Daily Republican., 1888-11-30

Presiding Elder Murray preached an
interesting sermon In Union M. E Church
on Thanksgiving morning from the 18th
verse of the $50 Psalm, "Bles.ed is the
nation whose God Is the Lord and the
people he has chosen for his Inheritance
In his preliminary remarks he referred TO
the different forms of Wor5hip which pre-
vailed, some persons worshiplng the sun,
Others the moon, and others stocks ana
stones, and the esalmist intended to show
the wisdom of the Christians choice
After this he referred TO the origin OF
Thanksgiving After season OF dire
distress In New England day was ap-
pointed for fasting and prayer, when an
old farmer arose and said 1t seemed TO
him that tho people provoked heaven by
their complaints. Instead Of continually
talking about hardships, they should look
around and see II there were rot many
,hings that they should be thankful for
Thereupon the day was changed to une OF
thanksgiving insteai of fasting and lam
entation The habit Of looking on the
dark side, he said was entirely too com
mon, and It would be well when thinking
Of the times TO recall the blessings enjoyed
and be duly thankful for the zane. AT
the close of the Revolutionary War the
President issued procln nation setting
apart day for the people to return
thanks for tho establishment OF peace.
After the formation of the Constitution
and on the signing of the same by the dill
ferent states, q day of Thanksgiving was
appointed by the President. In 1915 alter
the suppression OF the Whlskey insurIee-
lion, the President issued proclamation,
exhorting the people to return thanks for
tie triumph OF the Government. In 1919
on the conclusion OF the war with Great
Britain, similar proclamation was is-
sued, and the people united in thanks
giving for the return of peace and the
blessings vouchsaied to them. 1t Was not
IN II 1852 when President Lincoln Issued
bis proclamation for Thanksgiving, that
the custom became established, and since
that period a day has been set apart each
year for the above purpose, and now the
Governors OF the different states give II
their approval and 1t has become nation
al affair.
He referred to the discovery Of this
country as another evidence of Its pos
session OF the favor of God. The first
place at which Columbus landed he called
San Salvador, in honor Of the Saviour
Passing on he referred to the landing OF the
Pngrimson Plymouth Rock on the Sab
bath, when they, instead OF landing and
examining the country assembled togeth-
er In their vessel and united in the wor-
ship of God, setting an example worthy
Of the highest commendationi as well as
Of our imitati n.
In bowing humbly to God and asking
bis projection and guidance, they &C
quired a spirit of reliance on Divine
Providence, which led them to resist In
justice and oppression and finally to
achieve the liberty which we now enjoy
He commended the piety of Washington
and the example Of prayer which he
set He also referred to the prayers of
the people In the late Rebellion, and the
final liberation Of 4. 900, 900 Of siaves 1t
was not for this purpose but for the Su-
premacy of the Constitution and the en-
forcement Of the laws that the people
contended, and he thanked God that they
trlumphed, and the country could now
truthfully be styled the land of the free
aud the home Of the brave. He attended
the meeting at Gettysburg and he had
heard Southern men as we'll as Northern
ones, thank God that the slaves had been
freed, and ior the prosperity that had been
thus assured TO the new South He re
joiced that no one could become Presi
dent without acknowledging God. The
oath of office effectually prevented any
infdel from attaining that position
An inhdel could go up and down the
land proclalming his choice for the office,
but he could not fill 1t without abjuring
his sentiments. He thanked God that
he lived In no mean city or State. God
was acknowledged and ali felt His Su
premacy In referring to the plenty
which prevailed in our land be thsnked
God that no one need go hungry to bed.
This has not always been the case in
every land. In India, a few years ago,
multitudes perished TOR The want of food,
because of the failure Of crops and the
lack OF facilities to transport provisions
for them.
In our country we had been spared
fr m such Rfillction, las the crops had In
yariably yielded in abundance In most
sections, and in case OF failure in any
the mesns Of transportation were such as
to provide for the wants of all.
In referring to the progress of morality
in our city, he thanked God for the eour-
age which had been exhibited by the
judges in refusing to grant license to a
number of saloons, and he commended
the n ayor, police aud the press for the
stand that had been taken against gamb- |
ling dens as well as saloons, and ex.
ptpooSu the WISH tuhJ Luo uAy WI 1 soon |
come when they will all be extinct.
In conclusion he referred to the growth |
Of Methodism, and referred particularly
to the centennial meeting at Newark, say
ing that where there was no church pro.
pc ty hundred years ago, its value was
now estimated at f19s,CO0 He seemed
to admire the plain and straight forward |
way in which come Of the preachers dealt |
with the people, as he related an aDecdote |
in regard to lady giving a very eloquent |
experience, when the preacher remarked |
sister that Is all very we'll in It's way, but |
you will never get to heaven so long as
you milk your nelghbor's COWS. He con-
cluded by Wishing that the ministers |
would all be faithful in the admonition of |
wrong doing, and concluded by invoking
the blessing of God upon the ministry, |
the church and our country.
OOAlI Ooaln
Go to John H. Turner, dealer in extra |
Lshigh coal, also hEe.briok, fiFe-olny,