Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-11-27
UNION THANKSGIVING SERVICES.
The Discourse of the Rev. J. II. Parker at
Baptist Church.


to do honor to the day, and 10 the Giver 0
the benefits We enjoy.
The service was opened with q voluntar,
, by the organist of she Baptist church, fol
+, lowed by the rendering, BY the choir, Of th'
anthem, "Praise We the Lord" The Harves
Home hymn was read by Elder Jones, o
the United Brethren church, and the con
, gregation joined in the singing.
, Rey. T. 5. Hodgson, OF the NJ. Z. church
read the One Hundred and Forty-seventt
, Psalm, and prayer was offered by Rev
Audas, Presiding Elder Of this district. II,
but voiced the sentiment of tn,
audience in returning thanks thai
we are living in the present
age, under free government, in christian
land. surrounded by churches and Sunday
schools. His petition was for spirit of ap
probation for the blessings we enjoy, an6
that we may make due use of them, and also
for the Governor and state officers, the offic-
ers of the United States, and for Congress il
its deliberations The prayer was impress
sively closed By reciting the Lords prayer
in unison. The congregation then Joined
heartily i'll singing ''All Hail the Power Of
|, Jesus's Name"
THE sERA.oN.
Rev. W. +. Harper introduced as the
preacher, Rey. j. II. Parker, pastor of the
Congregational church, who announced his
text from Acts xxi-31, "a citizen of no mean
CITY," and his subject to be "the past, pres
ent ard future of Wichita
The speakers style is plain and impressive
rather than oratorical, and his discourse
replete with practical, pithy sentences. He
began by saying he had been but short
time resident of the state. He had caught
the Kansas fever and j. assumed malignant
Wichita type. and he was but one among
| hundreds. Wichita was more talked of in
the north and east than any other city in the
west.
He had not been disappointed in coming
here, but had found the city fully up to his
expectations. He was somewhat disposed
| to find fault with
WICHITA DRUG STORES,
however, which he thought ought to be adj
| ministered on homeopathic principles. All
Wichita druggists are not bad men, and
some means ought TO be found to protect
the reputable druggists from the disgrace of
being classed among the common run of
Kansas druggists.
Rev. Parker then gave Il brief sketch of
the
EARLY DAYS OF WICHITA,
speaking in detail of the establishment Of
the hrst newspapers, banks an d churches,
and the wonderful growth in population,
which from 1880 to 1886 increased from
4,li6 to l6,0l9, doubling in the last two
years, and at the present time IS doubtless
fully $4,000. Compared with other Kansas
cities, Wichita stands prominent as Il mar
Vicious evidence of what the enterprise and
push Of the new southwest can accomplish.
Kansas City in five years has but doubled
its population, while That Of Wichita
has nearly quadrupled, and ie considers
that all the present indications point 10 fully
rs great an increase in the
IMMEDIATE FUTURE
as in the past. Ia the estimation Of the
speaker, Wichita is destined to become II
great wholesaleing and distributing center,
and that al day no. far distant; He esti-
mates tina. the sales in the grocery business
alone, 50 far this year, aggregate $1,000
600, and in the dry goods line, $500, 900.
The property valuation of Wichita to-day
is probably little less than Sl0.000,000. The
prophecies that those of the present resi-
dents, who are here to welcome in the next
century, will be appalled, a, the progress
made in the mean time, and altogether he
thanks God that his feet have been directed
20 Wichita.
The reason for going thus into details re-
garding the commercial growth and pros
perity of the city, is that christian people
need TO know these things to incite them TO
put forth necessary efforts in christian work.
The church interests must keep abreast of
the business interests.
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
Our public schools were next most favor
ably commented on. In efficiency they will
compare favorably with those of older states,
of Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and others. Two
commodious and handsome buildings have
just been completed, and the present school
properly of the City is worth about Sl25, 900.
The corps of teachers is worthy the con-
idence reposed in them, and the 81 5000 ar
nually paid TO them is no equivalent for the
service rendered in the intellectual and moral
training and influence they exert over our
children. The Southwestern Business col
lege was mentioned as an institution worthy
of the support Of our people, and one of
which they may well be proud, as it will be
the best equipped school this side of Chi
cago when it is moved into its new quarters,
which are nearly ready.
Rev Parker is thoroughly interested in
the subject of education and predicts the
time TO be not far distant when schools IN
der Christian auspices shall be established |
to teach the higher branches Of learning.
MUSIC.
Music is the handmade of religion"
Wichits already may be proud of the must |
cal advantages she can offer to students, and |
the future will bring increased facilities in |
this direction. Vocal music should be more |
cultivated in our churches. There will be \
no ausrtette choirs in Heaven,
tonsl singing up there.
THE CITY PRESS.
Among educational factors the papers OF
the city should be accorded promine:
place. Though not always all that could
be desired in religious WAY, still :heic in
tiuence unQues;ionably is for the general
good One purports to be light. casting
its rays abroad. Another Is bird Of the
falcon family, which, with sharp beak and
claws. guards the interests of the communi-
ty. The editor of the Beacon is philoso-
pher, rsther than railroad builder. while
The Lew lines of railroad in progress attest
the skill of the editor of the EAGLE in the
after direction. Altogether the city papers
are equal TO those Of snv city il the COM
monweslih.
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
Rev. Parker expressed himself as surprised
% find the people SO lsw-abidins and the
avs so well enforced in so new s
,i,y. 1t is TO be regretted ;ha: the p-ohibi-