Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-30


conception Of freedom, for With such 6od
despotism Il impossible. =,
Freedom thus translated aud interpreted
became the correlatiye Idea with God. HIS
nature, His laws. Ills government revealed
harmony. perfection, justice. They reversed
the Old World idea that "man was made Tor
the government" and showed that govern
ment was made for mau. To them, there
fore, freedom meant government tree from
desDOtism, aud one whose laws and admins.
trafion should sim at and secure liberty OF
conscience a1d justice 10 man.
With these basis ideas underlying our
Government we can At once see the wisdom
and propriety Of the call made upon US ny
our chief rulers to-day. The response. there
fore. which we here make TO this call IL de-
manded by fidelity TO our history. loyalty TO
God. and duty 10 ourselves. "Let all the
people praise Thee. o God" Our hearts
should be "poured ont before Him" In
grateful alteration and praise, Cor lie only IS
our refuge.
Again. our hearts should be poured cut
before Him in thanksgiving for his goodness
to US. This goodness has been yariously
manifested.
|. Consider the country He has given Us.
It's extent, soil, climate; IT, agricultural and
mineral resources, its rivers and lakes, its
position, all combine 70 make II
the grandest and the most desirable country
any nation ever possessed, or that ever
bloomed between the seas. kyery natural
condition for the highest development Of
man as a social and Intellectual being Is here
provided for us, and on a most bOuntiiul
scale. Nowhere on Earth has the in
yeutive genius OF man attained such
marvellous development as here. Nowhere
has there ever been either such rapid aequl-
siton or such a general distribution OF
wealth and tue comforts OF high cyiliza-
ton. Nowhere is there such q Government
Under It education, high and low, has pros
pered Universities, colleges, academies dot
our land ard nut their CLIMAX upon our
common.scbooI system. With these, cbarita-
bic institutions abound 10 meet aud minis
ter relief and care for the unfortunate. 70
those Of STATE provision are added thousands
founded aud maintained by private charity,
thus developing the spirit OF brotherhood
through the nation.
No large Standing army burdens uI. No
war desoates Us. Peslilence has touched
but few. and even this has elected cha
rity that bespeaks the beneiicence Of our
civilization. For all these our hearts should
be poured out IN thanksgiving to God.
Again, we should thank Him for HIS
mercy 10 us. Mercy Is moral quality and
has to do with our moral or spiritual wans.
Now, by so much as mans spiritual needs
are greater than bis temporal, by so much
should we make grateful acknowledgment Of
God's mercy b US. Churches dot our land.
We have a free ministry. free Bible, free
worship. Millions Of our children attend
our Sabbath schools. where Gods blessed
Bible is the textbook taught. While that is
taught not only will conscience be cnligbt-
ened and left free, but our people will con-
tinue TO possess the true ideas Of God and
freedom, aud 50 perpetuale our glorious in
stiUtions.
True, we baye sinnod. but God has exer-
cised toward Us His long suffering.
Let us. in conclusion. said Mr.. Judkins,
pour out our hearts before Him In pcnitcn-
tlal PRAYER as well ~ praise, aud not only
supplicate His continued goodness and msr-
cy bat seek TO place and keep ourselves IN
such relation to Him az TO be able 70 trust
Him and have Him for our continual refuge.
AT MONUMENTAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Divine service was held at y O'Clock.
The congregation was a large one-the
largest Thanksgiving congregation ever in
that church. The service appointed ~ the
church was used. with suitable hymns
God Bless Our Native Land" aud others.
The collection was for the purchase OF coal
for the poor OF the parish, and liberal col
lection wss made. Below is an outline ot
Or. NeWtOn's remarks-text: l. Ihe,salo>
mans ", IS" In everything give thanks" {:
The appointment OF a daY ot thanksgiving,
whether made by the Church or state, - a
recognition Of the doctrine Of Divine ProVi-
dcnce. the acknowledgment OF the great
truth that in God awe live, snd move, and
bave our being" And II there was nothing
else 70 commend II this would be an all-sutii-
Client reason why every earnest, 'ober-mind'
ed Christian should hail It's coming with JOY
and gratitude. In an Nge when 80 many
scoG ut the old-time faith OF Gods people ;
in an age when the press teens with volumes
many OF them written With great power and
presented in a most attractive form, whose
purpose is to undermine the faith OF
Gods children; in an age when some
think it an evidence OF unusual intel
lectualsty to accept any theory sr ggested or
invented BY man IN preference TO the plain
statements OF the inspired writings; in an ace
when many seek To dlshonor God, 10 de-
throne the .eKing Of KiBgs," and TO blot ont
the Gospel Of light and OF lite. 10 Is q matter
Of no small moment that in grest republic
stretching from the Arctic washed shores OF
Alaska 10 the southern extremity Of Florida,
from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific, all the peo-
Die should be called together tc worship The
one true God and to give Him thanks Tor all
bis benefits.
"The Lord reigneh; let the earth rejoice,
let the mutitudcs Of isles be glad thereof"
With ioy We bail The day. and would heed
the Injunction Of the great Apostle: " In
everything give thanks
with this introduction the tex. was dis
cussed.
l. Can man give thanks in everything
Are there not circumstances in which the
heart cannot give forth songs Of praise or
the lips words Of Thanksgiving?
In portion OF our land men dwell in
city which sits "solitary snd alone" Homes
once happy and bright are to-day clothed in
mourning. BeIeayed hearts weep for those
who care not" Can these give thanksi
Not II they look only through eyes OF flesh
and sense. But Christian faith interpTet'
Gods prOyidences by the Written Word
God promises are the key by which His
mysterious proyidences are made plain.
In His word we resd: " Be stall and
know that | am God" What do thou
knowest not now, but thou shalt know here
after" Whom the Lord loyeth lie ehas.
teneth, and scourgeth every son whom lie
receivethy "All things work together fof
good to them that love God" " These lighi
Affections which are but for moment shall
work out for US far more exceeding snd
eternal weight OF glory"
Yes, sOrrowing hearts in the light OF Di'
vine wisdom can look no and be thankful.
"E'en tho Il be a cross that raiseth mo,
Yetau my song shall be,
Nearer. my God, 70 Thee,
Nearer 10 Thee"
. what shall we say OF THOSE who have been
spared these great heart sorrows? God has
richly blessed them in their homes and In
their daily lives. (d) The blessings Of His
royidence. tb) The blessings Of His grace
tc) The fastening Of the day when "sll the
Kingdoms Of this world shall be the Eing
doms OF the Lord and Of His Christ"-door'
opening everywhere to the heralds OF the
Cross bid US be thankful.
And as men give thanks they should show
The sincerity Of their gratitude by sharing
their blessings With those not so highly
favored. They are Gods slmoners. In
asmnch as We have dOue il 10 one OF the leasi
Of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto
Ne"
In the words of a gifted preacher. ana
ture is beautiful. Our ieliow.men are deaI
10 Us; our duty lies close beside as; God |:
above us ard in us. What LLOre do We