Smyrna times., 1888-12-05

VIM. S. Robinson, took his text from
LXXXV Psalm, 1st verse, Lord thou
has been favorable to thy land" and
preached for an hour sermon abound
| ing in unusual VigOr of thought.
/ He said he could not preach q
! Thanksgiving sermon without adver-
/ ting to that first one 264 years ago by
| the first settlers of the bleak coast CT
/ New England. when their supplies
were scant and in addition a Ship
load of other emigrants had arrived
! dependant on them for sustenance. A
vivid picture was presented between
! the condition of those times and now.
| and the faith that actuated them in the
midst of pTiVatiOns and hardships, that
we have no conception of in this age, to
a life of courageous endeavOr and
! thankfulness. 1t was this high char
acter that stamped their impress on the
civilization of the country for the sue
| ceeding ages.
The Rev. Gentleman took up in re-
view a number of features of the ma
tlon's progress and development strik-
ing in contrast with other periods of
| the worlds history, and concluded by
noting some of the dangers that are
menacing our institutions. Chief Of
| these was the greed and concentration
OF wealth, the reckless demand for the
| spolls OF Office, the buying and selling
OF votes and other disreputable means
TO obtain party supremacy, the anar-
chlsts who mistake license for lib
erty, the strike at our public schools.
&C. The public Standardization
without sectarian interference or con.
trol--he thought the great bulwark of
our liberties. 1t was not to be disguis-
ed That menace to our public school
comes from the Catholic church who
not only claim the right to educate the
children in their faith, but want TO di-
vert an equivalent portion of the
school fund for this purpose. 1t is not
so much the faith of the Romish cburch
that IS objected to, hut, their constant
effort to reach out and get in control
the political and civil government
wherever it is possible to be done. and
bring 1t in subsection to the church. T.
was this feature that distinguishes il
from all the other churches. and keens
inem IN state Of pprehensiveness. |
lie urged that the distinctive features
tiiaI had made this country so great,
prosperous and happy above the nations |
A4N'i WIZ NUN OllcI DuJ naQ Il dit |
ierent policy of religious and civil gov
ernment, should be guarded and cher.
lshed as a most sacred inheritance.
At night the Presbyterian church
was well filed to attend the usual |
Thanksgiving anniversary of the sun |
day school. The orchestra connected |
with the Sunday school led Off with a |
good instrumental piece. followed by
the regular program of exercises. mn |
ger the management of Geo. W. Tav- |
lor, the superintendent. "The Arch |
OF Success" in which Miss Name
Heitshu led off in a good recitatition
closing with Jas. w. Anthony. who Dnt
on the capstone, was the most striking
single feature of the program. The
Suiperintendent's report showed the
school in good condition, with one hnr-
dred new books in the library.
Rev. Mr.. Sweezev gave a short talk
on Thanksgiving, closing the exercises
IN an hour, when a number of the at.
tendats went to the Opera House TO
witness the Old Folks Concert. the ex-
erclses have been commenced early
seven o'clock, for this purpose.