The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-11
THANKSGIVING SERMON.
Delivered by H. P. Wilbur, at the
Presbyterian Church Rapid City
Sd, November 81, 1891.

Text:-Psalms 147; 20, HE hath hot
dealt so with any nation"
1t has been supposed that the Fsaiih
in which these words occur was an an
them intended for the service OF the
second temple. 1t celebrates GODS
almighty and gracious rule over MS
people, but mlngles with his a specla'
commeratlon of his goodness in bringing
back his people from their captivity
rebuilding the walls OF Jerusalem. IL
may have been written for the dedication
of the wall, which, as we learn from
Nehemiah, 70; 81; twas kept with glad
ness, both with thanksgiving and with
singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and
with harps. For God had made them
to rejoice with great JOY, SO that the Joy
OF Jerusalem was heard even ala OIL"
But the Psalmist rises to O. higher
strain at the close OF the Psalm III which
he celebrates the peculiar privileges
granted to his peopleiron Jehovah. Lie
lifts his head, looks round upon the ma
-t,eps LIVING on the earth IN his day
Gle declared his word unto jacob
His statutes and judglnnts unto Israel
He hath 1fot dealt so with any nation
And as br his judgements, they hav
not kn9&En them. Halleiuiah."
Ii tha1 possession OF peculiar blessings
nla5cA4e by no nation upon earth be
-..-anse Tor Thanksgiving, l think that n
people has such reason today to bles
JehOyah as our own. Looking roun
the world this morning, l do notfind on
point OF comparison of ourselves wit
other nations in which lido nottind cals
to say: "Bless the Lord" 10 max
this more vivid, 1 shall invite you t.
take with me a rapid survey OF til
worlds condition and then to say If tn
words OF the psalmist, once aDplicabl
to Israel, are not now to be applied t.
America. "He hath not dealt so wit
any nation, and as for his Judgments
they have not known them" as we kno,
them.
Our eyes instructive turn, first OF q
to Europe. The horizon there is GOV
cred with black war-clouds, charge,
with l~ightenings. Upon her embattle'
plains 100000 men confront eac
other or await anxiously at home tn
call to arms. lowering abont he
coasts are huge fleets OF iron-clads
carrying the most dreadful weapons c
destruction the world has ever seen, pro
a rarod of a mop,optc potico m b1ow =,
cities with bomb-shells, and rain red-ho
shot upon defenseless women and CHI,
dren. The situation is the more appal.
ing because the question as to when tn
work OF humiliation is to begin is Jus
now vested in the hands OF two O
three despots, whose petty whims ma,
precipltate at any moment the grea
struggle. Think OF the anxiety and suE
pense our nation passed through in fou
years of civil war, and then remembe
that a more destructive war, with tire
times as many neil engaged, with Ia
more destructive arms employed, witt
national grudges to settle and nationa
pride to crafty, is hanging continually
year after year, over those devoted
people. Such a tension must be wors'
than war itself. Then consider the enor
nous expense which such armarlents in
volve. Her standing armies have beg
CARED Europe. She is staggering undel
a load OF 10000 millions OF debts
Some Of the nations will never pay tn,
principle they owe and can scarcely keel
up the interest. England the wealuhies'
Of them all, is in debt 1000 millions 0
dollars and pays annually 14O million
dollars in interest. France though
much poorer, is carrying q burden Of 4
$50 million dollars; Germany 1,4O(
millions; Austria 1000 millions; Spai1
and Portugal the same; Italy 2.2ol
millions; Russia 3,4OO; Belgium $40 an
Turkey $40 millions. "This means
perpetual mortgage OF $50 oneyery MAJ
woman and child, Of $3.50 OH each lab
orer, OF $500 on each family Of five. Ii
Italy, the average annual tax on such /,
family is $50, in England S62, IN Franc
$65. The consequence is that work il
s 6CctICo huu WdSCS dIt low. Lie luke.
are destroying the industries, and onl,
the strongest can bear the tremendou
strain. Spain Italy and Turkey ar
already bankrupt Austria and Russi;
barely manage to pull through, and
great warwould ruin them both. France
Germany and England pay their annua
bills with comparative ease, butanothe
continental quarrel would involve then
Id financial straits.
These immense arrnaments could p