Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-29
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Rs;s II WIS OBSERVED m IH.s DISTRICT.
Religious services I'm the Chure hos
Secular Observance Of the Dny1Be.
cepttOn Of Golden Star Lodge "A. Oh
p. Of Visiting Ned Mon
Dinner to the NewsbOys-Bails, &C.

Yesterday was delightful Day for q national
holiday, the weather bSing clear, and the air
just fresh and keen enough to be generally en-
joyable 10 such as had business on the streets.
A Sabbsth-liSe quiet reigned during the d law
and evening throughout the District. All the
departments Of the general government were
closed, as were the Offices of the District govern
ment. banks, and large proportion of all places
OF business, morally, in this city aud GeoT ye-
town. In almost every domestic circle the day
was celebrated by social gatherings and indul.
gence OF Thanksgiving turkey and fixins."
Inc Iehgiously inclined went to church in the
morning, and at night there were many
entertainments given which were well attended.
A matinee performance was given at the Ma
tional Theater in the afternoon, at which Dsly's
great play Of Divorce" was presented TO q
large audience. The evening performance at
the thester was also largely attended. In ac-
cordance with the programme announced in
HE STAR on Wednesday, Mr. W Widows played
a number of airs on the Metropolitan NJ T..
church chimes, Immediately after the morning
service. So lar as can he learned, no accident
servabce of the day, which has come to he es-
tesmed here one OF nc most sacred Of oar na-
uonal holidays.
SPECIAL RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The religious obseryance of the DAY was gem
eral. Special services were held in most of the
Protestant churches, and N the Catholic
churches there was the usual caily service.
AT the church OF the Incarnation a serlaon
Rev. Nr. Graves. Text: 9Th John, SD verse;
Then Jesus said unto them, verify, verify,
say unto you Moses gave you not that head from
heaven; but my Father giveth you the true head
from Heaven" Chancel and altar were
adorned with handsome flowers, and the font
was flied with beautiful flowers and heads Of
ripe grain, typical of the occasion.
At the Fourth Presbyterian church, on 9tl
street west, Rev. j. q. Smith, pastor, there was
quite large attendance at the IL O'Clock SER
vices. DIR. Smith took for his text the 18th
= of. II 10 Evo
GIT and every perfect gift Is from . love, and
cometh down from the Father OF lights, with
whom u no vsriableness neither shadow Of
turning" He spoke ct some length of the bless
ings bestowed upon all by Divine Providence
and the duties OF man toward his maker.
AT the METROPOLITAN NJ. E.) church, Rev. o.
Psalms, IS chap. az verse: Blessed is the cation
whose God is the Lord, and the people whom
he hath chosen for His own inheritance, The
sstmSh was DISCUSSION or the relations Of
trations of its influence In our early history and
in the formation Of the constitution, aud pre-
senting it as the underlying basis Of ali national
prosperity. The peaceful policy towards tho
Indians and the arbitrstiOns OF Geneva and Der.
lin. were alluded to as exhibitions of the general
Christian sentiment which lad endorsed them,
ana glance was taken at the possible future
which would result when Christian sentiment t.
should fully actuate all the people. The follow
ing four characteristics will then be emb Odied:
r L. Inc Claims OF non.workinx arstocracy will
Education will reach and elevate the masses.
4. Reverence for God will be the basis OF f.
claim for honor from man. With these estab-
lshed as national peculiarities we shall be
worthy OF our destiny. In the evening a socia
reception for the Pastor and his family was held
In the parlors Of the church, and was generally
attended by the members OF the congre alton.
Owing to the illness or Rev. j. T.. Rankin, pas
tor of the Congresatio church, there were nc
services in that chu 'ch yesterday.
Attic Mckendreel NJ Z. chapel there were no
a a ian
IS temporarily occupying the Baptist church, on
massachusetts avenue, between 9Th and 10Th
streets, until the completion of their new edidce
The ladies of the congregation commenced a
festival in the basement of the new church YES
terday afternoon, which will continue a week
Tor the purpose OF raising funds for the new
building.
At the Southern Methodist church Thanks
giving entertainment was given in the evening
for the benefit of the church. No regular SER
vices were held.
Rev. DIR. Chester ofthe METROPOLITAN Preshy-
terrain church, corner OF 4th and Is streets n
f., delivered special sermon, taking for his
subject The DUTY and importance OF the chris
tian citizens OF this country exercising their
right to the elective franchise. The discourse
was very able, and was listened to attentively by
a large number Of persons.
At Grace church lEpiscopa) the ordinary
services were held; the rector, Rev. DIR. Hoi-
mead preaching an instructive sermon from the
text Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving
and into His court with praise; be thankfi III unto
Him and bless His name" An interesting.
feature in the services was the Introduction Of,
a new thanksgiving anthem by the excellent
choir attached to this church.
AT the X street Presbyterian church services
were held at IL O'Clock. The sermon, on the
Nations" was preached by the pastor Rev
Byron Sunderland, from LIST Chronicles, 1851
The attendance was quite large, aud the sermon
interesting. The choir introduced some new
and appropriate anthems Tor the occasion, anu
at the conclusion Of the exercises a hand 5ome
CORRECTION was taken up for the benefit Of the
Womsn's Christian Association.
AT Ryland chapel IN. e. vt o'clock D. M, a
love feast was held, in which ne pastor, Rev
Mr. Mullen; and members OF Gorsuch chapel
participated by invitation. Exhor, atoms were
made by the pastors and class leaders, during
which many penitents went forward to the
altar. A very interesting revival has been in
progress in this church Since the ministrations
OF Mr.. Shannon began. During the conference
year over eighty persons have been added to
the church, and many are coming in almost
daily.
In accordance with the annual custom, the
churches OF South Washington, comprising the
Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist denomi-
nations, held union service in the church OF
the Sixth Presbyterian congregation, on 9th
street, Rev. Mason Noble pastor. The services
commenced at IL O'Clock by singing. in which
the whole congregation joined with the united
offered BY Rev. Mason Noble, followed 5v the
reading of select passages Of Scripture by Rev.
VIM. Bittenger, OF the 18th street Presbyterian
church: Then followed a most interesting dis
fist church, taking for his text the passage from
the Tooth Psalm, Z" Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise
be thankful unto Him and bless His name;
Prayer " a. then offered by Rev. 8. shannon, OF
Ryland Chapel, after which an appeal was made
by Rev. Mr.. Noble In behalf Of the Children's
Hospital, located on the corner Of + and 18th
streets northwest, to which q liberal response
was made. After music by the choir, the meet
ing closed with benediction by Rev. Mr.. Shan
non.
Social services were held at o 30 a. m in the
parlors OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton building, led by Rev. q. 4. Hall, during
which some twenty persons took part in relating
personal experiences. These services were re-
sumed at O'Clock p m; the president of the
association, MIR. r. ii. Smith, leading in the ex-
srcises The attendance was full at both MORN
ing and evening services.
AT the 9th-street Baptist church tcoloredl the
Rev. Mr.. Wehrng, of Ohio, preached a sermon
appropriate to the occasion.
Interesting services were held in the 18th
street Presbyterian church (colored) Rev. Mr..
Reeves preaching.
At the Israel A. n. G. church the pastor, j.
n. A. johnson, pastor, preached from the text:
Psalms cxlv %; "The Lord Is good to ALL add
His tender mercies over all his works"
Rev. w. w. Freeman, pastor of Asbury (col-
ored) church, delivered q discourse from Psalm
cxxxvi:l: so give thanks unto the Lord for He
IL good, and his mercy endureth forever"
At the st. Paufs Lutheran church the pastor
Rev. j. G. Butler, preached i'm the morning
taking for his topic, "Fhe gospel in our national
life." The reverend doctor also preached In