Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-30
A DAY OF THANKSGIVING.
How the Centennial Holiday was OBJ
served in the National Capital.

A BRIGHT AND COOL APRIL DAY-BUsINEss sUs-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PARTIES ANTICIPATE
MAY-DAY IN THE wooDs-sPECIAL THANKsGIv-
ING SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES
A cool, bright, beautiful morning, inspiriting
and invigorating, ushered in the centennial of
the Inauguration of George Washington as first
President of the United States and the city
founded by him and which bears his name, the
capital of great, free, united and prosperous
country, never looked brighter and prettier
with its clean streets, shaded by trees wearing
their new spring dress, and its lovely parks.
with their rich green sward, adorned with the
many 'colored blossoms of Towering shrubs
and plants.
The lovely character of the day and the YER
nal beauty of the city probably brought to the
mind Of every good citizen. by the contrast. the
gloomy, raw, driZzly, stormy, umbrella-and-
rubber-overcoat weather of March 4, and sug-
gested the glory of an Inauguration held at
this time, when the thousands of inaugural
visitors could see the capital arrayed in all the
loneliness of spring. Thousands were unable
to resist the invitation of sun, blue sky. and
balmly air, and hence started early
to the country on picnic excursions.
There was suspension of all public business
and many private business establishments we're
closed. In accordance with the Presidents
proclamation, thanksgiving services were held
by all religious denominations. The hour for
such services was generally O'Clock, the hour
at which the thanksgiving services were held
in New York a hundred years ago. The services
in all the churches were well attended and they
were over by half-past 10 o'clock.
The Catholic Churches.
Centennial mass was celebrated in all of the
Catholic churches at O'Clock this morning
with an appropriate sermon in EACH Rev.
Father Chappelle occupied the pulpit at st.
Matthew's. He selected his text from the 18th
chapter of the I'd Book of Macchabaeus, relat-
ing to the celebration by the chill
dren of Israel of the victory of
Judas Macchabaeus over their enemies.
All memories of momentous events he said
were best perpetuated by their commemoration
at certain periods, and they had been as
sembled to-day that every true citizen might
rejoice for the divine blessing bestowed on the
land in the past one hundred years, and COM
memorate the great event that occurred
century ago.
OUR FoREFATHERS HAD STRUGGLED HARD
for the day when they might see themselves
free people, and this was event of the greatest
consequence. for on it depended the social and
political welfare of unborn millions. The fin
ger of God had been SO evidently work.
ing for them that they assembled in
the churches after the ceremonies of
the occasion to thank the Divine Providence.
Patriotism is inseparable from love for God
and family; and that which has made the great
est glory of Christian nations has been directly
derived from the church.
Fortunately for these people there was at
the beginning of independence, a man, true
American, a true Christian, without guile
whose intelligence, without perhaps being
what might be called of the highest order, was
superior, because he was endowed with
THE RARE QUALITY OF GOOD SENSE.
and with superhuman disinterest for self. No
doubt his heart beat with desire for the APP
probation of the good, the just and the intelli-
gent, but when it was suggested to him that
the time was propitious for him to establish a
kingdom he did not like Caesar. put away the
proffered crown, but said that there had never
been made to him proposition that so sad
dened him. He was a moderate man, and took
time to weigh and consider the different phases
of a question. and hence his judgment had in
it something prophetic. The speaker paid
further
GLOWING TRIBUTES TO THE MEMORY OF WASH
INGToN,
and spoke of the formation of the union which,
he said, was modelled upon the existence of
the Divine Being HIMSELF a symbol of the
Holy Trinity. "In the history Of humanity"
he said. II do not know of closer instance of
Gods Divine government than was secured
by the Constitution of the United States.
As in the church there have been heresies SO
in the union there have been influences at work
that have threatened its existence" He spoke
with feeling Of the civil war, when the earth
drunk the blood of the people, homes were
shattered, treasures spent. families desolated.
but the most enlightened on the conquered
side have to-day said that the issue has been a
blessed one. and that they would not, if they
could, change the result. He mentioned
THE or CT .vrpv
and the race problem now confronting us; that
mistake which arose from a crime and led to
horrible war. and expressed hope that the
people would deal with the unfortunate ones
with human forebarance and patience, so as
to fit them for the responsibilities
OF free citizenship. Another problem
was IN our face, he said: that