The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-11-28
THANKSGIVING SERVICE.

thurch ana 81. AnuFeW tatheuFhi'
Yesterday being Thanksgiving
Day, special services were held in
he morning at IL O'Clock at Central
Union Church and st. Andrews
Cathedral
CENTRAL UNION CHURCH.
At this church there was a large |
congregation present, the L. ). Min
lister Plenipotentiary and the Consul
General being among the number.
The pulpit platform was decorated
with plants and flowers, and on the
front Of the organ were American
and Hawaiian flags. The Rev. DR..
Beckwith opened with prayer, and
then read President Harrison's pro
clamation. Rev. A. \. Fisher read
the scripture lesson, and also offered
up a prayer. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. o. Z. Emerson
from Col. 3:11: Where there is
neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision
nor uncircumcision, barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ,
who is all and in all" The choir
rendered some very excellent music.
ST. ANDREWS CATHEDRAL.
At this church there was a good
sized congregation. The choir of
ladies and gentlemen rendered the
music with much skill and taste.
The anthem was, s. Ye Shall Dwell
in the Land" by Stainer and the
soprano and bass solos were we'll sung
by Miss Barnard and Mr.. Starkey
The Rev. Alexander Macintosh
preached the following sermon:
Psalm 5O-14: :" Offer under God thanks
giving and pay my VOWS unto thu
Most High"
Recognizing that the principles o
Christianity are essential to the life o
civilized men - These-the opening
words of the announcement of thi
Thanksgiving Day-are enough incentiv
to rouse the most careless and indifferen
to a sense of their obligation to tn
Author of all their good. With what 10
then does the loving Christian see tn
acknowledgment of his Lord by the re
preventative OF a great nation of tn
earth-the calling together of millions {
those for whom Christ died to comics
that they owe to Him all the blessing
and benefits and privileges-all the
happiness, peace and comfort to Hl
divine will and favor. 1t is the fri
principle of true thanksgiving to reco!
nize the author from whom the blessing
and the mercies flow. When we can Sc
that it is "not we ourselves''-not b
4 ,,,ri,t hat
perity arises-we naturally lift up OF
hearts to some other power. Ho
supremely fortunate are those who ca
fix their gaze Alright and praise &c
from whom all blessings fowl " Ope
thy mouth wide and | will fill it." FL
large your desires, wish for everythir
you please, and you shall be satisfied
: if only you believe that | alone am tt
God that can deliver you-" for all tt
earth is Nine" saith the Lord of host
What are the blessings we have receive
f from the beneicent hand of the Create
and how are we going to offer thank
= giving and pay our vows to the Mo
High? First of all: Is there on tn
earth people on whom God hath sho'
If cred more of His love than on the dive
n sity of nations who live on these favor
n who do not fully appreciate what we e
y Joy, and who will not really see Il
e value OF many things until by son
-e chance we are deprived of them; VIII
g. others again are filled with gratitude tn
place. The love of native land-t
, affection for old association is still stro
L and will at times fill our thoughts-b
M | hnr
must be content to forego such things
70 we have left behind, and not allow t
lc loss of them to absorb our attention, a
" make us depreciate what we have in
: turn. If we do not reason in this We
0. we may be sure that we are not offeri
,f unto God the thanksgiving which we O
unto Him, or paying our VOWS as
ought. We are looking down upon t
earth, and not up unto heaven-t
ri throne of the Most High
OS God has indeed crowned the year tt
has just passed with His goodne
Earthly benefits and spiritual blessir
have fallen to the lot of each of us. T
~ Father of all mercies has visited US, a
ld given us warnings at times that all
q. not here-that we must not fix too fir
ly our affections on things which p;
q away; but none of us can say that
ne doeth not all things we'll, though
M have doubtless had need of much e
"A nest prayer for help and guidance, ey
~ strong crying and tedrs-to be i'll
u convince that our troubles were BILE
II, ings, sent to purify us. and urge us
IT. greater efforts, and bring down ur
IL us more fulness of Gods gra,
no Some of us have suffered pain and
,ts privation-have been touched in c
os tenderest points. Well for them if tt
can rest in the remembrance of ps
mercies, which cannot be taken aws
RI and with this look forward with bris
Id hope for turn in the tide of atfa
L, which now seems to flow against the
ly Present pain and loss should not destr
90 gratitude for favors received, though
on the strength of our better nature M
I'M be exerted to keep it alive. Trust a
confidence in the Creator, Ruler of
things-deep, earnest love-and UNIV.
~ erirg faith in His power will keep I
Ell heart warm and the mind serene,
at clouds will scatter and the bright sun
re, Joy will shine forth again to cheer {
on saddened souls. But have we not sol
X sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving
an the every day benefits we have receiv,
h, We have not seen the fields white W
io harvest-we have not seen the corn, I
oe wine and the oil garnered, but the p
ducts OF this tropical country ha
yielded their increase-wealth has fio
ed into the land OF which hardly a
ut can say he has not received his sha
We see around US indications of furtl
> development of the resources of the
IS ands and of greater prosperity. w
If iudicious management-by which,
of mean-a right and wise use of Co
" blessings, and gifts of intellect, pow