Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-27
THANKSGIVING SERVICE
AMERICAN LIBERTY
As Discussed by the Brattleboro Pastors
at the Town Hall Yesterday.


The union Thanksgiving service was
held at the town hall Thursday morning at
1890 o'clock, a large congregation being
present, in which each of the churches
joining was well represented Rev. Mr..
Phalen acting as conductor of the eXer-
cises. The service opened with singing by
the congregation, and responsive reading
led by Rev Mr.. Webb, followed by most
fervent and eloquent prayer by Rev Mr..
Day. Rev. Mr.. SpragIle read Gov. Page
proclamation, and then briefly presented
the topic to be considered, american lib
erty: our priceless heritage" the various
divisions of which were taken up in &C
cordance with the previous announcement.
The addresses were brief but pointed. and
are given in substance below:
Rev. p. l.. PhsIen on Its Origin and
True spirit.
From the dawn Of history to the present time
the world leaders have woshipped at the shrine
Of liberty. Today We as Americans, can thank
God that we enjoy greater degree Of civil and
religious liberty than any other nation under the
sun The equality of all persons before the law.
and freedom Of religious thought and worship, are
the two basic rocks upon which American liberty
is built But this liberty did not come into exist
euce by a miracle II is not the sole product Of
this western world. II is the product Of all the
worlds heroes and helpers. From all time and all
races and all creeds we have drawn Of humanty's
best American liberty is human liberty at its
highest: hut for the origin of this immortal prin-
ciple you must work backward through the laby
rinths Of the human spirit and the commissions Of
human history till you stand at last uncovered and
hushed in the presence Of the living God.
What is the true spirit Of this liberty Of ours:
Liberty Is freedom from restraint, but Il is not H.
cense. II is that right Of freedom which, while
claiming its own. comedies to its neighbOr the
right which Is his. The law sets certain bounds
and limits which must h. observed, but it cannot
do everything. and Il does not prevent MS from
ing the power of social authority to prosecute and
restrain the man who holds views which con
trary 70 our own. Persecution Of whatever type.
arising in any such spirit AZ this is a fundamen
tai violation Of the great law of liberty and no
man is a good citizen or a Christian who tOlerates
or encourages such a spirit as this. Human brr
~ can never rise higher fall lower than the gen
une patriotism of the people rs manifested in
actual, practical life. Ideals of liberty may be
ever 50 splendid. but If the people are plunged in
political ignorance and corruption and religious
intolerance. liberty is slain and freedom is made
mockery. The true spirit Of liberty Is best
shown 10y earnest efforts tu preserve and prJpa
gate IT, To do this must have men who be
lle'e ana insist thht tlNc virtues are religious dl
ties and that true citizenship aud pure Christian
~ must coincide.
Rev. =. J. Parry ON Its Institutions and
Privileges.
Pauls pride was in being a Roman hut with our
great nation and broad country il is no vain boast
10 he an American. We cannot help glorying in
our great country-greater in extent than that
Swallowed by the Roman eagle. great in its re-
/ sources and achievements, great in the memory Of
noble and heroic deeds. great in its constitution
and government. Our people show the character
istics of no one nation hut made up from every
nation and race, a new race has resulted. compOs-
tie. like that fine brass which is an amalgam Of
all metals. one hundred and eight years ago to-
day the last British flag which stood for British
power in this country was hauled down. and
/ America entered ON its glorious heritage of hber-
ty In its progress the nation has advanced from
/ rude barbarism To the highest plane of civilza-
ton Ours * the first nation to realize the high
tNsaaN
I true democracy IL was natural Outgrowth of
the struggles for hearthstnne and kindred and the
central feature Of the constitution naturally was
I the declaration Of the freedom and equality Of all
7 men. The early founders held in their hands the
open Bible and faith in truth and liberty and God
was stamped inefaceaby upon the hearts Of thOs4.
refugees of varied belief and race, who first
I sought our shores. Through this faith came the
privilege of the Bible. forbidden Ia none. the pub
lie observance Of the sabbath. the free, open
churches, and with these untrammeled conscience
and freedom Of speech In addition to the relig-
ious privileges which the good fortune of our
country arr those of good government, excellent
public school systems and the press in all its pow
er, which emphasize the lofty character Of the
PEOPLE and the wisdom of the constitution which
governs all. These rights and privileges have God
for their author and the aim is for the good of all
through the good Of each His hand rooted the
sturdy principles and caused them TO thrive. and
Ia whatever our political life may have come, in
It's infant years Il was nurtured on pure, honest
food and IN the fear of God. AS God was with
us In the first 50 he has IN succeeding years been
with us, giving prosperity glory honor blessing:
and that man must be an ntidel who can thought
tully ponder our past history and not recognize
Gods hand.
Rev. p. w. SprHgue on Its Limitations
and PeriIs.
To possess and maintain our liberty limitations
must be put upon personal rights and public
rights The Application Of the Uiiucip" is not
easy. hut necessary The rights of the citizen IL
his property are In POSSESS, to use Ia sell Ia give
away. But restrictions are placed upon each, fol
the safety. comfort or property rights of others
There ARE also necessary limitations free speech
and free writing and free printing. In matters of
religious profession and worship We aiv left free
aud NO foreign power has any right to usurp OF
restrict our privileges.
OF the chief prris the first is immigration with
its vast hOrteS from Russia Italy and Austria moi
speaking our language. ignorant. in dir. poverty
I and unskilled having a low standard Of living
tending to the degradation of labor and to dis
couragement and unrest among the masses.
Another peril is the city. This includes all 9th
er perils. II is the storm centre. The city popu
lation has increased 90 per cent in the last tel
years while the population Of the whole county
has only increased p per cent in the same time
More than half OF the increase Of total population
was made in the cities The vast. dense crowd OF
the city merge all ndividualities into its own and
tenderness is left behind The multitude is re
morseless and pitilesS. There is a tendency il
the city to take the law into its hands, and riots
have repeatedly occurred. with notification o
the law in mind. No decisive measures against
the liquor traffic be enforced in the lar,,
cities They nullify the state law In the city is
+ perilous aggregation of wealth and poverty lack
ing compassion because Of the very deep need
separated into their separate quarters of the city
engender1ng envy hatred and revenge the yer,
elements of socialism and anarrhiSm The mass
ing of wealth and poverty tends to vice Hered
tary riches idle and seek novelty in wicked
ness. Dire poverty ground down by circumstance,
yields 10 the lowest passions. Hereditary anC
professional crime is the result,
II is the isolation of the city that works grea
evil in many cases: nobody cares leads manN
TO despair; nobody knows me- incites others L
dissipation. Criminals hide and band together il
the dense crowds. The weakness and peril of oul
civilization are in the city Certain laws cannn
be enforced because the rabble objects This il
the claim openly made, and to thoughtful liber
ty-lovng, lawabiding mind it is an appalling
claim, As has been said somewhere a rpmed,
should be found and it should be found soon"
Rev. A. II. Webb ON Its Safeguards ana
Elements Of PerPetuIty.
Twenty years ago l left my native land Ian,
which, not without reason boosted of liberty an,
whose flag, with its red cross was regarded as tn,
, emblem of liberty. Here found another banner
also regarded the emblem of liberty which /
few years before had been brought through grea
struggle, purified by the deep gratitude of a rae,
made free and Furnished TO greater brightness h,
the sacrifice which had been made to preserve ii
For this or any nation public spirit is one of tn,
greatest safeguards The history of ancient ma
tons teaches that when the country s welfare wa
the incentive that urged her sons on, victory fol
lowed but when individual honor or persona
glory was the motive the tendency was downward
In the early days the country grew and thrive,
and prospered through fear and love of God an,
dependence upon him, and the perpetuation o