Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-27


self, II am truth"
We should be thankful for this day
because it affords us suitable opportu-
nifty of reviewing the past When
we begin to enumerate Gods mercies to
US as people we find it
exceedingly difficult to know just where
to begin and where to end; what to
mention first and what to put last, and
hence, in our perplexity, we feel like
summing them up in the aggregate in
the words: Forget not all his benefits.
What a catalogue they would make if
we could remember them all-would
that we could
AS we turn over the leaves of the past
year-the book contains three hundred
and sixty-five of them, we will find a
good many pages bordered in black, on
which is recorded the death OF perhaps
some noble hero, some great statesman
or philanthropist or scholar. We read
on another page of fearful and thrilling
disasters and calamities, both by sea
and land, but we are willing, we trust,
to class even these, however frightfully
dark or mysterious they may be, among
the wise providences of Him who rules
the universe, though they seem at the
time to be the dark frownings OF Him
who is King of kings.
We turn another leaf and we discover
that the days and weeks and months
have come and gone in their usual Or
der, bringing with them their seasons
freighted with harvests, fruits and flow
ers, and in all these we recognize the
regularity of physical laws and the nice
adjustment OF these laws to society.
On another page we read of a we'll
ordered government; government
whose citizens are Industrious, inde
pendent, valorous, and in most cases
happy and content with their heritage.
We also find peace within the borders
of our land. While other nations have
been and are now seriously disturbed
with war and rumors of war, peace has
spread her wings over us and smiles be-
nignly upon US.
We turn another leaf and read OF
abundant harvests-enough for all
the grain fields have passed their har-
vests beyond the reach of floods and
frosts, and other destructive agencies OF
which we hear 80 much, so that we can
all sing our glad Thanksgiving in the
language OF the psalmist: ''They shout
for joy; they also sing"
And let us sing it with gladness today,
for, in the language of another q be-
lieve it is Talmage), "God. has table
spread today which reaches from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and He has
guests from far and near"
/ do not forget that there may be
some here today who are ready to say ::
"That inventory of blessings is not for
me or mice. Oh have a list 80 diff
ferent 1t is dimmed with tears and
blackened with sorrow, and from my
heart there comes dirge instead of an
anthem. l cannot sing; cannot thank
God. Sickness, loss OF health and wealth
and bereavements; disappointments and
blasted hopes-these have entered my
home and torn my heart and been my
portion. How can / be thankful?"
Are there such here today? We would
not chide you in your grief, nor on ac-
count of it, but would, after the manner
and example of our Lord, deal gently
speak tenderly, and bid you look away
from these sorrows that 80 toss the soul
and threaten to shipwreck your faith.
and look up.
The gospel Of Christ enables the child
of God to be thankful even for the ills
of life. May God enable us, who care
not only to express our gratitude in
WOIuby Out WltA sOhCAOdo hCcioo dhA
full hands remember the poor whom we
always have with us. Let us feed the
hungry, clothe the naked and smooth the
road made rough by poverty and trials
to others. Let US endeayOr to throw a
gleam of sunshine into some sorrOwful
life and lift the burden from some heart
oppressed. Israel's poet sings:
Thou crownest the year with thy glad
ness,
And Thy paths drop fatness.
They drop upon the pastures of the
wilderness;
And the hills are gilded with joy.
The pastures are clothed with f1ocks ;
The valleys are also covered with
corn.
Having done this we can gather
around our own tables and with truly
grateful hearts, say to the Lord of
heaven and earth, my cup runneth
over.' Blessed be His name.
The congregation sang America, and
after prayer by Rev. DR.. Colmery the
service was concluded with the benedic-
ton by DR.. Starkey.
ON THE EAST SIDE.
At the Dalv-street Congregational
church also were held union Thanks
giving services. In the pulpit were the
Rev. Lloyd Jenkins, of the Congregational
church Rev. J. I. Ford, superintendent
of home missionary work; Rev. DR.. w.
H. Pendleton, of the Baptist church,
and Rev. Jonn Collins.
The services were opened by singing,
then Rev. Jenkins lead the congrega-
tion in responsive readings. Rev. PEN
dleton delivered prayer and the SER
mon followed.
Mr.. Collins took for his text the first
half of the second verse of the ninety-ifth
psalm, "Let us come before His pres
ence with thanksgiving. Summarized
he said: That if the audience expected
to hear pessimist they would be dis.
appointed, for he came with heart full
OF thanksgiving. This day had been set
aside by ''the father of his country" to
be thanksgiving, and the custom had
been followed by all succeeding presi-
dents. The war vessels OF our country
ride upon all waters and are looked
upon by all other countries as the repre-
sentatives of a great nation. he told an
incident about General Garfield, show.
ing how the great man felt an interest
in all poor boys.
Wisdom has so far blessed the gov
ernment of this country. No iron hee
of tyrant tramples upon the Jews, nc
crown prince heaps infamy upon us by
his gambling scandals, no Bal naceds
attempts to assume dictatorship, M
Boulanger dies by his own hand at th'