The record-union., 1892-11-25
ST. PAUL'S.
Special Episcopal servtces-Rev. Nj
OttmluE's Sermon.

Special Episcopal services-Rev. Mr..
Ottmaun's Sermon.
At St. Paups Episcopal Church special
Thanksgiving services were held in the
forenoon.
Rev. q. A. Ottmaun, rector oftha church,
conducted the ceremonies and delivered
The Thanksgiving sermon. Special pains
were taken TO have the music unusually
good, and the effort was success. Mrs.
a. 7. Pinkham presided at the organ.
and directed the choir. The latter was
enlarged, and its singing showed that it
had rehearsed considerably for the occa-
sion. The choir consisted of the follow
ing-named: Sopranos - Harry Arnold.
Gustave Carroll, William CausIey, Clar-
ence Cardwell, Percy Douglass, Charles
Lindsay, Robert AlcMurray, Howard
POdd, Emil Sachs, Herbert Shearer Wal
ter Broughton, William Charlesworth,
Robert Causley, Foye Cothrin, Robert
Hastinplug, Charles Morris, Alfred Ma
than. Frank Podd, Ed Strachauer, Rus
sell Williams, William Willis; alto
William Sachs; tenors-E. +. Ashwortb.
Mr.. Mcgowan, r. Webber, L. Williams:
bassos-E. L. Gerrish, Frank Johns
George II. Reynolds, J. r. Week, Will
lam Earl.
The musical programme was as follows:
Prelude, organ; professional hymn, 305;
Nenite, Croton; Te Deum, Lawcs; Jubi-
lati, Soaper; hymn, 424; kyrie, Gilbert;
Gloria Tibi, Monk; hymn, 309; Offertorv,
Thanksgiving hymn (Speranza) Mr.. Bell
house; recessional hymn, 306; postIude,
organ.
Rev. Ottmann took for the text of his
Thanksgiving sermon Psalm xiii, 5 ::
Thou preparest table before me in the
presence OF my enemies. Thou annoint-
est my head with oil. My cup runneth
over. Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days Of my life, and |
shall dwell in the house Of the Lord for
over"
These" said the speaker, "are the
words of David, and were evidently writ
ten as a result of long contemplation of
past events. They seem to be summing
up of the evidence of past years. and ex-
press plainly the feeling that he had
been richly blessed, and had, therefore.
great cause for deep feeling OF thankful
ness. And these were the words OF a
man who had passed through wide
range of experience.
" ear by year we are summoned to
confront existence" continued the
speaker, land to pronounce upon it,
And what IS the verdict? The concensus
Of the religious world is that lie is good
In the words OF our prayer of general
thanksgiving, we bless God for our ere
alton, preservation and all the blessings
OF this life In this we do well and
what IS true. In this we differ from the
World-that is, the people Of the world,
With them one of two things is true
They either have nothing to be
thankful for, or else they have no
one to thank. Herein we differ.
for we believe that we have both. Aud
this is true regardless of the special t3r-
tunes OF the year. y single year IS not
Ion UrTrf r., l.f,1s,
need the whole OF our life. 1t is very in
teresting when Thanksgiving Day comes
around to note how much ingenuity is
wasted by many in seeking specitic
grounds Of thankfulness. This is not
only time for thankfulness, for specific
blessings OF the past year, but also
for thankfulness for the many general
blessings that have come into our lives.
I'm obedience to long established Gus
tom, and IN accordance with the procla-
nation of the Chief Executive Of these
United States, and of the Governor of
this noble State, we have met here
to-day to render thanks to Almighty
God for the blessings of the past
year-for peace and prosperity; for
preservation and plenty. And it is meet
that we should do so. Our mother
church, long before such a day as this
was provided for by our Lawmakers, ar
ranged for the annual gathering together
OF neT CnlIuTen 1Or SUCH service of
prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty
God. And it is meet and right that we
should combine this civil c0mmemoration
of Gods blessings with the service of the
church. But, my brethren, let us not
make this mere formal observance Of
the day set apart by civil and executive
proclamation. Let us make it more than
this-a religious observance; a day Of
thanksgiving for all His nercies to us.
and not alone for the blessings of the past
year, and yet, even the year past has had
much in it which is cause for thankful
ness. Sorrow may have come to US: death
may have come into our homes and taken
some loved one away. But many are still
left to US; dread pesulence with all its
horrors has been kept away from US.
And even with those who have been
taken we have the blessed hope Of the
life eternal which has tcome to US from
God through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Seed time and harvest have come bring
ing plenty to our loved ones. War with
all its horrors has been kept away from
our shores. Our hearths and homes have
been kept, even though adversity may
have entered within our doors. This year
we have felt that God has been with us,
and the hope of life eternal through
Christ has been made more real and GER
tain to US. In State and city. in parish
and home, in the family and Individual
God has guided and blessed. And, so,
to-day, in all this broad land there is not
one that has not much reason
TO lift up his voice in thanks
giving to God. who has blessed