The Evening critic., 1884-11-28

Washington yesterday in a manner un-
precedented in the history of the city.
The places of worship were all crowded
at tho morning services, and many were
beautifully and appropriately decorated
with fruits, flowers and vegetables, sheavcs
of wheat, stacks of oats and innumerable
emblems of plenty and prosperity, while
the sickle and tho scythe were shown
among tho fruits of the harvest as poetic
reminder that amid the blessings of pros
perity and plenty there is good work to
DO done.
Tho Episcopal churches commenced the
day Of prayer and praise with early morn
ing services of communion, the Catholic
churches held early services, and places Of
worship of all denominations opened their
doors at II o'clock, and the congregations
gathered to hear tho Thanksgiving SER
mon, which is so important and universal
feature Of the days observance.
Many OF the sermons were Of current
and local interest and all recited the many
blessings received and evils withheld dur
ing the past year the prosperity attendant
upon trade, agriculture and all industries T;
the escape from epidemic, riot and disaster,
and the blessings of peace and progress,
The President attended st. Johns Church
at morning service, as is his custom, accom-
panied by his daughter and niece, aud was
edited by an eloquent and impressive SER
mon by the Rev. DR.. Leonard. The SER
mon was a review of the progress and
events of the year and o description of tho
Nations prosperous condition.
He congratulated the country upon the
peaceful solution of the great political
problem Of 1884, the safe passage through
political crisis and the law-abiding spirit
in which the popular verdict had been ex-
pected. The outlook for the coming year
was described as bright and promising one.
The New York-Avenue Presbyterian
Church was crowded to its utmost capacity,
and the immense audience was entertained
by most interesting sermon on the his
tory of the National Capital. DIR. Bartlett
the pastor, described Washington city as
great individual, with streets and avenues
for veins and arteries, parks for its lungs
and electrical communication for its nerv-
Gus system. His text was st. Paul's claim
to being 81 citizen Of no mean city" and
such, he said, might we'll be the claim Of q
resident of Washington. The Capital City
was in general plan, an imitation of ancient
Babylon, as far as Thomas Jefferson's views
had been followed. The construction of
public buildings, the paving of streets and
avenues and the ornamentation of the parks
had been economically accomplished, and
no city in the world can compare to our
own in such beauties as these.
L'Enfant, Ellicott, Washington and JEFF
ferson were the fathers of the city, the de-
sign, the general system, unlike any
other in the world, yet comprising some
great feature OF every European capital
DIR. Bartlett eloquently reviewed the his
| dae0rihad thu nj tinno nd
| dicted the future of the city. He said
that IL must be resort for American
wealth, beauty, art and law and yet not
city of luxury and Incidence, but one in
which great National issues and problems
must be solved reforms accomplished, pro.
gress insured, great moral and intellectual
works carried on. The future Of the city
must be bright. Its career must be glorious
and useful.
At the Church of the Epiphany an elo-
quent and patriotic Thanksgiving sermon
was delivered by the Rev. DR.. Pitts, of
Baltimore. The chancel was beautifully
decorated with the fruits of the harvest
oats and wheat, bright leaves and flowers
and presented beautiful appearance. The
rector, Bishop-elect Paret, was absent,
owing to his continued trouble with his
eyes.
DIR. Pitts pictured America as the land
chosen by tho Almighty for the reformation
Of the world and hastening OF the mil
lenium.
All history showed how one nation after
another can be chosen to do Gods work
had prospered while active and useful, and
fallen into decay and ruin when the good
work was neglected.
America, unknown to history until 1t!
| time of usefulness had arrived, stood mid
way between the ascending and advancing
| civilization of Europe and the decayinl
| and disappearing glories of Asia. Thu,
situated, America stood ready to transmit
the teachings of Christian progress and
| civilization around the world. 1t was able
| to feed the people of the universe, to afford
an asylum, while it taught them. Provi
| dence had sent Africa into our very homes
and throughout our territory. Asia knocks
loudly at the Western gate. All Europe
pours her people into Castle Garden, and
thus the opportunity is afforded us that nj
other nation can enjoy. Our field for mission
airy labor Is among those nearest TO us, ant
individual teachings are international ant
universal in their good effects.
God has guided and guarded the Nation
He has sent the whole world to us to cd
ucate and Christianize. He has givei
ample means and opportunity.
We can only forfeit the Divine commission
by neglect of the great work and by allow
ing the terrible evils of Mormonism, loos
divorce laws and wealth-worship to con
tinue and develop their curses.
At st. Luke's p. E. Church the music O
mathis and vespers was magnificent.
Bishop i, q. Andrews preached at tn
McKendree NJ. L. Church. A musical an,
literary entertainment was given last nigh
in the Waugh NJ. f. Church. DIR. II. 1
Naylor took as his subject at the Foundr
M. +. Church 1.-THE American Republic
Its Danger, Duty and Destiny" The Sur
day-schOol took part in the services q
Christian Church, Vermont avenue, wher
the pastor preached. DR.. Domer delivere
the address at st. Paul's English Lutheran
Church. Rev. w. w. Patton, ID. d., a
Congregational Church, and Rev. Il. L
Sven at the Calvary Baptist. "The Pc
ltical Outlook of To-day" was Rev. Wi
liam Warnings subject at the Berean Bar
tist Church, while the colored churche
also held special services.
The Thanksgiving observances at pr
vate houses were unusually general an
festive, II the sales of turkeys, oysters an
cranberries, and the savory and all-peI
vading odor of mincemeat and puddin
can be accepted as indications.
At the matinees the day was gaily cele
brated, immense audiences being gathere
and the performances highly appreciated,
The weddings were very pleasant fea
ture Of the days obseryances and, although
quito numerous, were largely attended.
st. Paul's p. Il. Church, on Twenty
third street, was densely crowded ant