Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-28
THE PEOPLE GIVE THANKS
HOwsAVANNAHIANS DESERVED
THE DAY OF BIG DINNERS.

Suspended and the Churches
FILLED with Grateful WOrshiPers-
Events in the City and In the SUBURBS
What the People Did IN the way OF
Devotion. Amusement and Rest
There was a general observance OF
THANKSGIVING day in Savannah yesterday.
Business was suspended in many parts OIL
The eitv. The banks. Exchanges, and
CITY and government offices were closed
during the entire day. The retail houses,
which kept open during the morning,
closed At noon. and the streets presented
a SUNDAY appearance. The busiest place
was the Market during the morning hours.
The stalls were crowded, and delivery
wagons with huge baskets laden with the
Thanksgiving turkey. by cousins. aunts,
sisters and great grandfathers, and re-
mote poor relations, sandWlched Win
other purchases Of vegetables and
animal viands 70 garnish his pres
ence. were hurrying over the city.
Towards noon there began TO be a lull
in business. and the remainder OF the day
was observed quietly by the people IN
their homes as mas been the custom for
nearly 100 years.
IMnIh@zANAA= 81 HALL6 "a 1N-AH &L@
large congregations assembled in hum
bic acknowledgment Of their dependence
upon Almighty God for all that contrib
utes 10 their health and happiness and the
prosperity Of the country. The feasts and
festivals Of the Catholic Church. as lad
down in the calendar, do not include any
celebrations that have not received the
approval Of the Vatican. As a result
Thanksgiving Day has heretofore re-
ceived no special recognition from the
Catholic Church, but services are held
annually in its recognition OF the govern
meut. In the Protestant Churches there
were large congregations.
UNION SERVICE AT TIE LUTHERAN
CHURCH.
4 Misunderstanding service vas held
at the Lutheran Church. Rev. I. I.
Christian. pastor Of Trinity Methodist
Church. Rev. W. :. Bowman, ID. D.. pas
tor Of the Lutheran church, Rev. q. W.
Mathews. pastor Of the New Houston
street Methodist church. Rev. DR.. Arson.
pastor Of the Independent Presbyterian
church. and Rev. Richard Webb. pastor
Of the Seamen's Bethel. took part in the
opening devotional service.
A large collection was taken up for the
erection Of a new cOlOred church in place
Of the one destroyed on Dawfuskle Island.
Rev. Mr.. Christian preached from Ne
nHm1an VIII. LW- linen ne Saul uulD
them: CT your way. sat the fat and drink
the sweet. and send portions unto them
for whom nothing IS prepared for this
day is holy unto Our Lord: neither be ye
sorry. for the JOY Of the Lord is your
strength"
The rmO was a very thoughtful and
appropriate one. after speaking OF the
thanksgiving proclamation of Nehemiah
after the return o. the captives from
n.r nnLTaA hn1 nwaN.nhNE ETRrnEHlI
u GOV. Bradford, after the first New
England harvest in 1921, that a day
should be sat apart by them for similar
l rejoicing. the preacher SAID that uch "a
custom was eminently betting and
beneficial. The Bible is full, he said, Of
e]xhOrtati0ns of thanksgiving. and we
have ample cause for thanks. The
dark DAYS Of misfortune have passed
away. We are riEhted up and finally adj
iusted 10 the changes caused by the war.
The sunshine down. II we Z
10 say with David, "Now. therefore, our
God. we thank Thee. and praise Thy glO-
riOus name We are n peOple-thOugh
50.o00,0l0 NJ by natural necessity. In
speaking OF some of the blessings which
come to the people in their natural life
and character. Mr. Christian said: The
path 70 Office and honor is alike free and
Open TO all. Years = a widows son
came -barefOOted 10 AsbGry University
u get an education, carrying his shoes IN
MS hand for ccOnOmy's sake. tie was
asked by the %pTincipalI If he had means Of
support. "Ges. these he SAID, holding
forth hI5 already tOil-hardened hands. he
was afterwards United States Senator.
Joseph f. Brown learned his first lessons
bv a |tOrchlight in the mountains CT CeOr-
ria. Now he is the brightest light in the
United States senate. In regular success
sion a Gail-splitter, a tailor, a tanner, a
farmers bow, E2Ye found their way TO the
White House. And nOE one 10 whom the
nation looks for reform. Grover Cleveland,
steps almost from the >herl1alty OF cOun-
II to the chief Magistracy Of a republic
In conclusion. Nj. Christian warned
his hearers against the dangers which
threatened the cOuntry-danger OF giving
the power 10 make laws into the hands OF
men who do not acknowledge God; Of
abusing the blessings we enjoy too lavish
Is. and Of abusing our religious liberty.
st. JOHNS CHURCH.
At =. Johns the services were Of al
unusually interesting character. The
church was appropriately decorated with
Thanksgiving offerings. The altar was
s~urmounted by a cross Of grain. at the
foot Of which was a bowl of fruits and
flowers. The chancel rail was covered
with vines, and Z. the chancel entrance
stood two sheafs of grain,
interviewer with flowers and
decorated with traits. The font was COW
cred with a pyramid Ct fruits and plants.
with tall masses Of pampas grass waving
gracefully over the rich offerings. ~ the
base Of the font, the pulpit. and along the
steps leading II the cha2ceI were the
THANKSGIVING offerings of the cOngrega-
tioa TO- TIE parish poor. in the shape Of
clothing. groceries and provisions of al
mOst every kind. tied in packages and
numbering into the hundreds.
The service was read bV the rector,
Rev. Charles II. Strong. the choir render
ing = special programme Of music for the
dav. The regular offering was for the
benefit Of the aged and intrm clergy of
the church. The sermon was preached
by Rev. Henry Dunlop.
Mr.. Dunlop took his text from Luke
Y, u: AT that hour Jesus rejOiced in
spirit. and said, 1 thank Thee, . Father,
Lord OF Heaven and earth.''
He said there were two ideals Of the
Christian life. the n :. pc represented by
Elijah and John the Baptist. He sketched
tue history of these twO prophets. to
show the loneliness and isolation Of their
histories, as opponents Of that type o.
character which ultimately ended in the
monastic life. Here arose the idea Of God
being far away. Of the necessity Of con
ciliating him. OF the need Of approaching
him through the priesthood. a life separ-
ate from human jOy and the natural beat
ings OF the human heart. But our Lord
said Of this type that 1.-The
lowest in the Kingdom Of Heayen-that is,
the Christian church-was greater n
John the BAPTIST" As far as the mOnastic
type Of Christian character was con-
cerned-if il was indeed true. as il as
serted. that man was distant from God,
and could only approach Him through al
appointed agency-then this fact rightly
considered would destroy all sources Of
thanksgiving. because the causes of de-
preston were greater b the causes of
JOY.
But our Lord introduced another ideal
the true Christian type. He came from
one OF the brightest scenes OF hui
man life. He lad his SORROWS and
depressiOns. but the tone Of his life was
that represented in the text: Jesus re-
i0freT in spirit. and said. i thank thee,
. Father. Lord Of Heaven and EARTH"
Here was the basis Of our Lords thanks
giving. the fatheThOOd Of God Here,
also. was the sovereignty of God.
Having reached this point. then the
speaker asked: Are you a child Of God?
Are YOU resting upon the fatherhOOd Of
Gods Then your cause Of jOyfulness is
greater than that Of your depression.
whatever II may be, business failure,
physical health. or social disappointment.
Nav. so long as you are a child Of God
there can he no depression for you, and
all thanksgiving would be vain and fu-
tile without this fundamental act.
CHRIST CHURCH..
III -~@- "A n.-wn n4~nmH0nn1 ~F No.