Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-11-30
nr. pnrr, u, ,hs mr,hoai-, Chnrch.

At the union service of the Baptist, Con
gregational and Methodist churches, held
at the Methodist church, Rev. f. j. Parry
preached from Chron. xXIx., 12-13 Mr.
Parry said in substance
The text sets forth certain great principles
which, stated In the most general way, would be-
all wealth, all mental moral and political power
come from God He reigns over an; ia his hand
Is the power aud might; he alone can make great
and give strength The man whose mind and
heart are right knows that the things which con.
stitute us great nation have come to us from
God; and 1t is eminrntly fitting that should
come today Ia bring our Offering Of thanks. As
an incentive to fitting Thanksgiving It may be-
well t. ~ back TO the beginuin =, uut ct which
las come our present national position.
We turn bdc- the pages ct history To- the 18th
century, ctntHIl that had more to du In shHp
ing the civilization Ut tine future ages than any
century since tAc sat. II was the century Of the
discovery Of the ant Of printing aud of the appli
cation Of gunpowder To- firearms To England II
MAS the century NJ Agucourt, the war Of the
Hus''S and OF Bu,W Fieid. To France II was
the century of English control Of Joan pf Are
and of Louis NJ To Germluy II was the c,.ntu
~ ut Sigismund. Whu,,. Internal teaching led to
the burning of John lluss and To the ilu~~itc war
To spain il was the darkest period under the iu.
QUESTION Of Ioruupmuda and also her greatest
Eiory during the reign uf Ferdinand and Isabella
To lldly u was the century ut political distruc-
ton, each city ruled by its own petty tyruut, but
u brought also Sayauarpla and Leonardo ia YIN
Ell To Rome il brought the spectacle ct rival
against council aud ah era ot Vice and drhuuch-
cry M the person of the hero of the puutin~, the
most drprnved of all, Alexander vi. In the 18th
century CuprrnlcuS was born, "a year later
Michael Angelo. and soon after. Raphael In tine
same year with Raphael Martin Luther was born.
and two years later Zwingle When Cup-rnicu>
was two year, old Giovanni dc Mr,licl was born.
who at IS years at age va, made cardinal and
Hlt"rward became Pops. leo y. who's. pa
pal bull Luther burned. And 50 these names
might be multiplied OF men who gave to art, lit
erathrr, science, politics and religion definite
character
Ia the very century which witnessed the down
fall Of tuustautinuplr the last relic u Tia" empire
ot the CAESARS. a new world was discovered ON
which the star Of empire was tu shine m greater
lustre and more enduring glory than ever lit up
the seven hills Luther was "A boy at Mansfield
school when the santa Maria touched the
shores NJ san salvador No one hut AN Hll-wise
Got could forecast such a wonderful transfurma
ton in the life and condition Of vast continent
The country has had growth and development
that is unparalleled
one hundred and five years ago this month the
Juited States received recognition as FREE and
independent nation and there is no nation. the
broad earth over, which owes so much to the God
Of heaven As this. We ought to thank God, ia
the first place, that the broad Atlantic flows b-
tween rs and Europe, and that We are So separat-
ed a. TO be free from any possible ENHANCEMENT
IN tue complications and strifes of the old world.
AGAIN, there Is cause for thanksgiving in our nat
ural Resources. Here Is great continent stretch
ing between two oceans with soil - fertile that
II needs only TO b- tickled with hoe and ii
yantages, too, which afford such opportunities
for variety in cultivation. aud which foster the
iuNurance Of all zones. the great mineral wealth
with costly and useful urtS scanning the rocks: a
coal supply sufficient for an unlimited demand;
material Resources for possible population Of
iNe hundred million souls Then. too, there Is
cause for thanksgiving ia the seeming ptrma-
nence of our institutions in the perfect religious
liberty enjoyed by all Us in no other country in
the world; and IN the uubounded possibilities be
fore us
When We contemplate all this We are forced 10
ask, Who has done all this for u.s. Who guided
the minds Of the men who laid down the prlnct-
pies that uudcrlr our national life Who has
guarded our institutions until, 10y reason of them,
We are the most exalted nation under the SUM-
To God We are indebted for il all; Therefore, o
God, We thank thee and praise thy holy name 20
And now what are some of the things that arr
necessary to our future prosperity aud trutst sue
cess as q nation.
In the first place, il is essential that we shall h.
one. Nut only politically, but in sentiment and
aims. Anything which tends To foster sectional
instead ot national welfare is menace tu the life
of the nation. Another danger lies Ia the efforts
OF the constantly inhoWng hOrdrs from the Old
World To un-Americanile America, as evidenced
in the various attacks which are constantly made
upon public institutions. upon society, etc. The
nation owes it to herself to Amercanize every
foreigner who makes this his adopted country,
and whoever objects has the privilege Of ret Irn-
ing to his native land. The truth that needs a. he
written over the doors of our halls of legislation
and cuutts of justice Is that righteousness eN-
aiteth nation, but sin is "A reproach to any PEG
pie He serves his country best who serves first
his God. All attacks upon social purity should h.
stamped upon. \ uniform national marriage law
is imperatvely needed. We must seek the larg-
est extension and exercise Of our educational
forces. Ignorance aud crime go hand in hand.
Looking into the future the eye is dazZltd with
the vision Of what God seems to have in store
for us
Giving, therefore free course to our grateful
emotions, let us he thankful to God for the pres
ent and trustfu in God for the future, rendering
to Him the acknowledgement of that olden time,
'Bntl riches and honor of thee. ami tnOIl
regnest over all; and in thine hand it Is to make
great and to give strength unto all Now there
fore, our God, We thank thee and praise thy glo-
riOus name"
In st, Michael's (EpiscopaD church Thanks
giving day was observed by the use of the
appointed service followed by an address
from the rector.