The Scranton tribune. (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, November 26, 1897, Page 5, Image 5

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    THE SCI? ANTON TRIBUNE-FRIDAY MORNING-, NOVJflMBEIl 20. 18DT.
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THANKSGIVING DAY
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ELM PARK AND PENN
AVENUE BAPTISTS.
Held Union Services in the Church of
Former Congregation.
SERMON BY REV. DR. C. Al. GIFPIN
It Was nu JJIoquont Jlllort nml Wns
Listened to Willi llio Greatest At
tentionContained Mirny Valiialilo
Thouglits-OInsic Wns u Special
I'cnturu or the Scrvlcos--Solos by
Mrs. i:. G. Wordcn, Alfred Woolor
nnd Ulclinrd Tliomns.
A huge congregation attended the
union services of the Penn Avenue Bap
tist and Elm Park Methodists In the
ohuieh of the hitter yesterduy morning.
Rev. Dr. C. M. Glllln gave the address,
which was heard with the utmost In
terest and pleasure.
Haydn Evans, of the Haptlst church,
played the prelude a Scherzo of Miller.
Rev. Dr. Dixon offered prayer. The
Gloria from Mozart's Twelfth Muss
was effectively rendered ly the Penn
avenue choir. Mr. .1. Alfred Penning
ton played us the offertory "Woly's Pas
torale In F; his postlude was a Thanks
giving march. Mrs. K. G. "U'orden sang
beautifully "Praise the Lord," by
Fame, nnd the duet by Alfred Wooler
und Illelmtd Thomas, by Parry, was
one of the delightful features of the
morning.
The subject of Dr. Glllln's address
was "The American Axe." The text
Was:
"Shall the nxe boast Itself against
him th heweth therewith?" Isaiah
x, 15. H said:
Tho prophet was referring to nations
and rulers. It Is an appropriate Into! ro
gation for such an occasions as this
our national Thanksgiving, lie Indicate.
that tho instrument might assert Inde
pendence. Communities and Individuals
wcro machineries to be used by the in
Jlnlte to execute his purposes. The axe is
only an agent. Hearting the text again
wc must ay that tho American axe has
a tendency toward boasting rather than
blessing. Tho celebrated tool with which
Gladstone cuts down tho trees on his cs
tato wouldn't bo us wise In insisting that
credit was due to It and not to tho drlvo
in tho grand old man's muscle. Let him
quit hewing and it has no history. It
takes a proclamation of our executive to
vail tho attention of this productive pco
plo ftom themselves to the real energy
operating In their schemes and successes,
Homo would blot Thanksgiving day ftom
our calendar as an Insult to our Ingenuity
nnd Industry, suggesting that God is a
Jlctlon and man the fact, llio pious pa
pers of our rulers are regarded as blas
phemy against tho race that has downed
tho trees and brought Improvement to
Ms reign In this territory. Kven heathens
rebuko such, for tho Chinese, so detest-
ablo to some, send their sovereign as
their high priest yearly to tho Temple of
Cleaven at Pekln to represent all in ac
knowledgment of their indebtedness to the
Influlto Power. Queen Victoria confess
edly reigns by "tho grace of God." Shall
America be atheistic? A wild talker, who
ha I Itinerated through several Isms until
he Is boyond all fences, said recently: "I
think it is not a good thing for peoplo
to bellcvo In God. I think It Is a had
tiling" Somo think with him. The pro
fanation of Sabbath and neglect of tho
san. I jnrv shows ho has disciples. Gorg
ing if a good thing whllo glorifying God
J the worship of un inherited supersti
tion. If there Is a God Ho Is tho property
of the i hurch folks, let such recognlzo
,1dm If they ase, Thes-e say that to
it hem be Is .
'earth's movem
in, discernible fnctur In
Materialism has ban-
ished him with ti. yths. Let those who
hue 1IM. n fnr tho i rch hell, they will
linen tur the dinner nell. Are we pessi
mists if -., hearing, we ask Is the Amcr
i. an axe boasting Itself? Theaters full,
dance houses crowded, saloons with extra
patronge, whllo churches have to unllo
In groups to gather enough to use tho
plural words in the service we, us, our.
DOKS NOT FILL, THE TIlMl'LKS.
The proclamation shuts tho shops, but
does not 1111 the temples and what was tot
' apart for devotion is given to diversion.
It has been said we aro running to word
and tongue. If this Is to self assertion
apart from God, it Is a downward and not
an upward tendency. Those calls from
Washington and Harrlsburg are llko
ghosts from an almost forgotten world,
suggesting that "- are lu arrears ot
pralso should honestly pay our debt to
tho Ileal Ono who has worked by us.
It Is not a rellshable suggestion Unit wo
are misplacing credits. Somo may say
this Is not a good appetizer Into which
to prepare the viands beforo them. Sl
leneo theso men who speak for God, sub
stitutlng gratitude for gladness. Instead
of thinking of God let us think of men,
tho hungry, the needy Yea. Who give
most help those who deny tho Maker?
Charity Is a child of Christianity. All tho
food skeidlcs will scrd to tho suffering
this day from New York to San Francisco
would not make a light lunch for a small
orphan asylum. Pity for tho human Is no
FUbstltuto for pralso to tho divine. Why
does tho American axe Incline to self
boasting? First Immense self-conscious-licss.
Tho ilnlto Is in his leeling to tho
front npd so Impressed that he does not
see beyond. Tho Hebrew statements as
to divine energy everywhere potential are
tolerated as poetry not as truth. Amer
icans do so much, thero is no need for
God to do anything. Second Apprecia
tion of second causes has removed tho
Almighty from Immediate, action whero
onco Ho alono was supposed to be at
work, until He Is suspected as not having
any placo In human history. Wo do not
llnd him here, perhaps IIo Is nowhere.
Tho laboratory haj reported a new Deity,
named Force, a tiansmlssablo Fometlung
that may wear myriad shapes as heat,
motion, light, theso being the labels on
' tho Idols In tho Pantheon of Science. Car
ylo says; "Tho word inspiration still lin
gers but only us the name of a pootlo
figure from which tho onco oarnest. aw
ful, soul-subduing senso has vanished."
Ho God Is a word, with no touch of tho
eternal, no thrill from beyond, In It; tho
axo works Itself I
Homo who do not see Gftrt In tho usual
may admit him lu tho extraordinary. Of
courso wo hud to havo him when we cut
the chains that bound us to IJnglund.
He was in tho strokes that constructed
our constitution, every ono sees tho
marks of tho moro than human tho.ro,
What Is tho sense of dragging God Into a
year tamo na the last? Wo havo spas,
medio use for the Lord. A civil wur calls
for His Intervention, but averago states-
nanshlp can run tho government In theso
realm days. As If God came into affairs at
Intervals. The ugo of miracles Is not so
awful as this very nay when IIo is mak-
ting so much uso ot human aids. "Tho
reastost miracle is to no wunoui row
lie. Pity that man gets so much of tho
ry. In this republic thero is Homing
Wr than the almlghtly dollar, it is tno
greatness that makes It." Cuesar sold,
Vcnl, villi, vlcl. Charles V said Void
Vldl seil Cliristus vlolt." Americans
ouoto Caesar. Wo aro tho men who have
donn It. Ot courso It thero Is nn upset
lu our plans, wo at onco want God to
bear tho blame. IIo is credited with dis
asters, wo credited with successes. .No
wonder selMmportiilieo Is felt by tho
American nxo when we view Its works.
Human skill 1ms never made such an
exhibit. See tho crops gathered. 1 don't
tiamo tho millions of bushels, as such llg
iii es cannot bo grasped. Our gramirl-a
are overtaxed. We havo to spare for the
people's short In supply. Such lipids a
wo cultivate! Wo ale vastly lienor than
a year ago. In fuel tho resources of
Held, forest, factory aro so Immense that
llio story reads as If some genii had come
with curious arts to transmute tho earlh
Into wealth. Wo are tho licliest nation
on tho planet, lly our hmiitlve ability
we have grown in ptoduelng power so
that It Is not enough to reply to the ques
tion, what Is our population, by quot
ing tho last census footings, don't count
at tho cradles only, or nt Castlo Garden.
Count at the patent olllce, If you wish to
know how wo Increase In numbers. Eng
land Is now twenty times moro than one
nt the birth of tlir nation, lu somo lines,
uye, 200 times. If wo started with thru;
millions measured by what we can do in
twelve months, we have six hundred mil
lions. Talk nbout the hordes of the oat.
Never such things on earth ns In United
States if we guagc.by their producing
power. When this picture Is seen It Is
hard for the axo to say, I am only nn
ngent. We say we are doing wonder.
No moro so than the Illy Is wearing Its
loveliness. God clothes It, so He does.
Wo are en rod for by our co-opcratlon.
Ho endows us In the faculties and excites
them to right use. That should start our
songs to him as surely as the falling rain
or sunshine.
TH.MTATION'S PIUDH.
Tho vast hewing of the axe becomes Its
temptation to pi Ida. Across the conti
nent, tho original woods, it cut its way
and now It Is looking to clear the for
ests, build homes and produce, the most
unlciiio civilization the wot Id ever saw.
It blazed the tiees around our national
limits so that we iiiiiudo a fine propi rty.
Slnglo states out'-lzu great kingdom -.
Texas Is large than Austria and could
produce mure eotion than Is now ion
sumcnl by the world! In this print space
wo havo Inaugurated the tulii prise of
self-government and carried it tnroiivh
wars with foreign foes nnd through ih
'harder test of Internal strlfo and are us
buoyant as If never opposed. Our nation
changes political holds with less ferment
than a sewing society can elect a new
president. We have had a Hew udmltiH
lstratlon begin since our lust Thanksgiv
ing. A hot of "Ins" counted to "outs"
nnd the world does not settle on Its axis
us If affairs were out of Joint. The new
group swarmed up to their coveted op
portunity to serve the land and the for
mer occupants dropped back into the or
dinary tanks. Most of them, I mean. A
few are waiting with hands In pockets
for the next change to Hunt them back
In power. They believe with Charles V
that tho country is to be consljcied ns
like "tho dew that Is In the wet and the
only thought Is as to the division of the
(-kin. Growling yonder they ask whit
reason have we for thnnklng God to
day, and we reply that you have all tho
lienors of American citizens left to you,
tho right to battle back into rule by law
ful means and during that time the priv
ilege of picking Haws In tho now adminis
tration. Tl.at our republic stands this
transfer of ni'thorhy with hardly n jar is
wonderful. Such inflammatory tall. In -
fore that Tuesday In November. Alb
tho drop of the ballots on the day of
fate, the angry tones aro hushed and wo
cease to be partisan and nro all Ameri
cans. Seeing that things go on so reg
ularly wo aro prune to uso tho day to
pat ourselves on the back, saying won
derful peoplo We are. Tho axe boasts.
II. Admitting all it has done let us sec
what it must do nnd If there Is no irni
of divine help. Do we know where to
placo the edge on individualism to curve
It to proper limits? All governments ha e
lou ml it hard to proportion the man and
tho monardi. Ruskln knew of the com
position of n picture yet mistook us to
what should go Into n nation. He said:
"1 will bo u king's man and not a mob's
man." Ho meant he was for much ruler
and less people. Wo cut down the slnglo
throne and set up many thrones. Wis
dom Is not solely lu a multitude nny morn
than in one. If we have kept the indi
vidual from being lost in the mass, o
that the citizen as such, Pas dignity and
safety wo ought to pralso God. Mingling
with that should be a prayer for his a.d
to get rid of that lordly meddler and ina.i
ager. tho tyrant In tho republic, the po
litical boss, lly Ills mnclilnery men are
destmyed as self ruled units and havo
no mure meaning In voting than the
chewing gum where you put a penny In
the slot and out It pops. The experiment
of universal sulfruge is at thy stage when
false growths need to be cut away. Vne
axe should clean out tho rubblsH from
tho primaries so that decent citizens can
go whero tho tickets nra mado without
fearing they aro venturing Into a thicket
full of savago beasts. The old system of
voting wo havo cut up for kindling and
now surround each voter with that pri
vacy and protection lu which he vm
discharge his duty to the land.
NOT KASV TO TItlM.
It Is not easy to so trim relations ' -tween
Individuals and the community
that tho liberty of ono is not an outrage
on tho many. We have heard of perso-iul
liberty until wo must master the ques
tion whether murder, however slo.v,
shall be legalized because ono wli-iies
to commit tho crlmo and tho victim Is
willing to bo Main. Alcohol has built its
defenses out ot hard material and the
edgo of tho axo Is not strong
enough to out them down unless
tho omnipotent wields tho tool. Huf
tlcleiu powder will put a soft candlo
through a. thick lioard. Let the Almighty
swing tho axo and the protections nbout
the liquor business will be In viin. r
see several places for tho wisest hewing.
uno is in nxnig the limits or permlssnble
teaching that wars with th welf.ue of
society. Shall a religion m.ouIhio oh
hceno books In which adult "rv Is peri
lled, treason to national laws .Jus'lIUi
und woman made to believe her .teuvcii
will bo higher ob her husband Is more
numerously divided with otn r whit?
Shall any church be perml'-d to in.d.'t
on tho loyalty of its constituuii" ji a
foreign court? Shall nny sect or society
bo allowed to reach Into the public treas
ury to get funds to maintain religious
Institutions, so In effect uniting that
church and the state? Ought not tho uxe
to strlko off tho hands that daro such
thefts?
When shnll wo cut tho lino between
tho liberty ami license of press nml
speech? Shall tho anarchist, expelled
elsewhere, bo allowed hero to circulate
his destruction theory "down with nil
that Is up and up with everything that
Is down," us If somo things down should
not bo hurled rather than elevated? Shall
trusts bo permitted or cut off as con
federacies of evil for the jobbery of the
people? Shall tho Sabbath bo turned Into
a secular day with tho rush of busi
ness driving uway all moral effort? Shall
stato rights be so interpreted as to en
danger national security, or shall the
Items In the Union be treated as servants
of that Union? Shall we, after morticing
this groat national struoturo Into its sea
to sea proportions, cut out connecting
plus by which to annex, territory out
side continent lines? Having inud.e a
good speculation In buying Alaska, sup
posed to bo only a refrigerator, turning
nut to bo tho land of gold, possibly by
its yield to settle the yellow metal ouh
tlon, shall we risk the Juncture with th
IComlnued on J'uise 7,1
AT THE SCRANTON
STREET CHURCH
Cniigrcjallon ot the West Side Held a
Union Service.
REV. F. P. DOTV WAS THE SPEAKER
Itev, R. !'. Jlnttliow), Pnslor of tho
Chinch U'tis in Cluugo ol llio Ser
vice and itev. .1. V. Mollltt, of the
Washburn Street 1'rcsbylcrlnn
Church, OHercd the Invocation.
I'iuu Musicnl l,roBrnmniC"Mr.
Holy's Thouglillul Itcmnrks.
The only union services In West
Prrantr.n In observance of tho day ot n,
general thankful spirit was conducted
at tho Seranton Street Haptlst church
yesterday morning.
Services was begun lit 10."0 o'clock.
Mis. P. G. Hoddoe, church nrganlfct,
played the voluntary nfter which tho
doxology was sung by the congrega
tion. J lev. H. V. Matthews, pastor of
the church, who presided, pronounced
the benediction. The Invocation was
given In :i few simple words fraught
with the !pltit of tho hour, by llov.
J. P. Moffntt, pastor of the W.ishburn
Street Presbyterian church.
A liyinu announced bv ltev. L. II.
Foster, pastor ot tho Sumner avenue
Presbyterian church, wua bung. Hev.
J. I.. Sweet, pastor of tho Simpson
Methedlst church, read tho Scripture
lesson and prayer was offered by Itev.
W. L. Peck. After the singing of the
hymn, as announced by ltev. J. P. Mof
futt, an ofi'erlns was taken for tho 'West
Side hospital.
Tito oll'ortory was pronounced by
Tlev. S. P. Mttthews nnd the choir
rendered a beautiful anthem. The ser
mon, which was preached bv Rev. F.
P. Doty, pastor of tho Hampton Street
Methodist church, pro vol deeply inter
esting to the large congregation pres
ent. Ills ftormon In substance Is print
ed herewith.
lie eh'nso as his text that passage
from First Samuel, vll:12: "Kbcnezer,
hitherto Imlli tins Lord helped us." and
carried out the meaning in the fol
lowing words:
Mil. DUTY'S SKIIMON.
In the midst of tho excitement of men
straining every nerve and power of body
and brain. In the race for position and
Wealth, we have this day the strange
spectacle of To millions of people pausing
to observe a day of prayer and Thanks
giving unto Almighty God.
Our president and tho governors of the
separate states unite in recommending
tho observance of this clay.
In remote ages past, it was the custom
of tho people to set up monumental
stones to commemorate events which
,re of peculiar interest to them.
! ' nig the lifetime of Samuel, the
tr .t prophet und Judge of Israel, the
1 Philistines made war against Israel.
JehoMih came to the assistance of Ills
people, and speaking In tones ot thunder,
tilled tho heaits ot the Philistines with
fi nr, so that their host was panic-stricken
und lied beforo the army of Israel.
My text records that Samuel took a
stouo und set It up between Mlzpeh and
Hhcw, jihil called the stone Hbenezer, or
tile stono of help. It recorded God's
Providential deliverance of Israel, and
was a monument of their gratitude to
Him. On this day we assemble here and
set up our "Kbcnezer." "Hitherto lutth
the Lord helped us."
Thanksgiving Day Is America's mon
umental stone, erected In recognition of
the Dlvino help and favor in the past.
It was first bet up on Dec. 21, 1C21, by
order of Governor Ilrndfoid, upon which
dny he and tho Colonists gave thanks
for tho bountiful harvest that year, con
sisting of forty bushels of Indian corn.
Fiom time to time, with moro or less reg
ularity, u day of thanksgiving was ob
served, until nbout 1SC2, since which dato
an an mm I observance of such a day was
established. j
On Its annual return It calls for re
flection, and to offer our trlbuto ot praise
to our Bountiful Father above."
NEAUING ITS HND.
i Tho year M7 Is Hearing Its end. Its
year M, Is Hearing Its end.
events will soo:i have passed Into history.
As w. set up our "Hbcnezer" today it
may assist us perhaps to first call up
the past in retrospect. Truly, we Amer
icans can adopt the words of Samuel,
when he raid "Hitherto hath tho Lord
helped us." America, In Its greatness, is
the marvel of tho world.
Its beginnings were but feeble. A
handful of Colonists dispersed along the
Atlantic coast holding nominal posses-
Mem ot a narrow strip of t lie territory.
have grown to bo a nation of seventy
millions possessing all tho land from tho
hikes to the gulf, nnd from ocean to
ocean. Where onco starvation stated tho
Colonist In the face, now from our boun
tiful productions of corn und wheat wo
are aide to send abroad bread to feed
starving millions In other lands.
From tho persecuted Puritans of tho
Old World God selected tho seed with
which to plant this nation in tho new.
They wero a religious peoplo who fcured
God and nothing else. A multitude of
nationalities mo represented by our pop
ul itloii. but tho lnlluenee of tho early
Puritan fathers. Ill molding our educa
tional Institutions, nnd our religious cus
toms Is felt throughout a dargo portion
of our land today.
To their sturdy manhood nnd strong
religious convictions wo aio Indebted un
d r God largely for tho honest, straight
forward, patriotic statesmen, who
In ought out of tho choas of tho eigh
teenth century this glorious republic.
God helped In thote days, In that our
fathers chooso men of known ability and
worth to represent them In tho affairs
of government. Men like Washington,
Adams, Hancock, Jefferson and others,
whoso Integrity In puullo or private life
could not bo questioned.
'They were tho men to mako a state.
They wero honest men, and tho majority
wcro aod-foarlng mem
A GLORIOUS PKUIOD.
Thus wo account for tho glorious per
iod embraced In our past history, in
vhlch tho hand of God is plainly visible
in guiding us on through a porlod of un
paralleled prosperity, to greatness and
power.
I wish now to speak of somo of tho
factors which havo promoted tho pros
perity of this nation.
First of nil, tho people who laid tho
foundation of tho institutions of tho coun
try. I have referred to tho Puritans. It
Is not alono to them, for thero wcro
otlu rs of llko spirit, who, for their strong
Protestant! religious faith wero driven to
seek a house whero freedom of cousclenco
would bo permitted them. They wero
largely of tho aggressive Anglo Saxon
race. The comjuorlng rare of tho world,
whoee mission seems to bo to march in
the van guurd of nils world's civiliza
tion. Tho transplanting of tho Anglo-Saxon
to this continent has assured tho con-qiH-'t
of tho world to this race, which,
by Its leadership in tho Inventions com-
' tacrce, mid inauu rue lures, makes It cos
ily the lending race upon tho fnco ot tho
globe.
Another agency Is the public school sys
tem, which renders tho education of the
masses possible, giving Intelligence to tho
citizen, tho only real human bulwark on
which the republic can depend.
Tho Christian religion, which Is tho
religion of tho peoplo. To this wo look
and on this depend for a standard of
morality, which shall elevate the masses,
and deliver ns from dishonesty nnd cor
ruption in public olllce.
Notice somo agencies which operate
against the national wclfaro and prog
ress. 1. Tho strained relations existing be
tween capital and Inbor, resulting
(a) In a lack of confidence of the em
ployer In the employed and "vice versa."
(h) In actual outbroaks such as lock
outs and strikes which paralyze Industry
and Impoverish tho people.
SAI1UATH DKSECItATION.
I. Tho tendency to violate the Sabbath.
(a) Hy employers,
(b) Hv pleasure seekers In various ways.
Sacred concerts, excursions leaving on
Saturday nnd Involving travel on tho
Sabbath day, bicycle riding by multitudes.
Vet 1 om happy to know that no true
Chilstlan will now mount his wheel for
pleasure on the Sabbath day.
3. Tho laxity with which sworn public
olllclals enforce the laws, or rather tho
ntubbornness with which they t of use to
enforco the law. Only cm Monday I saw
n constablo of one of tho wards ot this
city enter an unlicensed saloon with oth
ers much thu worse for strong drink.
4. And you would not expect mo to
overlook another ugency for evil vvhlen
really threatens the life of the republic.
The liquor tiatlle. It Is the ono arch
anarchist of the age. It violates every
law of God and man. It robs and de
bauches our manhood, footers the prosti
tution of our womanhood nnd with the
remorselessness of a Herod slay our chil
dren and would. It It could, crucify tho
Christ. It corrupts witnesses, Juries nnd
Judges, and by wholesale bribery at tho
elections contrives to hold the reins ot tho
federal government.
We, however, look upon these opposing
factors as Impotent to do us harm If tho
devout men and women of tho land aro
true to God nnd home and nattvo land.
Things to be thankful for: Thero aro
somo so poor that It would bo dillleult to
llnd much for which to olfer thanks even
In this land of plenty and wealth. I.earn
from their condition to thank God for
what wo have.
(a) Thank God for all the temporal
blessings enjoyed.
(b) For the return of prosperity.
(c) For tho generous philanthropy of
those who have this year given of their
wealth to endow schools of learning and
to found libraries for the public use, nnd
establish hospitals for the sick and In
jured, and for home ot the fiicndles".
IT IS UNFETTERED.
For the church of Jesus Christ unlet
tered by any nlllaiuo with the state, but
In Its freedom from secular entangle
ments comes to rich and poor alike with
lis consolation and points to tho Christ,
the Lamb of God which taketh away tho
sins of tho world. Firmly rooted nnd
grounded In tho faith of the God ot our
fathers, with our faces set toward the fu
ture. It Is well that hero wo offer thanks
giving to God and set up our Ebenczer
lomemberlng that "Hitherto hath tho
Lord helped us." Amen.
The services wero concluded with
the singing of a hymn na .nnounccd by
Rev. J. 13. Sweet, and the benediction
given by Rev. L. R. Postal'.
At the Hellevue and South Main Ave
nue "Welsh Calvnnlstio Methodist, of
which Itev. J. T. Morris and Rev. Hugh
Davlos are imstors respectively; the
First Welsh Haptlst church, the First
"Welsh Congregational church. Rev.
David Jones pastor; and Tnbcr.nn.cla
Congregational church. R"-v. D. P.
Junes, pastor, services of a similar na
ture were "-conducted. These consist
ed of the reading of Scriptures, prayer,
short talks by different persons, a short
sermon by the pastor in.l congregation
al singing, all 'n Welsh. There were
two services nt each church, one in the
afternoon at 3 o'clock and in tho even
ing at 7 o'clock.
SHORT SRRVICK.
Tile ?ougrcgatlon of St. Mark's ICvan
gellcnl Lutheran church held a short
service In tho morning. Rev. A. L.
Rumor, Ph. IX, the pastor, preached;
prayer was offered, and the choir ron
cicted several special selections. An
oflertory for charity was taken ut the
cioso of the service.
WAS GENERALLY OBSERVED.
Services Conducted in livery Chinch
in llio City.
There was not a congregation In the
city that did not have a service In
either its own edlllco or by union with
other congregations. Nearly all the
services were held In the morning.
In St. Luke's Kpiscopal church there
was Holy Communion at T.r.O o'clock In
the morning nnd again during the reg
ular mornlnsr service which began at
10.M o'clock. The sermon '..as by Rev.
K. J. Haughton. asslstnnt to Rev. Rog
ers Israel. It St. Luka's Dunmore mis
sion, St. Mark's, there was Holy Com
munion at !' o'clock.
Masses were celebrated In St. Peter's
cathedral at C.30 and 7 o'clock. A high'
tpass was sung at 8 o'clock by Rev. J.
J. H. Feeley who also made a brief
Thanksgiving address. Farmer's mass
was suns by the cathedral choir and
an offertory soprano solo by Mrs. Flor
ence Schilling.
In the Second Presbyterian church
the service was conducted by tho pas
tor, Rev. Dr. Charles 13. Robinson, who
preached a sermon appropriate to the
day. Music ot a special nature was
rendered under the direction of the or
ganist. J. M. Chance.
At tho First Presbyterian church tho
pastor, Rev. Dr. James McL?o., was
assisted by Rev. Dr. S. C. Logan. Tho
offering was divided between the Lack
awanna hospital and tho Homo for tho
Friendless. Tho delightful music num
bers included a duet by Miss Thomas
and Miss Joseph, an organ solo by Miss
Florence Richmond, and a soprano colo
by Mrs. Kathryn Thlele.
Thu services held nt Grace Evangeli
cal Lutheran church at 10..10 a. m. wero
largely attended. The const elation
hang "Come Thou Almighty Klnp,"
"God Hies Our Native Land" and "Al
mighty Sovereign of the Skies." Tho
pastor, Rev. Foster U. Gift, preached
a sermon from Luke, xvlI'lC: "The
Thankfulness of Faith" being his
theme. He pointed out the beautiful
example of tho Samaritan who re
turned to glvo thanks to Christ i.h tho
Christian typo ot gratltudo for bless
ings of henlth, property nnd comfort.
In Dunmoio tho Presbytorlun, Meth
odist and Baptist congregatlqtiFj united
In a morning service at tho Dudley
Street Haptlst church. Tho sermon
was by Rev. C. M. Hayes.
Tho services In tho Green Ridge
churches wero all held In the morn
ing und lursoly attended
UNION SERVICES
IN THE NORTH END
Providence English Speaking Churches
Unite in Thanksgiving.
ELOQUENT AND INSPIRING SERMONS
llov. II. II. llulglii, ol the Christian
Church, Delivered nil Address on
"Cod Is I.ovc."-lIo Shows Tlint
This Country Has lleon the Recip
ient oT ."Manifold Illcs9lngs--Xo
Ojio Save Cod Alono Cau Con-
euive Fully Whnt These lllcssinc
Are,
All the Kngllsh-speaklng denomina
tional churches of the North Knd unit
ed in a Thanksgiving Day service In
the Providence Methodist Kpiscopal
church yesterday morning. It was a
beautiful and elaborate service and
the nttend.ince being such' as to tax
the utmost canaiity of-the spnclous
edifice.
Rev. R. R. llulgln, of the Christian
church, delivered the sermon. It was
in eloquent and Inspiring effort teem
ing with lofty patriotic sentiments
and demonstrating that this nation has
been an espeeiil cure of Providence.
He- took as his theme "God Is Love"
and spoke In substance as follows:
God is Love," Thus wroto the beloved
John ovi - lhtX) ears ago. Down through
tho corridors of time It has traveled until
It has struck a responsive chord not only
in the heart of an individual, but of a na
tionAmerica. God Is Love. Another
year has rolled Into bygono age?. Another
year, and God's hevart has not ceased to
beat In Interest for our great republic.
Another year, and His all-S'-dng eye has
never slumbired, Mornlns, noon nnd
night IIo has watched over as with a ten.
tier Shepherd's care. Another year, and
tho hand of GoJ. has not been Idle. It haj
marked the courso ot the heavenly bodies,
it has shaped tho currents and the winds,
storms and tempests, calm and sunshine
It has dealt cut tho times and thu sea
sons, and showered untold blessings lav
ishly upon our nation. Another year, and
Ills car has heard the 'petitions of our
Christian people that our land should bo
freo from tho scene of unholy wars. An
other year, and that arm which controls
the forces of nature has guided our peo
plo In the pathway of peace.
Yesterday, yonder sun left the troubled
shores of Eurore, and continued Its God
given courso over tho Atlantic. When
at last Its warm, magical and resplendent
rays kissed tho rocky shores of Maine, It
behold what'.' a nation at peace. md
on It traveled. When it had reacheu the
zenith of Its power and looked down upon
tho fertilo plains and sparkling waters
of tho Mississippi valley It beheld what?
a nation still nt peace. When at last It
hugged the snow-clad mountain peaks of
tho Pacific slopes. It bado un affectionate
farewell, as It hurried on Its Journey to
tho troubled nations ot Asia to tell what?
America Is at peace with herself and tho
world. My fellow-men, If over there was
a time In tho hlstody of our great and
exalted country when we sould ting tri
umphantly -My
country 'tis of thee, "
ilwcet land of liberty,
Of tluo I sins
"Pis now
rieloved hearers, Jf tho dead heroes ot
our repebPc who hr.vo passed through tho
veil which separates us from tho Great
Hcyond, had b-.-en permitted to listen
whilst wo sang, they would reverently
unlto In singing, "God Is Love."
CANNOT HE ENUMERATED.
Why should this nation thank God? Tho
question Is a great one, aye, overpower
ing, for who of us can enumerate, whoso
mind can conceive the manifold blessings
of the Most High? Not one save the mind
of God alone. Note a few. Wo ought to
thank God for America, which partici
pates In the blessings of iho God-wrought
miracle of changing seasons and bounti
ful harvests. Oh how regularly are Its
summers, atutumns, springs and win
ters, oh, how abundant and luxurious
Us harvests of ftult, Its harvests of
grains, Its wealth of minerals. Do they
not reveal tho beneficence and tho wis
dom at our Creator? What a granary a
veritable land of milk und honey. Is
thero another nation in tho world en
Joying these like unto us? Ttuly "God Is
Love." ,
Nolo a few of tho advantages which
our nation gives to Its children. Ameri
can ships graeo tho waters ot the deep
and touch every spot In tho world. Rail
roads wind In serpentine manner over
our valleys, plains and mountains, lay
ing at our feet tho tropical fruits of tho
sunny south, and our northern products
nt the doors of our brothers in Dixey
land. Telegraphy, with tho rupidlty of
lightning, unites all parts of tho Union.
Telephones lessen the business of u
hour to the space of a moment.
Our public schools, colleges and uni
versities all teach tho practical concerns
of life. Here, we leurn that brains count
more than blood, character moro than
clothes. Not our religious advantages.
America la tho mecea of religious free
dom. In this respect she leads tho world.
Hero Jew and Gentile. Greek and bar
oarlan, bond and free, worship sldo by
side. Knowing no state or national re
ligion sho says to tho Individual, "You aro
protected in your worship so long as you
Intrude not upon the rights of others.
Theso are blessings which full to the lot
of all.
Hut I wish to bring you now to a closer
walk with God. How shall I do It? Look
at your Individual blessings. Hero I shall
tuko tho common blessings and cause
them to pass In rapid succession beforo
your mind. 'Why? Uocauso wo aro apt to
forget that we live only by the presenco
of theso so-called common, everyday
blessings. T'hut universal blessing ot air,
how many of us glvo thanks for It?
Again; wo ought to thank God that we
aro men and women endowed with the
sense of hearing, seeing, smelling, tast
ing und feeling. What ecstatic Joys have
Idled your soul as you listened to tho
murmuring brook, tho song of the bird
or a loving mother's hymn. What glo
rious scenes wcro presented to your vis
ion during tho past year. As these wero
rellocted on tho retina of tho eyo did they
not reveal to you that God Is Love. Hus
God not given us a thousand fruits each
having a tasto peculiar to itself; surely
that sense of tasto reveals to us tho wis
dom of God,
Lastly, tho senso of feeling. Oh, how
tho touch revealed to us a mother's love.
When fever-stricken It was her touch
that proved to us her deep abiding affec
tion. Tho Saviour mado good use of it.
He touched His fellow men, without such
power wo would bo as stones.
Finally, tho church ot God and Its at
tendant blessings to tho individual. Was
ever such lovo as this? Tho church In
prlmltlvo times taught that God "hath
mado ot ono blood all nations." Had
Paul lived In tho Nineteenth century and
had ho lived In America ho would havo
exclaimed God hath mado of all nations
ones blood. What would America bo
without tho church of God? What a
Thanksklving If overy member had lived
up to his duty I 'My friends, a faithless
king Is nothing to a faithful voter. What
a thanksgiving we shall havo when our
America Is rid of that exotic hell the sa
loon. Ono of tho hopeful signs ot tho time Is
tho glorious fact that tho pew Is de
manding a better and purer pulpit, a
pulpit that Is fearless In Its denunciation
of sin, a pulpit that will dciiouuco tho sa
loon on Sunday und not be seen to lurk
In its gloomy, dismal shadows on Mon
day Today a grand and glorious nation sings
"God Is Love." Tho leaves of the trees
ns they lcavo their summer's home, sing
as they fall Into the arms of mother
earth, "God Is Love." The birds ns they
fly south to summer land sing "God Is
Love." Tho waters of yonder sparkling,
bubbling brook sing "God Is Love." The
mountains nnd hills clnp their hands and
sing "God Is Love." Tho clouds basking
In the warm, effulgent rays ot tho sun
sing "God Is Love."
Listen, I see standing before tho great
white throne in tho presence ot tho Most
High a mighty multitude, angel and arch
uiigcl, scraphln and cherubim with tho re
deemed ot Israel chanting la sweetest
tones, divine, thetr glorious Te Dcum to
tho great I am, God Is Love, whilst rising
from every reverent heart In this sanc
tuary comes the responso "For Ills Mercy
Eudurcth Forever."
AFRICAN ftl. E. CHURCH.
I'nstor liar, li, A. Grnnl, II. I).
Prencliod nu Appropriate Sermon.
Thanksgiving services of a very In
teresting nature were conducted In the
African Methodist Episcopal church
yesterday morning. The pastor. Rev.
II. A. Grant, II. D.. preached an ap
propriate sermon, taking for his text
the words found In I Thess., il:13: "For
this cuuse also thank we God without
ceasing, e'tc," lu part, the speaker
said:
The high standard of civilization, tho
character and Intelligence ot it people,
tho prosperity and happiness of a nation
nro permanent and cll'.cnclous only In no
far as is demonstrated the ability of tho
government under which they live, to se
curo to Its citizens all tho rights of citi
zenship. Thousands and thousands fcf
souls today will thank God that tlio
foundation ot the American government
was well laid. The human mind appears
naturally constituted to bo lellgious. All
nations of men havo thetr religious sys
tems. Theso system aro numerous and
varied. There Is ono particular, however,
in which they all agree tho acknowledg
ment of a Supremo llelng, from whom
they nil profess to bo derived. A bellet
In the existence of a God is tho funda
mental principle of nil religion.
Of all tho conflicting systems of religion
that exist In tho world only one can be
true. Of two opposing systems, ono must
necessarily bo false, for It Is Impossible
that two opposltes should bo true. The
establishment of tho truth of any one sys
tem of religion Is virtually, therefore, tho
establishment of the falsehood ot every
opposing system. There can be but one
Supremo God, nnd, as a. matter of course,
Ho can havo but ono will, for Ho cannot
bo lu conflict with himself, ir any re
ligion, then can be proved to bo tho reve
lation ot his will, its claim to be tho true
religion Is thereby established. Christian
ity pre-eminently claims to be this reve
lation. The effects and influence of any sys
tem afford a correct criterion by which
to Judgo of Its character. Tried by this
rulo tho Gospel Is all that It professes to
be. Wo thank God today that It possesses
an enlightening power and lnlluenee, and
makes known to us tho will ot God in
reference to our salvation. Reason can
Uenni'aK rt,i, clnf nlni.aci lillf rnvlfl 1 1 n.i
, .,,.-....,.. . .-... w.-, ..- .w. ...w..
' only can mako known tho remedy. The
Gospel roveals God s gracious design to
save tho nation, tho medium through
which salvation Is rendered possible, and
tho conditions on which, through that
medium, salvation may bo obtained.
Another Thanksgiving day Is oause for
rejoicing that wherever the Gospel has
been proclaimed and received, Ignoranco
and superstition havo been dispelled; men
have been mado acquainted with their
lights, and have been taught to respect
tho lights of others; and tho arts and
scieneo havo been cultivated and havo
nourished.
The blessings of civilization have been
diffused also. May tho burden of our
prayers and songs today bo rendered In
thanksgiving to God for tho gift of His
son, Jesus Christ, tho blessings of home,
stato nnd national blessings, and for tho
reformatory power of the Gospel, which
affords practical evidence of its truth.
."For this cauo also we thnnk God with
out ci'.tslng." not only for all of thu bless
ings wo havo enjoyed, but for those
vouchsafed unto every nationality tho
world over.
AT THE RESCUE MISSION.
Converts nnd Their Families Given a
Little Trent.
Though the Rescue mission Is In
financial straits Itself, It furnished,
through Superintendent and Mrs. San
born, refreshments to a large number
of the converts and their families after
last nleht's service.
"We aro carrying out the principles
we teach," said Superintendent San
born to a Tribune reporter; " 'it's moro
blessed to give than to receive.' you
know. The mission hasn't a path ot
roses and neither have somo of our
convert friends. A little thing like this
helps them."
NEW LUTHERAN CHURCH.
St. Stephen's nt Peukville Wns Dedi
cated Vesterday.
The new Slavonian Evangelical
Lutheran church at Peckvlllo was dedi
cated yesterday by Rev. L. Llnden
strtith. of Mauch Chunk, president of
this conference, assisted by the pas
tor, Rev. J. Kowalla, and Revs. W. C.
L. Lauer and C. G. Spleker, of this
city.
The new church will be known as St.
Stephen's. Its congregation vyill be al
lied to that of Emanuel church, nt
Providence, of wliUh Mr, Kgwalla Is
pastor.
Most Torturing, Disfiguring,
Humiliating
Of itching, burning, bleeding, scaly skin
nnd scalp humors is Instantly relieved
by a warm hath with Cuticdua Soap,
a sluglo application ot Cuticura (oint
ment), tho great skin euro, and a full doso
of Cuticuka I'.f.soi.vknt, greatest of blood
purl tiers and humor cures.
Itr.ni'.DiES speedily, permanently, and
economically cure, when all else falls.
roTTPR PiroisnCnicii. Cosr..Sntt rrop.. Dnaton.
D7"'ilow lu Cuit Lrtrj bkla ion Hlooa Humor," lit.
PIMPLY FACES l'un?unSe "
tuueura
UNION SERVICE OF
THE LUTHERANS
Was Held
in the Evening
Trinity Church.
in Holy
SEVEN CONGREGATIONS UNITE
Addresses in Ccrninn and Hngllsli by
Rev. .1. Y. Randolph anil llov. W.
C. L. Iiiiucr, Rcspcctivcly--Zlou,
St. Peter's, Christ's, Trinity, St.
Mark's. St. Paul's nnd r.ninuuol
Congregations Represented-" Ser
vice! Wore Conducted by Several
Pastors.
Seven Evangelical Lutheran congre
gations united In a Thanksgiving ser
vice in Holy Trinity church on Adams
avenue, cornet' of Mulberry btreet, at
7.S0 o'clock last evening. The congre
gations represented were: Zlon's, Rev.
P. P. Kisselmnn. pastor; St. Peter's,
Rev. J. V. Randolph, pastor; Christ's,
Rev. II. Llsse, pastor; Holy Trlnltv,
Rev. Charles G. Spleker, pastor; St.
Mark's, Rev. A. L. Itamer, Ph. D., pas
tor; St. Paul's, Rev. W. C. L. Lauer,
pastor, and Emanuel, Rev. J. Kvnlla,
pastor. Tho president of the (Wllkes
rtarre) conference. Rev, L. Llnden
struth, of Mauch' Chunk, was present.
The pastor of Holy Trinity, Rev. Mr.
Spleker, conducted tho openlnir re
sponsive service and read Psalm xcll,
and Rev. Mr. Kowalla read the lesson.
The German nddiess was by Rev.
Mr. Randolph. A translated excerpt
of his remarks follows:
In obcdlcnco to the call of the chief ex
ecutive of the United States wo cele
brate this your ugalu our Thanksgiving
festival. Wo lift our eyes unto tho hills,
unto Him, who is tho giver of every
good and perfect gift, who has not only
created tho world, but who still preserves
and sustulns it. To Him wo owo our
thankfulness for tho fertility of tho fields,
tho prosperity In our commercial rela
tions. And havo we, ns Americans, not
special occasion to praise God on this
day, and to celebrate It with festal re
joicing. Has our country not been em
inently blessed? Egypt has its Nile, but
wo havo tho running brooks and ma
jestic livers; Italy its oranges and lem
ons, these also blosom under tho stars
and stripes; Russia has Its granory, and
do not wo havo our storehouses filled to
overflowing? What form of product or
Industry Is there which Is not found in
our borders? And then reflect upon our
Immeasurable coal Holds, whnt Inexpres
sible wealth Is there deposited which
even exceeds tho riches ot tho gold nnd
sliver mines. Let tho A'merlcan people
pralso tho Lord, sing praises to His
name.
His Dlvino Providence caused America
to bo discovered precisely at tho right
time when the overpopulation of Europe
began to be very critical for proper sus
tenance. Ills watchful cyo kept guard
over state and Union. Ho cnlled jrth
tho heroes who ministered to thu welfare,
nnd even though ho furnished you nnd
admonished you that greed and covet
ousness are tho greatest enemies of a na
tion, and choko even tho vlrtuo of broth
erly love, devastate families and enkindle
civil strife. IIo was at all times thy
strength and thy shield, tho God lu
whom thou hast put thy trust. This
has also been tho outpouring of His
blessing In tho past year. Our grcatful
ness Is not bound only to tho material
prosperity and financial success; this
would be to recognlzo tho goodness of
God but In part; but wo must return
thanks for all our experiences oven
though thero should havo been a laelc
of harvests or failures In other respects,
nro not even all our misfortunes educa
tional means of divine guidance, and 13
not even in a great measuro our happi
ness and salvation based upon theso?
Let us not forget tnat with our simple
expression of thanksgiving Ilttlo is uc
complished. Thero must bo a thank of
fering to bo well pleasing unto God. Wo
know that tho sons of Adam offered
unto tho Lord, the one tho firstling of his
tlock und tho other of me fruits of tin
ground. Even these have already kept a
day of Thanksgiving. It is therefore
eminently proper that we, loo, should
givo un offering of our substance and
glvo unto those who aro In need and
have a claim on our abundance. This
sharing our gifts and doing good unto
others Is indlssolubly connected with tho
act of truo Thnnksglving.
Tho address In English was by Rev.
Mr. Lauer. Ho said, in part:
Wo celebrate today, Thanksgiving, not
tho fact olonu that the chief exeoutlvo
of this republic and tho highest magis
trate of tho commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania havo in public proclamations called
upon tho peoplo to unlto In rendering
thanksgiving to God, but tho word ot
God Itself, in both covonants, urges upon
man tho great obligation of thunkfulucss
to tho Giver of overy good and perfect
gift for tho manifestation for Ills
boundless lovo in bestowing upon his
creatures food and raiment and all things.
Thanksijlvir.B day Is distinctively a na
tional holiday upon which all tho peoplo
of our land ore Invited to assemble in tho
churches and unite in giving thanks to
Almighty God for tho mercies ot tho past
year, individually and as a nation. That
our land, defplto tho prevailing wicked
ness nnd unbelief rty Justly bo billed a
Christian laud, thero can be no reason
able, honest doubt.
God adopted our nation llko the Israel
ites of old us his chosen people. Ho has
given us this freo land which is a fralt
of tho reformation of tho Sixteenth cen
tury Derlod. has given u.i a ftrtllo land,
a land of brooks and fountains, valleys and,
hills, a. land of whoat and barley and
corn, and vines and goodly trofs, a land'
whero thero Is bread without slackliM.
whoso stones nro Iron and out ot wnoso
hills cometh brass and silver and gold, a
land In which God has set up His Holy
Tabernacle and sent firth the light of
the Gospel, a land which Is the glory of
nil land.-., tho houso of freedom, of plenty
and of peace,
i honor God when we trust In His
word. The luipplm ss and stability of a
nation depends upon Its udherenco tn
faith III God. As long as a tatlon is God
fearing It will abide In peace and happi
ness and prosperity will bo no etrans'.'r
In that laud.
Wo honor God when our lives aro con
secrated to His service. That Is a falso
lellglon which claims to lovo God nnd
does not prove that lovo by lovo to men,
To do good and to communicate Is moro
pleasing to God than the fcocrbico of tho
cattle on a thousand hills or tho bounty
of any self-imposed penance.
If wo thus honor God by obedience to
His dlvino requirement Ho will honor us
by adopting us as Ills children, that wo
may be enabled to ay with tho upostl,
"Heboid what manner of lovo tno Fatner
hath bestowed upon us that wo should bo
called thu sons of God." Ho will support
us In temptation and trial and finally Ha
will glvo us nn abundant entrance into
tho glories of heaven, tho land of truo
Ireedom ond plenty, of which our land Is
but n faint type.
The concluding sorvlce vyas conduct
ed by Dr. Homer.
t
"i