The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-27

State.
On the streets it was gloomy
Thanksgiving in Roanoke. Clouds OBJ
secured the morning sun, aud cold driz-
cling rain fell during the afternoon.
The banks were closed, many of the in
dustries shut down, the Norfolk and
Western clerks oven given holiday, the
public schools were closed and the day
was generally observed as holiday.
While all was gloom on the outside,
bright fires shown in tho many comfor-
table and elegant reside noes, and with
the many family reunions and Thanks
giving dinners all was cheerful and
happy on tho inside. The hotels all
gave their guests elegant menus and
some of the younger housokcepers re-
lieved themselves of the trouble of
preparing Thanksgiving dinners by in
terviewlng the menus of tho hotels.
The church services in the morning
were all we'll attended and the number
of church festivals and other entertain
ments were all we'll patronized last
night While there was no organized
effort for charitable work, liberal con-
tributions were made at the churches.
The services were interesting at all
tho churches. The Methodists wor-
shipped at Greene Memorial Church,
and Rev. j. w. DuffeY, of Trinity Tab
ernacle, preached the sermon. His sub
ject was: Tho Bible, tho Guide and
Guaranty of National Greatness" tho
preacher taking for his text, ''And what
nation is there so great that hath stat
utes and judgments so righteous as this
law which / have set before YOU this
day?"-Deut. iv, 1s.
The speaker said in part: cit is no
mean tribute to the worth and work of
the Christian religion that every year
the chief executive of the nation APP
points n day of thanksgiving and prayer,
day when Christian people are di-
rected TO assemble in their places of
worship, and when all the people are
expected to express their gratitude and,
to that extent at least, acknowledge
their obligation to God.
'Of all the nations mono have
stronger reasons for gratitude than
ours" Here he gave rapid sketch of
the progress and resources of the nation,
showing that, although it is the
youngest, 1T is one of the most power.
full. as it is the nation of greatest
wealth.
But" said the speaker, "we cannot
depend for the permanence and prosper
ity of q nation on wealth, learning, mil
itary genius and prowess, free institu-
lions, poiicitical wisdom and statesman
ship. These are elements OF national
strength, but they have been possessed
more or less by ancient nations, ma
lions which have gone down in luxury
and crime and whose splendid ruins and
suggestive history proclaim at once
their honor and shame.
"That which distinguished Israel as
4 nation was these statutes and iudg-
ments which have set before you this
day. while true to them they were
strong and prosperous, and this is n his.
tory which our statesmen may prof tably
study. The presumption is that the
nation would abide to-day if it had con-
tinued loyal to these statutes and iudg-
ments.'
The great strain is yet to come
on this nation and our safeguard is i'll
tho principles of the Bible-a bible
read and preached, blessed and obeyed.
The temperance question, the race
question. the capital-labor question
have come to this continent, as the final
appeal, for an answer.
eff the conjecture be we'll founded,
that on this continent is to be solved
the problem OF the ages, the unifiction
and Christianization of the race, it is to
be done through the Bible"
Union services were held in the First
Baptist Church, Rev. DR.. Dinwiddie, of
the Presbyterian Church, preaching
sermon appropriate and interesting.
The house was we'll filed and a liberal
Offering was made.
The order of exercises was as follows:
Doxology: invocation; anthem, "The
Lord is My Shepherds" hymn; Scripture
reading; prayer; sermon, Rev. William
Dinwiddie; prayer; collection for Ladies'
Benevolent Society; solo, Miss Rosa
Cutchin; hymn; benediction.
Interesting services were also held at
st. Johns Episcopal Church in the
morning and liberal Offering made.
Services we're held at night at St James
Methodist Episcopal Church South, by
Rev. w. f. Hammer and at East Roam
oke Baptist Mission by Rev. DR.. o. +.
Hippo.
TIT n