The Portland daily press., 1890-11-28

4
day stiffness, the closing Of places of busi-
ness being very general. The theatres had
packed houses and the other amusements
were well patronized.
IN THE CHURCHES.
Causes for Thanksgiving Pointed
Out by Portland Pastors.
The congregations were not large at the
Thanksgiving services In the churches that
held them yesterday, except the union SER
vice at which Mr.. Inglis, the revivalist
spoke, which was made up of parts Of con-
gregations from all the evangelical denomi-
nations. An account of the services fol
lows:
a Sermen by Or. Hill.
The 4Sd chapter of Ecclesiasticus Is not
often read in the churches. but few more ap-
propriate selections could have been made
by DR.. Hill than that as a preface to his
striking Thanksgiving Day sermon. 1t was
noble discourse 1t was a, far away from
the ordinary bread and butter view of things
taken when we thank God that we have
enough to eat as 1t was from the sensational
style Of sermonizing on occasions like Fast
Day and Thanksgiving. The pastor of the
First Parish took for his text Paul's ascrip-
tion Of thanks to GJd "for his unspeakable
gift" No briei report can do him justice,
but it may be said be began by considering
the different interpretations which have been
attached to the phrase, his own personal
idea being that all If Gods benefactiOns to
menkind were in Pauls mind. But the dis
course was devoted to showing the bOuudless
possibilities which lie before the human
mind and SOUL The capacities of man's
spiritual powers are absolutely unb unded
and there Is constant attempt to reach out
toward the infinite. Some curious ilustra
lions were offered of fields for research. No
Imagination can picture what may be done
with the ten simple figures, or the myriads
OF combinations OF which the lett rs of the
alphabet are capable The chemical eIe-
ments with their countless variations and
associations aud forms, and their relations
with organic life, offer another boundess
ie'd for research, and 10 each the student
finds delight indispensable. or a certain
mathematical formula Prof. Benz ann Pierce
once said to the speaker tfat 1t made his
blood boil with Impatient longing 10 his
veins. Then there are the fields Of political
and social science where few things are yet
settled. Hope seems too feeble a word to
apply to our attempts Nothing can bound
our thoughts. Even the child Is speculating
on the past and the coming etrrnitirs, ON
what lies beyond the stars. These are ndt
worthless speculatiOns. They prefgure tn.
employment of the immortal soul. That soul
cannot return to the earth. 1t never was OF
the earth. On day like this, with its So
lemnity and memories and charities, We Can
look al cur lot as a whole and forward to In
creasing blessings. BY our freedom OF
thought and speech and action, by the adapt
ability of our system of government, by the
variety OF arts which offer and the opporLu-
nifty for education Tor freedom in chOos-
Ing or changing ones career, by all the CON-
fnrfa Of man. aAsta IN tph hiah uua nj and hxy
myriad of other things, life in our New
England city Is made superior to life In
K 'me or Athens in their days Of highest
glory.
Jewish Synagogue.
At the Jewish Synagogue Rabbi Lasker
said:
We assemble here in this synagogue to
thank Almighty God for giving US this ma
tIOnal THANKSGIVING Day. We differ from
others In the celebration of religious holi
days, but observe national holidays as well
as any American born citizen. We lsraelites
are more obliged to thank Almighty Gnd for
the freedom enjoyed IN this country than any
other race. and especially at this tim when
We hear our brethren, far away. mourning
and suffering under the Gar of Russia, while
here under the President Of the United States
Of America God has given US the same free
dom as he has any other citizen. The prus
perity OF the country means the welfare of
US ali. 1t Is our duty TO oOey the laws nf our
country. We are willing TO lose the last drop
of our blood la her behalf.
Passages Were quoted from Exodus, chap
ter ILL, and Psalms CXVIII., 22d verse, to
show that frOm small beginnings grew this
great nation because its principles are just
aud right "Fhe stone which the builders
rejected has brcOme the head of the corner" 3"
SO with America. Columbus felt sure there
Vas country here but all the kingdoms of
the earth disbelleved hun, aud refused him
aid, but one, and now that wild and undis-
covered country has become the foremost ma
tiOn of the earth. Its prosperity has been
honestly earned. The Talmud, speaking of
the King Shoal, said, "he earned his king
dom by tightening all the dark places"
What nation has lighted all the dark places
Of the world more than America. 1t ha, i'm
parted more knowledge TO the nations of the
earth, through its inventors, particularly
Edison. who like Franklin caught the light
ming, and not only caught It but held 1t Cap
tive and made 1t a servant to illuminate the
world.
Iu the Talmud We read that once upon a
time man wandering through the woods,
hungry, thirsty and worn out. came across a
frult tree. IN shady spot, laden with fruit,
and watered by spring Of delicious water
that stood near by. After he had refreshed
himself with the fruit and water and rested
under its shade, he said to the tIee, "what
Can l wish fer you that you do not possess
You have good fruit, good water, and are To-
Gated in a shady place. l will wish that all
bAO CubtluSo ldll iIOul YOU, anu Lnb Secu
from your fruit may spring into life and en-
JOY equal prosperity with yours-lf" That
Is our wish in regard TO our great and happy
country, that all her branches, all her Off
spring may enjoy, under the blessings of
God, all the prosperity that attaches to her.
Amen.
During the service the Rabbi Lasker offer
ed fervent prayer for the President of the
United States.
Congress Square Church.
AT Congress square church very pleasant
| Thanksgiving matin service was held. The
order was the same as the vesper service &C.
casiOnally given at this church and consisted
| of the usual opening exercises, two SCRIP
ture readings, the G. and CXXVIII. Psalms,
three concerted pieces by the choir, an adj
dress, silent prayer and chanted Lords
| pr,yer. There was very good attendance
tor Thanksgiving day. In his address the
pastor, Rev. DR. Henry Blanchard. spoke of
"Thankfulness for Common Blessings" !"
using the words of Paul In Colossians I'LL,
| 15-"Aud let the peace of God into your
hearts and be ye thankful" as a motto,
| rather than as text. Dr. Blanchard said
that it was evident that the Apostle Paul
had thankful spirit. Out of IA of his epls-
| ties II begin with expressions OF thankful
ness. BE was grateful not only for great
blessings-his conversion aud mis- apostOlate
but for all things But men are prone to be
| without thankfulness for common blessings.
For extraordinary benefits they will give
thank. They ought to give thanks for the
| gifts of God In ordinary ways Describing
| England's thanks for tne destruction OF the
| Spanish Armada, as Elizi nd the brave
captains of the feet praised God in st.
| Paul's he dwet on the fact that the men OF
| Englaud were probably thankless for com.
mon blessings. SO men in America would
be- thankful for great events, but thankless
for those benefits coming daily from God
| which make life's richness. de would have
men dwell On these. He then spoke OF the
eifts of Thought, of memory, Of love, of faith,
illustrating each point IN full. He would
have the lesson of the sinned remembered In
the homes Spoken, or unspoken, let thanks
arise before the feast of THANKSGIVING and
the sleep at night. The peace OF God Will
rule in hearts when these are profoundly
thankful.
The music of this church was very fine.
The Union Service.
The union Thanksgiving service was held
in the First Baptist church yesterday. The
large audience room was filed. The service
was opened by singing "My country. It's OF