The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-26
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Special Services at the FOrt-sGreet
Church and st. Andrews Cathedral.

a gOodly number OF Americans resi-
dent in Honolulu yesterday responded
to the invitation of President Cleveland,
| conveyed through Mr.. Hastings, Charge
d'Affaires for the United States in this
city, to suspend their customary avoca-
tiOns and attend at their respective
places of worship to give thanks for the
blessings vouchsafed to them during the
past year, where they were joined by a
few of other nationalities.
FORT-sTREET CHURCH
Was we'll filled, though not overcrowded,
and among the congregation were noted
many representative Americans. The
service, which commenced at II O'Clock
a. m, was conducted by the Rev. J. A.
Cruzan, in conjunction with the Rev. Z.
G. Oggel. The proclamation of Presi-
dent Cleveland was read by the former;
the anthem, go, Lord, how bountitul,"
was most effectively rendered by the
choir; the Harvest Hymn and the Amer
lean National Song were taken part in by
all present. A collection was to have
been made on behalf of the sufferers by
the late earthquakes at Charleston, but
owing to the welcome intelligence hav-
ing been received by the last mail that
there was no further need for assistance
the intention was abandoned.
The Rev. S. E. Bishop delivered an
able discourse, taking for his text the
words, 81 will offer to Thee the sacrifice
of thanksgiving" from the 10th Psalm
and the 18th verse. He said that the
observance of the last Thursday in No
vember as day of thanksgiving was an
established custom of the American
nation. 1t used to be confined to the
people of New England and those of
New England descent. 1t was originated
by the Pilgrim Fathers as a spontaneous
outburst of gratitude for their deliver
ance from want during the first year OF
their abode at Plymouth. Notwithstand-
ing their trials they rejOiced in the God
of their salvation. The congregation
to-day were met together especially as
Americans, by their Presidents invita-
ton, to thank God for his rich bounties
and manifold mercies during the past
year. All there were descendants of
those Pilgram Fathers by inheritance of
the institutions which they founded.
Some could even trace blood descent.
All derived their ideas and principles of
duty, social and domestic relations, edu-
cation, law and liberty, from those
planted in the American wilderness by
those resolute souls. Those principles
were now dominant from the Atlantic to
the Pacific over sixty millions OF people.
They were also the prevailing principles
OF society in these Islands, embodied in
the Constitution and laws. 1t was solely
due to the -tcognition of the Hawaiians
us ChrislianIAad people that they Sc
cured their independence. Americans
and others pattoOk with the Hawaiians
OF a common prosperity or the reverse.
Although met together as Americans,
they praised God as members of the Ha
waiian nation, in common with
which tney thanked Him for
our great material anu undnClaI
prosperity during the past year. They
had been peculiarly exempt from gen
eral disaster. Even the fire was a sani
tary benefit to the city. The export OF
sugar was the largest in quantity and
value ever shipped. Notwithstanding
low prices, business as whole had been
prosperous, few countries growing so
rapidly in opulence. Having briefly de-
scribed the state of the country in the
present, the speaker contrasted it with
the restitution of the past, to which his
own memory adverted. 1t was pleas
ure to know that so many did not forget
the instruction, Freely We have re-
ceived, freely give" We had reason to
thank God for the high degree of mental
and social culture in these Islands. For
the number of whites, there were few
countries where there is n larger number
OF well-educated persons. The Honolulu
press was productive one and well sup
ported The school system was OF long