Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-28
THANKSGIVING DAY.

most of the stores being closed, the people gen
orally deciding that they had cause for thankful
ness and manfesting willingness to observe the
dav in the old-fashoned way. The day was one
of great beauty for this season Of the year. We
saw Oh the streets the faces Of many who had re-
turned to their home and friends to spend day
in glad Intercourse and social greetnS.
UNION RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Several of our city churches united in Thanks
giving services in the morning ct the Methodist
church There six Methodist clergymen
present, and q congregation quite respectable in
numbers.
The sermon on the occasion was by Rev. Roscoe
Sanderson, pastor of the Methodist church, the
text being from James, g, "lf We fulfil the royal
law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy
neghbor as thyself, we do WE'LL There Is a sell
love that we should have, and ever keep In lively
exercise. Every man ought to love himself; to so
love his own being to treat it with utmost kind
ness his body, keeping it from every filthy habit
and practice his mind, storing 1t with sound
knowledge and wisdom; and his soul eager that 1T
should be continually reaching up and pucklng
the richest clusters from 1.-THE vines OF GOD. 49,
This scripture strikes not against selt-love, Ut
encourages that) but selfish love that secketh its
good alone.
The true Interpretation of this "royal law is
that ge are to be aetuated and goeerned in all oW,
dealings aoiM Others only By the highest type V
SeJ-iore A question that especially concerns the
churches is, GLOW shall the masses of the people
be reached by the gospel?' Are we IN tins luihic
ing the law Of lover That large proportion OF
the population do not come under religious lnhu-
ences to any considerable extent, needs no proof
We do not find them in our churches, and our
members do not bear the message OF salvation to
their dwellings. The idea has largely prevailed
that the preaching Of the gospel from the sacred
desk is designed to accomplish the great work OF
saving the world. But it never can accomplish &he
7ohole of that work it does not reach the masses
Beside this, the children ofthe Lord must 90 iorth
to SOW the seed "by the side of ali waters. We Of
ten mourn over the sin and iniquity that abounds
our voices are not heard entreating; II our
But if our hands are not upfted to beckon; If our
hearts arc not throbblng toward the unsaved with
strong desires, we shall be held accountable before
God for the present state of society. We should
endeavor to reach all classes. | was surprised at
christian lady who excused herself from visiting
neighbor because her own reputation might be
injured-as though there were any sunk SO low
that cannot bear Christ to their dwellings-as
though our robes were too pure to come IN con-
tact with another who, like ourselves, is only
sinner.
But, beside this lack of personal effort the
part of the people of God, there is another grave
sin to which | feel compelled to refer. The seats
IN our eharcheS are not free, and because OF this
large numbers are kept away. sad comment
indeed upon the freedom of the gospel message
A system that has been curse and a reproach TO
US; a system born of the devil and over which he
reoices daily, if there be any JOY in the heart
of hell. Our churches ought to be thrown open
and all invited freely to come and hear the W ord
of Life. We give large sums of money land ought
to give more) that free message Of salvation may
be proclaimed unto the heather. But we virtual
ly say to those who are unsayed IN our midst, n
YOU want to hear the gospel you must pay for IT.
How very far from the spirit OF the royal law Is All
this. May God himself, in some way, speedily
free us from this curse. Even if it should be as by
whirlwind of destruction that out of the ruin
pure and just system might arise, lwouldrespond
most heartily, Amen. As a community ana state
. fSu9D should QeeriV
Well may we ask to-day, how we are to fulfil in
this, the law of love. The appalling evils Of IN
temperance are all too apparent. Yet we have
reason to be thankful that as a State we are Tar
more free from it than any other. But let us not
calmly fold our hands. The utmost work Is not
yet done in the temperance cause There must
be repeated and continual effort. We must be
true temperance men ourselves for then only shall
we be prepared to make manifest pure love
toward others. Self-love bids us abstain entirety
from the of intox icatlng liquors as beverage,
and in these days, when so much light has been
shed upon this subject that man IS far from sus-
tanning a christian character who Will not do 1t. If
we are right ouselves, what does true neighbcry
love prompt us to do for those who have fallen
into Incorporate habits Leave them alone, say
ing those who will allow themselves to be robbed
of their maphood for tie sake of INDUCING the
appetite can possess noble qualities worth eman-
cipating All, no; those wao have thus fallen Of
ten possess some of the nobest qualities OF heart
and mind; yet whatever may be ones character
there's soul that may be emancpated and shine
with heavenly splendor; and he is our nelghoor
still, low fallen as he may be. But the other par
ty-tAe drunk1rd maker What does true neigh
borly love prompt to do in his case. Drunk
ard-maker" is the appropriate name OF HIM who
sells this damnng poison to be used as beverage,
whether in the hotel, the apo,hecary shop or the
croggcry. All who will do it are upon the same
level, and let them measure my love the plain
ness of my speech. Our warnings are powerful for
good only, when Others are made to realize their
tue condition.
There are two ,cays by uAicA may reach Mis
class-persudsion and tar. Every possible effort
ought to be made to persuade our neighbors to
no longer deal out to their fcllow-men that which
not only destroys the body but curses the whole
man, and will return upon themselves a ten-told
curse. Yet, if such efforts fall let them fee! the ut
most p0cer Of the lar; not for revenges sake, but
for the very love we bear them, as well as their
victims. 1t may be difficult for them to perceive
wherein the enforcement of law is an expression
of love. But if | am about to murder another that
man alone loves me who if he can will bind my
hands and selling alcoholic drinks is an act that
measures up near to absolute murder. This leads
me to remark that for two or three years to come
we cannot expect any change for the better in our
laws. The present condition of politics is such
that no party will make any venture in this drec-
ton until other grave issues decided.
But we ought to demand and insist that those in
authority should fully carry out the laws which
we already have against the sale Of intoxicating
liquors They have no right to occupy such po-
sitions if they will not unnchingiy discharge the
duties that pertain thereto Yet at the same time
it is our duty to give them hearty sympathy
and support Meanwhile, every available means
should be used to educate the masses up to the
true standard of temperance-and especially the
young-so that in the coming years they may be
strong to grapple with the monster ''intempor-
ance'' and eiIectuay break his power.
In closing, the preacher said that nations had
arisen in all the majesty of power and crumbled
to ruins; not swept away by curse or fire, or fam
inc or pestilence but they forgot the law Of God,
and from their own bosom leaped forth the viper
that stung them unto death. Mere physical force
cannot save natons-there must be that lore ey-
pressed by this law Of God. Because we withheld
it in former times, the nation made to struggle
till the dews of death gathered upon her brow And
if in the questions that are before us now as ma
ton, this law is trampled upon, shall soon hear
the thunders of Gods wrath. Equal rights must
be granted to all-the great brotherhood of man,
whatever may be his color, must be fully recog
nized throughout all the nation.
AT ST. MARKS CHURCH.
A congregation Of about one hundred, mostly
communicates at the church, assembled in ST.
Marks (Epscopa) church in the forenoon. The
full service was rendered with fine singing, by the