The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-25


At Centenary church Yesterday the Meth
odist congregations OF the city united in q
thanksgiving service. The exercises were
conducted by the pastor, Rev. i. A. Peter
son. The SjGth selection OF the Methodist
Hymnal was inpressively read by Rev.
John Harmon, and was followed by fer
vent PRAYER. The entire assembly then
arose and sang |Praisc God from whom
all blessings flow." The 103d Psalm was
then read by Rev. w. G.. Starr; after
which the congregation united in singing
the 92ith hymn, a select composition Of
Charles Wesley, containing the familiar
lines:
Hoavenward our every wish aspires,
For al Thy mcrcy's store;
The sole return Thy love requires
Is that we ask for more"
Rev. r.. NJ. Manly then offered an earnest
prayer.
Dr. Brown then delivered his address on
Thanksgiving, especially on the grateful re-
cognilion Of Gods providence in our na-
tional, domestic, social, and personal bless
ings. These blessings, said he, are not
only direct answers TO prayer and
the special bencdictiOns Of Proyi-
dence, but often they come to rs
i'm the form OF Affections. God means
most good TO men not always when he sends
temporal prosperity, but when he sends
those disciplinary dispensations which pu-
rify and elevate mans moral and intellec-
tual life, give greater vigor and range TO
his thoughts, and serve as q training-SchOOl
for a higher and better existence. We are
TO bear in mind that this life is but the seq
ment OF a great are, and our greatest bless
ings are those which prepare Us for happy
future.
We are to remember, too, that all bless
ings, whether temporal OF spiritual, are the
gifts Of God through Christ. They come
TO us through His mediatorial reign. Thus
we are TO regard God not merely rs our
sovereign on His throne, but rs our media
tor. His blessings come. TO MS through the
cross, and we may truly say "lle hath as
cended up on high. lie hath led captivity
captive, and hath given gifts unto men, for
all things have been delivered unto Him OF
the Father"
The congregation then sang with much
feryor and feeling:
"Come, thou font Of every blessing
PRAYER was then offered by Rev. Walter
G. Bates.
Rev. 4. 4. Peterson next addressed the
assembly with reference to the value OF
this day as an inheritance from our fore
fathers, and as q gift Of great value to be
committed TO our children and to the citi-
zens OF this Commonwealth.
After singing a suitable hymn the con-
gregatiOn was dismissed with the benedic-
tion, pronounced by Rev. \. G.. Brown.
BAPTIST UNION SERVICES.
Quite large audience assembled in the
Second Baptist church at II NJ. yesterday
ut the Thanksgiving service. Rev. Drs.
Pollard, Hatcher, and Hawthorne occupied
the pulpit. The services were opened by
4 solo, beautifully rendered by Mrs. NJ. b.
Ramos. DR.. Hawthorne then read part
OF the 10Th Psalm. DR.. Hatcher announced
and read the hymn beginning "Swell the
anthem, raise the song" which the con-
gregation Joined heartily in singing. DIR.
Pollard led in a Thanksgiving prayer, ten
der and appropriate. The choir then sang
Hymn S9s.
DR.. Hawthorne began by referring to the
first harvest which was gathered ten months
after the landing at Cape Cod. That har-
vest was the product OF thirty acres OF
land, and consisted OF corn and peas. One
OF the cOlonists, writing to friend in the
mother country, said "The corn is red-
Sondbiy good, but the peas are very poor"
For that harvest thanksgiving was ap-
pointed, and q few were detailed TO Kill
game for the thanksgiving dinner. Around
the table laden with the products OF their
own honest toll they ate and drank with glad
and grateful hearts.
L. Lo.~ ,,,tto1 Tor crf.at l.
tude rs the Pilgrim Fathers had. There IL
much in our condition to deplore; but the
subject was, like Ephraim, "a cake not
To the hopeful all things are
bright; to the hypochondriac all things are
gloomy. Men are very apt to like coun-
try in which they have behaved well.
The highest national prosperity Is asso-
ciated with spiritual good. Next to that is
social good, and lowest OF all is material
good. In this order we must judge Of pros
perity. The distinguished speaker pro-
ceeded TO inquire il we could find in our
these evidences Of national pros
perity. We ought not to be discouraged if
in some localities the tendency is backward,
ike an eddy upon mighty river. We are
not TO conclude that the country at large
Is on the downward grade because
st. Louis is ruled by infdels, New York
by thieves, and Virginia by demagogues.
4 comprehensive view OF the whole cOun-
ry shows an upward movement. The
working classes arc tending to more refine
nent in their food, more taste in their ap-
larcl, more culture in their dwellings.
The idea that a people grow better as they
,rOw simpler in their tastes and habits is
alse. As you 90 towards the savage state
-ou 90 away from complexity towards SIM
,licity.
He went on to discuss the lamentations
Imong workingmen, sometimes deplorable
n the methods adopted, but really a hope |
ul sign-a sign OF vitality. He was not |
fraid Of immigration. He believed in the |
liability of our institutions. Wealth was
.massed and used for the most part benefi- |
emily. The speaker found in the material,
moral, and spiritual conditions great rea- |
on for sincere gratitude and hopefulness.
The speech aboundcd in eloquent pas
ages, and was greatly enjoyed by the au-
litors.
DR.. Hatcher, after the singing Of Hymn
80, dismissed the congregation with |
'rayer.
ST. Marks CHURCH.
Thanksgiving services here were con-
ucted by the rector. A very fair congre-
alton was in attendance.
The sermon enforced the duty Of thank
illness for life and breath and all things
or the forbearance OF God towards us in
pite OF the ill-deserts OF us all; for His
pecial loving kindness and fatherly con-
liberation OF the wants OF each. We owe
no first fruits Of all our increase. the |
est hours OF each day, the best periods Of
fe, the best labors we are capable Of in
cart, and mind, and body. God is our most
ountiful friend, our first creditor.
MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
The congregation yesterday was COM
o.o1 oI,ooet ax.Iu,ivalx- ~ Iad,oc The |