The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-17
THAN KseIvING DAY.
a Pastoral L.esrsr.

We. the undersigned, pastors of the
following named churches In this city:
Central Presbyterian, Broadway Presby-
terian, United Presbyterian, First Matho-
dist, Ninth Street Methodist, First Bap-
fist, Christian Chapel and Trinity
Episcopal. being of one mind as to the
propriety aud expediency of the movement.
have agreed together that on Thanksgiving
day. Nov, 25, appropriate services shall
be held in each of the said churches at 10
A. NJ And, that all the God fearing men
aud women. and all the beloved in Christ
Jesus, within the limits of this city may
be duly advised of this action, and the
reasons for it, and that they may be
brought to act 10 full sympathy and har,
mony with us in carrying out our Cody
design, we do issue to them this, our
letter.
Among, the virtues. none is more
beautiful, or more essential to the welfare
and happiness of the world thau gratitude,
felt aud expressed. The ungratefui are
ever the unworthy, while, upon the other
hand, the grateful are they who most
perpetuate every kindly Office and fill the
world with gladuess and joy. But. essen
tail as gratitude ia as re ated to those of
IL
related to God. From him all our bless
ings. individual, social national, spiritual and
temporal, public and private, flow. Whats
ever gratitude we may owe to others for
benefits and kindness received. and the sum
of it is indeed great, we owe definitely u ore
10 God. None are so unfortunate, none so
afflicted. none are so deprived of comforts
and blessings, that they have not manifold
reasons for gratitude tc God, And. as
He is the God, not only of individuals, but
of nations. it is most fitting that our graft
tude should be expressed in public aud
united form. To recognition OF this truth
it has long been the custom of the Chief
Executive of this nation, aud OF the Gov
errors or the respective commonweslyhs.
to JOIN Ia setting apart one day every year
as day of nationa! thanksgiving. rec IN
| NEEDING that ordinary business and UGr.-
suits be laid aside, and that all assembi
| in the places set aside, aud that all assem-
| ble iu the places set apart for the public
worship of Almighty God aud there Join
IN deVout expression of thank fitness.
| But, owing TO the fact that in the past so
| few. comparatively, have given heed to
| these yearly and most righteous admoni-
| tions, the custom has come to be quite
general of holding what has been styled a
union thanksgiving service. that the spiri
| tual guides of the people might be spared
the pain and humiliation of conducting
such service with only small remnant
of what each might justly claim as his cen
gregation present. Such service seem ed
too much like mockeTy. But the evil has
not been cured. Instead, disguised and
aggravated, by the substitute. All con
gregations uniting there has not been
the painfully small humber present. but
there has been gradually Iessening num-
| Der and interest. and at no time has there
been more than the sum of those who
might have gathered in their respective
churches. had all been open. while the
general public has tended more and more
to ignore the day altogether, or else to
make of it only day for feastiug and
merry making We feel that the time has
come when new departure should be
taken; when. in the interest Of all that is
dear and sacred, We should protest, and
we speak to all who are not altogether
| faithless, or vicously disposed, against the
general neglect and non-observance Of this
our national Holy Day. Especially do we
speak to those who profess and call them
selves Christians. No preventing cause,
other than tina. of absolute necessity.
should prevent them-hor should it pre-
vent apy-from coming up to the house of
| God this day. We beseecn you. therefore.
brethren and friends, to begin with Us
this year 10 walk 10 a new way. See to it
| that in each church there is full congrc-
CATION. and that overflow which the mos,
extraordinary and interesting parish oeca-
sion could be expected to bring. Were
all our churches filed to their utmost
capacity there would still be multitudes
not Accommodated who should be present.
| hot NJ -
number debarred if only one service were
held? Think of these things, and then say
whether our duty is done, not only until
all our churches are open on this day, but
filed.
We do moreover, respectfully krequest OF
the business men of the city, that all
places of business, except such as must
of necessity be open. be closed, at least
from A, NJ. to II M. And we sdo further
request ot.all who have persons in their
employ that they extend to them SO far as
possible, the opportunity of attending
divine .service.
Thanksgiving Day should be joyful
day. We. therefore, make no protests
against any of the innocent pleasures
family Ereunions. social gatherings, aud
the like 10 the past associated with its
observance, provided only its more ,sacred
tSaiuTe DC HOL I&uUF6ua HTAylDR Tor the
continuance and increase of the'divine
favor and blessing to all for whom these
words are intended or may reach, and that
what we have thus said may be kindly
received and considered with such Cody
earnestness and seriousness as the nature
of the communication may require. we are
and afeetionately your servants
j, A 2 MQGAw, j A REYNOLDS,
CIV VAN OsDEL. J s MoCoRD.
GEORGE D KING. IRVING A SEARLEs.
j. O. HOLIDAY, A. B, ALLEN.
P. SIN each of the churches a col |
lection will be taken for the relief of the
poor. the proceeds TO be put in a common
fund, and to be distributed. under our
direction. for the relief OF such cases of |
need or distress as may be brought to our
notice during the approaching winter
Go North. South, Eaat or West. aud |
you will find Coughs and Colds at this |
season of the year. A remedy which
never fails to give satisfaction is DR.. Bulls
Cough Syrup. Price 2a cents.
The young ladies of Illinois should
beware of the wash tub. A young lady
fry;, nk FL Il