of dilating upon those momentous events, must be left to better abler and more suitable speakers. But there is a point in the history of the year which is near its close, that has not been adverted to, but in which we, as Pennsylvanians, ought greatly to glory. When I recall to mind the scenes of blood enacted in a neighbouring state; the loose passions that found vent in the slaughtering of a hapless and inoffensive men caste of men, the combining of all sinister devices to oppose the application of the law, I believe I utter but the truth when I say that our state is not alone the Keystone of the Union, but the brightest gem of its crown. In her midst the majesty of the law is considered inviolable.

She is a bright exemplar of self-government, the best exponent of loyalty. Let this gratifying thought be an additional incentive to our thanksgi--ving. Pennsylvania will never swerve from the path of national rectitude she has voluntarily chosen. The Mistress of inexhaustible treasures, she will not rear with them a structure to state-pride, but generously pour them out for the preservation of the Monument raised to Federalism Unity. Faithful to the ancient original covenant, she will share with her sisters, the burthen necessarily laid upon her, as she was, in happier days, the participant of their greatness. The historian that shall transmit to posterity the records of our intestine war, will point her out as the sustaining power of the old, matchless and masterly constitution. Ascribe glory then to the Most High God, ye inhabitants of this noble Common--wealth. Offer Him thanks that your lot has been cast in so fa--vorable a region. Beseech Him to engraft in the breasts of yall your fellow-citizens the sentiment of loyalty that

distinguishes you. To breathe new life into the dry-bones moulde--ring under the influence of a meridional sun, to infuse a new spirit into them, that they may rise with a single will to vindicate the honor of a common country, to reestablish its supremacy lofty position among the family of nations, to bring in everlasting peace, union and prosperity to all those whose immortal ancestors taught the the world the value of civil and religious liberty. Then will the years, whose departure I have lamented, return to us with fulness of joy. God Himself will be the Custodian of our immunities. His lamp will perennially shine over us, at by its light we shall walk in darkness. And like the primeval days of their guileless simplicity, all the children of fre regenerated America will set on her head a crown of glory. She shall be called the "Joyous;" the "Happy."

Eternal God! The heavens upon which Thou hast impressed the seal of Thy infinite power, attest that Thou art their only author, and all created nature, in harmonious strains

reechoes that truth. But like Thy might, so is Thy wisdom traced in the footsteps of the universe, and glorious is indeed the lot of those, who can follow them with a discerning eye. They will enter the palace of the Supreme King, who is holds in His hand the threads of sublunary events. In every ill beneath which nations succumb; in all the vicissitudes they endure, they will behold Thy unchangeable providence O Lord! directing man--kind to its destined goal. But we--limited in our mental vision, cannot rise to so exalted a standard. We frail beings, are tossed all-day on the waves of terrestrial incidents. Where shall we then, in our human infirmities, seek strength and comfort?..... Unto Thee O Father we will pour out our souls, and Thou wilt soothe them with the balm of divine hope. We pray that ere another cycle of twelve months be carried into the bosom of eternity, the dire calamity which afflicts our land, may be counted among things that have passed.

We pray that like the genial light sun, which at this season brightens our horizon, so may a softening influence from above pervade the national sky overspread with clouds, and restore its serenity. Send O Our Creator! A heavenly beacon, to guide America aright into the path of social progress. (Suffer not the scorching rays of a meridional sun to consume a Then will all Thy creatures rejoice in Thee, & Thy name be glorified upon earth as it is in the heavens. fair portion of our heritage, but grant that its intensity be subdured, and we may bask again in its gentler heat. (Then will Thy creatures rejoice in Thee, and Thy name be ever glorified in our midst.) Beneficent King who healest the broken hearted and bindest up their wounds, deign to send a speedy cure to the moral pangs borne by the lovers of this country, and to the physical sufferings of its noble defenders. Let Thy countenance O Most High God! shine upon our patriots and soldiers, it will comfort them and assuage their sorrows. Unto the mourners also, whom this greatly to be deplored war has bereaved of dear relatives, grant a power of resignation to Thy inscrutable will. Let them be soothed by the thought of a happier hereafter, where no heart aches, and no soul is anguished,

but calm and joy reigns supreme. We implore Thee O Most High Omnipotent! to vouchsafe the continuance of Thy mercy to the Commonwealth, in which our portion has been cast. Grant it salubrious air, that we may breathe perfect health, a fertile soil that we may be nourished with abundant food; faithful and vigilant guardians that we may lie down in peace, and our repose be not interrupted by the clamour of inimical hosts. And for the needy and hapless children, we fervently beseech Thee O Gracious Lord! Hasten to their succour in these troublous times. Let charity--that heavenly virtue--strike a sympathetic chord in our breasts, and that they will may melt at the sight of tribulation that they will may not shrink within themselves, appalled at the pro--spect of reverses, but that committing the future into Thy merciful hand, thy creatures will may freely dispesne of their own to their indigent brethren, for, "he that hath pity on the poor, lendeth unto Thee" and Thou wilt reward him ten--fold from the treasures of Thy illimitable goodness. May this be Thy pa--ternal will O God, & bring it soon to pass for the sake of those who confide in Thy name and daily await for Thy deliverance. Amen.

Identifier

p3gx45d9z

identifier

SMBx11FF5_8