The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-27
THANKSGIVING SERMON.
Dr. Dalton on "our coodIy HerI-
tage."
Physical Culture, Mental Excellence
and Religious Faith.

The large attendance upon the Union
Thanksgiving services at the Second Par
ish church yesterday forenoon, shows that
the day Is far from losing its proper sig
nifcepce In this city. The audience was
large, filling the church to the very back
seats, and good portion of the gallery
seats as WELL
The double quartette from the Singers
Club: Misses Brown. Tarbox, Rice aid
Morrison and Messrs. Nickerson Hall,
Dana and Merrill. with Prof. Kotzschmar
furnished the music as announced.
Upon the platform were five Portland
pastors, all of them men Of the younger
generation, as II to show the people that
Thanksgiving services are to continue to
flourish in old-.ime vigor All of them
participated in the opening services.
Rev. Mr.. Cate of the Free-w:ll Baptist
church offered the Introductory prayer.
Rev. Mr.. Hughes, of the Chestnut street
Methodist church read the Presidents
proclamation; and announced that the col
lection would be for the Provident Associs-
tlon. The Governors proclamation was
not read.
The reading Of the Scripture was by Rev.
Mr.. Perkins, associate pastor of the First
Parish church. The invitation of Mr.. PEI
kins, U Unitarian, was thoughtful recog-
milton Of the cordial relations of DIR. Hill's
church with the Evangelical churches.
Mr.. Perkins read from the Thirty fifth
chapter Of Isaiah and the Eleventh of
Hebrews.
Rev. Mr.. Ayres, of the First Baptist
church, followed with prayer.
After the collection Rev. DIR. Asa Dalton
began the Thanksgiving sermon. His text
was the xvi. Psalm. 9th verse, "a goodly
heritage"
DIR. Dalton spoke of the stupendous diff
culties in the way of the first settlers Of
New England and the improbabilities that
they would succeed. Yet they did succeed,
and "Our goodly heritage" is the greatest
nation upon earth 1t was unnecessary TO
enumeIate In what respects our heritage
was great. 1t was not necessary to speak
OF its broad area or great resources. 1t
was not necessary to dwell upon the past
which was secure. But TO the future we
| must turn oIr eyes. Matthew Arnold had
said that the Americans are the only peo-
pie whose clothes fit them" By this he
meant that we were the only people with
| institutions suited. DR.. Dalton contrasted
the stability of our institutions with
those of England, where there Is an old
and new society conflicting, and of France,
Italy aud Germany. In all OF which p0liti-
| cal order Is far from Stable. Europe Is 60
| ing towards democracy, In spite Of great
| efforts Of conservatives These conserva-
tiVes are our natural enemies, because by
our misf0rtunes they hope to check Euro
Il 6Qm0araQU hat WIG
have degenerated in body, In mind, and in
religion and morals. Is this true?
| First, have we degenerated in body?
1t has been found often in this country
that the first scholars in college have not
! held out in the strain of after life. Not so
in England. the first men In public az
fairs have been the best men In
the universities. Look at Gladstone,
and scores of others. The Ameri-
cans especially, he said. were thin-vis-
aged. weak and failing people. Then, he
asked. IL any Americans who might be
present would arise. Two Americans, OF
| great height and splendid physique, re-
| sponded at once. Phillips Brooks and DIR.
McVicar of Philadelphia arose In the
midst OF the audience, splendid specimens
OF manhood. The truth was, DIR. Dalton
said, the English higher classes are better
developed than our people; the lower not
| so well.
DIR. Dalton spoke of care of the health
In general. dwelling at length upon the
singular mistake Of plous people, that II
tney are only good the Lord will take care
OF their health. "You may depend upon
it." said the preacher. "that If a Christian
man does not take care of his health he
VIII suffer. No people are more careless Of
tellgion than those of Paris, but none
knew better how to take care Of their
This subject led naturally to second
point, the condition of the masses In
America. The condition of this class In
America, DIR. Dalton maintained, was bet
ter than anywhere else on earth. as Is
shown by the immigrants who flock TO our
shores to benefit their condition. Statistics
SHOW that we are the richest people also on
the lace OF the earth. 1t Is true that much
wealth has in recent years been concen-
trated In tbs hands Of the few: but the
american people will remedy this condition
OF affairs II 1t grows menscing. They may
40 !. oy a system of taxation, or they may
uo III SOME other way.
| ,One FORM OF socialism Is advancing rap
ldly among us. 1t is that form which IN
municipalities gives the free use Oh tne
greatest privileges to all the people. lhe
poorest enjoy freely today privileges ana
c0nvenlences not within the reach OIL the