Research Guides: Religious Aspects of the American Civil War: Thanksgiving Day Sermons

Thanksgiving Sermons

Thanksgiving was made a national holiday by proclamation of Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Before 1863, however, many local and national leaders proclaimed similar holidays. These sermons reveal the interesting intersection of Christian reflection on what is a secular or civic holiday.

Arranged by date.

November 1860

Haven, Gilbert. Te Deum Laudamus: The Cause and the Consequence of the Election of Abraham Lincoln: A Thanksgiving Sermon Delivered in the Harvard St. M.E. Church, Cambridge, Sunday Evening, Nov. 11, 1860. Boston: J. M. Hewes, 1860.
Bushnell, Horace. The Census and Slavery: A Thanksgiving Discourse, Delivered in the Chapel at Clifton Springs, N. Y., November 29, 1860. Hartford: Published by Lucius E. Hunt, 1860.
Eldridge, Azariah. A Sermon Preached to the United Congregations in Fort Street, Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1860. Detroit: Barns, French & Way, 1860.
Ellis, George Edward. "The Preservation of the States United": A Discourse Delivered in Harvard Church, Charlestown, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29, 1860. Charlestown: Abram E. Cutter, 1860.
Fewsmith, Joseph. Prayer for Rulers, Hope for our Country: A Sermon Preached in the Second Presbyterian Church, Newark, N. J., Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1860. Newark, N. J.: A. Stephen Holbrook, 1860.
Palmer, Benjamin Morgan. Thanksgiving Sermon Delivered at the First Presbyterian Church, New Orleans, on Thursday, December 29, 1860. New York, G. F. Nesbitt, Printers, 1861.

November 1861

Note: November 21, 1861, was the official date in Maine and Massachusetts for Thanksgiving Day; in most other states, the date was November 28th. Local practice actually varied.

Beecher, Henry Ward. War and Emancipation: A Thanksgiving Sermon, Preached in the Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. on Thursday, November 21, 1861. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Brothers, 1861?
Clark, Frederick Gorham. Thankfulness, Its Occasions and Responsibilities: A Sermon Preached in the West Twenty-Third Street Presbyterian Church, City of New York, on Thanksgiving-Day, Nov. 28th, 1861. New York: Ivison, Phinney & Co., 1861.
Dix, Morgan. God's Mercies Towards the Nation: A Sermon Preached in St. Paul's Chapel, New York, Thanksgiving Day, 1861. New York: F. J. Huntington, 1861.
Edgar, Cornelius Henry. Germs and Growth, or Elements and Evidences of National Permanence: A Sermon Preached on the Day of Thanksgiving, November 28, 1861 .... New York: Baker & Godwin, 1861.
Mead, Hiram. Occasions for Gratitude in the Present National Crisis: A Sermon Preached in the Meeting-House of the First Congregational Church, of South Hadley. South Hadley, Mass.: G. Morgan Smith; Northampton: Trumbull & Gere. 1861.
Spring, Gardiner. State Thanksgiving during the Rebellion: A Sermon Preached November 28, 1861. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1862.
Shaw, Linus Hall. The War and its Cause: A Sermon Preached at Sudbury, Mass., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 21, 1861, at a Union Meeting of the Religious Societies of the Town. Waltham: Press of Josiah Hastings, 1861.
Wadsworth, Charles. Thanksgiving: A Sermon Preached in the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, on Thursday, November 28, 1861. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Brothers, 1861.
Walker, George, Leon. What the Year Has Done for Us: A Sermon Preached in the State Street Church, Portland, on the Occasion of the Annual Thanksgiving, November 21, 1861. Portland: Brown Thurston, 1861.
West, Nathaniel. Establishment in National Righteousness and Present Causes for Thanksgiving: A Sermon Preached in the Second Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 28, 1861. New York: J.F. Trow, printer, 1861.
Whitcomb, William Charles. Praising God in Troublous Times: A Thanksgiving Discourse Delivered in Lynnfield Centre and Stoneham, November 21, 1861. Salem, Mass.: Printed at the Office of the Gazette and Mercury, 1861.

April 1862

Furness, William Henry. A Thanksgiving Discourse Delivered in the First Congregational Unitarian Church in Philadelphia April 13th 1862, in Accordance with the Recommendation of the President of the United States. Philadelphia: T.B. Pugh, 1862.
Hale, Edward Everett, The Future Civilization of the South: A Sermon Preached, on the 13th of April, 1862, at the South Congregational Church, Boston. Boston?: 1862.
White, William Orne. Our Struggle Righteous in the Sight of God: A Sermon Preached in the Church of the Keene Congregational Society, Sunday Morning, April 13, 1862, the Day of Thanksgiving for the Nation's Victories. Keene: G. & G.H. Tilden, 1862.
Willson, Edmund Burke. Reasons for Thanksgiving: A Sermon Preached in the North Church, Salem, April 20, 1862. Salem: Printed at the Observer Office, 1862.

November-December 1862

Clark, Frederick Gorham. Gold in the Fire: Our National Position: A Sermon Preached in the West Twenty-Third Street Presbyterian Church, City of New York, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27th, 1862. New York: John H. Duyckinck, 1862.
Johnson, Herrick. The Nation's Duty: a Thanksgiving Sermon Preached in the Third Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Thursday, November 27, 1862. Pittsburgh: W. S. Haven, 1862.
Leavitt, William Solomon. God the Protector and Hope of the Nation: A Sermon Preached on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1862. Hudson: Bryan & Webb, 1862.
Thomson, Edward. The Confederated Republic of Israel: A Sermon Preached in the Seventh-Street M.E. Church, N.Y., on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1862. New York: Carlton & Porter, 1862?
Tyler, George Palmer. Our Nationality: A Discourse Delivered before the Congregational Society, at Brattleborough, Vt. on Thanksgiving Day, December 4, 1862. Boston: J.E. Farwell and Company, 1862.

August 1863

Couch, Paul. A Sermon Preached in the First Congregational Church of Stonington, Conn., August 6th, 1863, Being the Day Appointed by the President of the United States for National Thanksgiving. New York: Willard Felt & Co., 1863.
Ferris, Isaac. The Duties of the Times: Preached on the National Thanksgiving, August 6, 1863, in the University Place Presbyterian Church. New York: John A. Gray and Green, 1863.
Includes a copy of the President's proclamation
Scripture: Matthew 22:21
Furness, William Henry. Our American Institutions: A Thanksgiving Discourse Delivered in the First Congregational Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, August 6th, 1863. Philadelphia: T.B. Pugh, 1863.
Gierlow, John. A Discourse on the Times, Preached August 6, 1863, being the Day Appointed by the President for National Thanksgiving. Augusta: Maine Farmer Office. 1863.
Jackson, John Walker. The Union--the Constitution--Peace: A Thanksgiving Sermon Delivered in the Locust St. M. E. Church, Harrisburg, Pa.: August 6, 1863. Harrisburg: "Telegraph" Steam Book and Job Office, 1863.
Livermore, Leonard Jarvis. What We Have to be Thankful For: A Sermon, on Occasion of the National Thanksgiving, Preached at Lexington, Ms., August 6, 1863. Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin & Son, 1863.
Newton, Richard. God's Marvellous Doing for the Nation: A Sermon Preached on the Day Appointed by the President for National Thanksgiving and Prayer, in the Church of the Epiphany, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: William F. Murphy & Sons, 1863.
Smith, Henry. God in the War: A Discourse Preached in Behalf of the U.S. Christian Commission on the Day of the National Thanksgiving, August 6th, 1863. 2d ed. Buffalo: Wheeler, Matthews & Warren, 1863.
more...less...
University of Michigan Library copy of the 1st edition

November 1863

Bellows, Henry Whitney. The National Instinct Our Guide through the War: An Address Given on Occasion of the National Thanksgiving, November 26, 1863. New York: James Miller, 1863.
Brooks, Phillips. Our Mercies of Re-Occupation: A Thanksgiving Sermon, Preached at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, November 26, 1863. Philadelphia: W.S. & A. Martien, 1863.
Coxe, Arthur Cleveland. Unjust Reproaches, in Public Calamity, Viewed as Part of the Divine Discipline: A Sermon Preached in Calvary Church on the Day of National Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 1863. New York: C. A. Alvord, 1863.
Eddy, Richard. The Necessity for Religion in Politics: A Sermon Preached to the United Congregation of Universalists, in Philadelphia, in the Second Church, Thanksgiving Morning, November 26th, 1863. Philadelphia: King & Baird, 1863.
Einhorn, David. Sermon Delivered on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, 1863. Philadelphia: Stein & Jones, 1863.
McKenzie, Alexander. A Sermon Delivered in the South Parish Church, Augusta, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1863. Augusta: Printed at the Kennebec Journal Office, 1863.
Street, Thomas. A Sermon Preached in the Presbyterian Church, York, Pa., on the Day of National Thanksgiving, November 26, 1863. Philadelphia: Henry B. Ashmead, 1863.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Our National Discipline: A Thanksgiving Sermon Preached in the First Presbyterian Church, Troy, N.Y., Nov. 26, 1863. Troy, N. Y.: A. W. Scribner, Printer, 1863.
Washburn, Daniel. A Sermon Delivered on the Day of National Thanksgiving, November 26, 1863, in Trinity Church, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: McCalla, 1863.
Wharton, Francis. A Willing Reunion not Impossible: A Thanksgiving Sermon Preached at St. Paul's, Brookline, November 26, 1863. Boston: E.P. Dutton, 1863.

November 1864

De Normandie, James. Christian Peace: A Discourse Delivered on the Occasion of the National and State Thanksgiving, November 24, 1864. Portsmouth, N.H.: C.W. Brewster & Son, printers, 1864.
Edgar, Cornelius Henry. God's Help: The Ground of Hope for our Country: A Sermon Preached on the Day of National Thanksgiving, November 24, 1864, in the Reformed Dutch Church, Easton, Pa. New York: Baker & Godwin, 1864.
Gibson, William Thomas. The Revolt of Absalom and the Necessary Triumph of Union: A Discourse Pronounced in Grace Church, Utica, on Occasion of the Annual State and National Thanksgiving, November 24th, 1864. Utica, N. Y., Curtiss & White, 1864.
Shaw, Linus Hall. The Black Man and the War: A Sermon Preached at Sudbury, Mass., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1864, before the Union Meeting of the Religious Societies of the Town. Waltham: Hastings' "Sentinel" Office, 1864.
Stebbins, Horatio. The President, the People, and the War: A Thanksgiving Discourse. San Francisco: Charles F. Robbins & Co., printers, 1864.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. The Lord of War and of Righteousness: A Thanksgiving Sermon Preached in the First Presbyterian Church, Troy, N. Y., Nov. 24, 1864. Troy, N. Y.: A. W. Scribner, Printer, 1864.

December 1865

Cummins, Alexander G. The Christian Church's Duty to the Freedmen: A Sermon Preached on Thanksgiving Day, December 7, 1865, in Christ Church, Reading, Pa. Philadelphia: Sherman & Co., 1865.
Hawley, Silas. National Reconstruction: The Glory and the Shame of a Nation: A Thanksgiving Sermon, Preached December 7, 1865, at a Union Service in Lockland, Ohio. Cincinnati: Western Tract and Book Society, 1866.
Lee, Henry Washington. The Great Deliverance: A Sermon Preached in the Chapel of Griswold College, Davenport, on the Day of National Thanksgiving, Thursday, December 7, 1865. Davenport: Luce and Griggs, 1865.
Syle, Edward William. The Perpetuity of National Life: A Sermon Delivered on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Dec. 7, 1865, in Christ Church, Pelham, N. Y. New York: Jas. W. Trubshaw, 1865.
Tillinghast, Nicholas Power. A Thanksgiving Sermon Delivered at St. John's Church, Georgetown on Thursday, December, 7, 1865. Washington, D. C.: McGill & Witherow, 1865.

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