Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
A NATIONS FESTIVAL.
THANKSGIVING DAY IN BURLINGTON
Deep SHOWS and Jingling Sleigh BellS-
The Day Observed in Church and
Homes services at the Differ
ent churches.

Thanksgiving day dawned, this year,
upon world deep buried in snow
a strange spectacle for the season
of the harvest festival The storm
of Wednesday had covered the ground
with heavy mass of snow, Il foot deep on
level, and the keen air, the thiclily
mantled trees, the jnging sleigh bells
and shouts of the children enjoying the
first "slde" of the season, made Thanks
giving day, 1855, seem more the midwinter
Christmas or New Years than the autumn
anniversary, with its frozen ground and
grass whitened with hoar frost. The day
was clear and beautiful after the storm,
and at an early hour the streets were fair
ly alive with the swiftly flying sleighs,
everybody eagerly awaiting themselves of
the early and unexpected advent of the
snow to enjoy an eXhilarating spin upon
the runners From morning till night
there was carnival of sleighs, and every
ounce of horse flesh and every inch of
steel in Burlington seemed to be holding
its place in the flying procession.
But while the day was thus merrily
observed by so many in out-of-doOr enjoy
ment, It's honored observance in the house
of God and at the freside and festal
board of the home was not neglected.
Places of business were closed through
out the day. and the public buildings
from the hours of 10 Am, until &. p. m.
The Y. NJ. G. A., kept open house
for all at its pleasant rooms, and in the
evening refreshments. provided by. the
ladies auxiliary, were served. There
were services in the morning at st. Paul's,
and the Methodist church; the
latter being q union service of
the Methodist, First and Third Con
gregational and First and Berean Bap-
fist churches. The services in all the
churches were well attended, and were
exceedingly appropriate and interesting.
The Union Service.
The union service at the Methodist church
called out the usual large audience. The
pastors of four of the churches represent
ed, Rev. Messrs. Jump, IIawes Gould and
Parry occupied the platform. The sing
ing was mainly congregational and was
led by a quartette choir. The services
were opened with the reading of Scrip
ture by Rev. Mr. Parry of the First Bap-
fist church, prayer by Rev. DR.. Halves of
the First Congregational church, singing
by the congregation, and an anthem by
the choir. \ collection was then taken
up for the benefit of the industrial school.
The sermon was preached by Rev Mr..
Gould of the Berean Baptist church.
Rev. Mr.. GouId's Discourse.
THE goodness of God leadeth thee to re-
pentance." Rom. ii 4.
Naturally. as men are constituted, the
goodness of God leads us to self compla-
cency, and not to repentance Our text,
therefore, goes against what seems to be
the natural course of things 1t teaches
that the goodness of God does not lead
men to be satisfied with the good they
have, but to repent
What is the goodness of God? The
Jews believed that the goodness of God
was his righteousness, and that his rela-
tons with men were such as to develop
righteousness in them. Their conception
of God was the true conception. Now
what did the goodness of God toward the
Jewish nation consist of Did it ever
produce complacency in them? No:
Gods goodness showed itself more and
more goodness that left out of sight the
outward and material prosperity of the
people, and looked toward the greater and
higher interests of their national and
spiritual life.
What is Gods goodness to us as peo-
pie We had most magnificent start as
nation. But there was Il great evil eX-
iSting among uS-an evil which came
upon us in such way that it seemed to
be inevitable and irresistible. But what
was Gods will concerning us Did he
allow us to go on keeping that evil No;
Gods goodness was IA goodness that con-
stantly more and more quickened the
consciences of this nation until finally it
brought us to that greatest and most desc.
lating conflict this world in its modern
history has ever known, in order that the
blot might be washed out, and that we
might come up higher Since then how
is it Are there any evils that remain ?
Yes. We are brought face to face with
the existence of alien races. There is the
great race which we have just set free.
There is the race from which we have
taken this great country, with what in
justice history will tell. There are other
nations coming in among us. There are
two ways of treating them. There is the
science of political eXpendiency, as we call
it. Shall we be fair and Just and generous
to these aliens, or shall we use our power
What is Gods goodness doing for us :
Does he say, go on and prosper, and
thrust these things aside. Why should
they stand in the way of Il mighty nation,
progress - No There is Il moral side tn
all these questions, and Gods goodness i,
a goodness that calls Us to repentance
Then there is another question Is there