A Discourse (on the New Holiday,) Preached in Harvard Church: On Sunday February 22, 1857

Excerpt from A Discourse (on the New Holiday,) Preached in Harvard Church

Strong faith and fresh feeling, and a real or sup posed authority, an occasion, an adequate purpose are required to make the mark on such a day, to estab lish it, to win its first regard in spontaneous senti ment. Masses of men and women require a reason for such an observance. They will not suspend their toil nor forego their private pleasure, to weep or to rejoice, to lament or to dance, unless they know why they should do so, and can answer with their hearts to the call upon them. Once established, with a geod reason, a sufficient occasion, the day will retain by national or religious associations the claim which it first advanced. Pleasant hopes will anticipate its coming, and happy memories will linger after its departure. So were the three great Jewish Feasts consecrated. The observance of them by the people was the most signal token not only of their firm belief in their religion, but also that they had good reasons for that belief in the occurrence of events, in the facts which those days commemorated. So the Passover, and the Feasts of Tabernacles and of Pen tecost carried with them the warrant on a people's faith and love.