The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-11-30
THE INCENSE OF THANKS.
Sermons at st. Bfary's, So. Marks and the
Trinity NJ. Y. Church.

confined exclusively to the churches. Only
few Of the business houses were closed the
entire day, while the city Offices remained
open during the forenoon only. 1t was at the
churches that this anniversary called the peo-
pie together 10 offer up their thanks in prayer
and praise.
At 81. Mary's church Rev. Father Johnston
offered up solemn high mass, at the close Of
which the TIE Deum was chanted. The music
was, as usual, Of a high order. The celebrmt
Of the mass preached a short sermon, remind
ing the hearers OF the duty not only to be
grateful to the Giyer Of all good gifts on one
day set apart, but in all seasons and under
every circumstance.
A reunion Of all the Episcopal churches in
Thanksgiving service after prescribed forms
was held at St. Marks cathedral Revs.
Richardson and Ticknor occupied their
places in the sanctuary and conducted
the services. A full choir Of select voices
added pleasing charm TO the exercises and
was deeply appreciated by those who came to
render their tribute Of gratitude. DR.. Rich
ardson delivered feeling discourse, Of which
We have but space to Gull few leading
points. He said that it was noteworthy that
in the three great Jewish ieasts in which the
males were commanded to appear before the
Lord we're always connected with the harvest.
/ lie instanced the Passover instituted to com.
memorate the deliyerance OF Israel was
observed in the month Of Abb, which means
green ear of corn, thus signifying that the
young, tender grain needed the blessings of
Jehovah. So, too, with Penlccost sugges i've
Of the fruit Of good works to come from the
observance Of the law. In the service
they were now celebrating they were
exhibiting a recognition Of Gods prov
| idence, an acknowledgment that there
is God who rules all things and
distributes His bounties so universally. The
idea Of a Thanksgiving is part Of natural re-
ligion. Even Theocrates speaks Of feast to
Ceres and the offering Of fruits on the altar.
So, too, in other parts of Greece, Rome and
Assyria days Of ieasts were set apart on which
to render thanks. During the revolutionary
war Congress annually appointed a day Of
thanksgiving and at the close of the war re-
manded its celebration to the several States.
The reverend gentleman continued to give the
history Of the day in a well prepared discourse
replete with facts and incidents, and closed by
urging his listeners TO make the entire year a
complete cycle Of thanksgivings by carrying
out the spirit which the day inspired. He
appealed to them that as the poor was always
with them they should be more liberal in their
gifts, especially at communion times, thus
consecrating all that they have to the service
Of the Lord.
Rev. W. J. Young, of the Southern Metho-
dist church, preached to large congregation
most effective ana timely discourse. of which
the following synopsis will give some of the
leading thoughts:
Peter, list verse. Sh chapter: "Who m
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though
now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice
with Joy unspeakable and full Of glory"
Even the casual reader Of the scriptures
must have noticed the effort on the part OF
God to make us happy In the beginning he
said all was very good and whatever OF sor-
row and trouble are in the world, mao has
caused it, Hence the frequent commands 10
| be joyful and thankful. We sho ud be crate
full as matter Of duty, for who can forgive
ingrautude! But hence we should be crate
full as matter Of discipline. Heaven is a
place Of happiness and we must get ready
| here TO be happy hereafter. But you will say
| II is easy enough for those IN wealth and hap
piness to be grateful, but how can those
who have had grief and pain rejoice and be
/ grateful! But want song OF Joy on every
| lip to-day. Them to whom Peter wrote had
passed through trouble, but we read that they
rel iced with joy unspeakable, and full OF
/ glory. Let us try to solve the mystery.
They lived in the future. This is part Of
faith. Man lives for the future. He moves
forward; his eye looks keenly into the beyond.
His soul is free yet and in the desire we have
| the fact Of Immortality and eternal life. The
child looks forward to play otto morrow. In
labors of life we think Of fortune. BY il
the scholar looks forward to the day
when he shall be great and noble man.
! Merchant labors not Tor sake of laborng, but
| for the sake Of the fortune he expects
to possess. Bad for an individual or nation
| 10 have no future. Better aim higher, yea
higher than we can ever reach. l know we
| call them dreamers. But the scientist is a
dreamer. The worlds phanthropists have
been dreamers. So have all reiormers, and
suffered, but 10 Iked forward TO the future
victories. Luther's iriends tried to prevent
]
He saw there days of liberty and freedom
from superstition. The Bible speaks OF these
dreamers. Abel, Moses, Elijah, Christ and
host Of others. This was the trouble with
the afflicted. They think only OF the present.
they forget the future But beg you to think
of the light tomorrow. This is the
meaning Of Ch'ist's command, Take
no thought for your life" and
yet sees the kingdom OF God and his right.
eousness, and this helps US to work. 1t turns
duty to song.
They lived in a world Of imagination.
They imagined Christ and the future would be
present. This is the greatest fealty of the
soul. 1t is used by the artist and poet, but
also by the mathematician and builders It's
creations are eternal The form, the word,
may die, but the thought will live forever
The depraved use Of it will down you. You
set for yourself a fair picture Of lie, it has
been scattered; but the mistaken thought will
live forever. The right use of it will
save you. You kept before you Christ
and cross and read his love and You were