Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-12-02
Our Union Thanksgiving Service.

the Presbyterian, Methodist, Disciple and
Baptist Churches in Rockville TO unite in
religious services on the "National Thanks
giving Day" This year the meeting was
held In the Methodist Church. Pastors
Lloyd, Chinn, Willhite, Milbourne and
Evangelist Cox participated in the order OF
exercises.
AS four congregations were united the
Methodist Church should have been crowd
ed on Thanksgiving Day, but alas it was
not so. Not very many met TO give thanks
together unto the Lord; yet the services
were highly interesting The singing, con-
Quoted by Mr.. G. w. Prettyman, was real
praise to God for his goodness to the chill
dren of men. A spirit of prayer and sup.
pications with thanksgiving pervaded the
assembly.
Pastor Chinn, OF the Presbyterian church,
preached the sermon. Text; Deuteronomy
49, 10, ID, Is. The preacher said:
The ceremonies of the Jewish law have
served their purpose. They are not now
binding upon the people of God. Among
these ordinances was the Feast Of Taber-
nacles" or "lngathering." It was not merely
an arbitrary enactment. There was some
thing impressive and beautiful in this Jewish
festival, held at the close Of the Jewish year.
! 1t was time to review the history of the
nation and give thanks; a time of great glad
ness and rejoicing; feast observed by men
and women. What could be more in accord.
ance with the reason of things than this
leastG God had given them these blessings,
and had preserved them through the year.
1t kept alive the truth that every good and
perfect gift comes from God. Their dwell.
ing in booths was also significant. These
booths reminded them of the days when
their fathers wandered in the wilderness,
dependent upon God, and how He had pre-
served them. 1t was not time of idleness
or mirth, but of remembrance of Gods faith
fulness. Their delight at this feast was de-
pendent upon their nearness TO God. When
Israel forgot that the Lord was the great
giver, and made the festival a season of
irivolity and revelry, God chastened them
by taking away their corn and wine, and
thus warned them of the danger OF forget
ting Him. Perhaps it was with reference
to this festival that the Puritan fathers set
apart a Thanksgiving Day. Extraordinary
seasons OF thanksgiving are not unusual,
and are eminently proper once year. Our
assembly is that OF loyal citizens and faith
full Christians. This day proclaims unto all
men that we as a people do recognize God
rs sovereign ruler OF nations; arbiter Of their
destinies and author of their blessings
As We review the year as nation, COM
munity and individuals we have abundant
reason TO give thanks. There may have been
comparative meagerness in the ingatherng
in some places, but marvellous plenty reigns
in our land, Business has prospered our
countrys vast resources have been de
veloped There has been an advance in
education, in private and public morality.
Pestlence, which came TO our doors, has
been driven back. Above and far beyond
these is the glorious triumph of the everast
ing gospel; the uninterrupted work of the
church, and the consolation multitudes have
received in their sorrow. II this day is to
be one OF idleness and revery, selfish in
diligence and luxurious tessting, then bet
ter not have it. Let it he always, as WAS
the Feast of Tabernacles, a recognition OF
Gods guidance and goodness We have
not, as a nation, been 50 richly blessed be
cause we are better than others. We owe
all our national prosperity and advantages
to Gods mercy. The origin and progress
of our nation We may appropriately contrast
with lsreal in the wilderness and in the
promised land The abundance of Israels
blessings led them to forget God. The
lcaven of true religion passed from the
nation Let us take warning. God has
elevated Us to this position because He has
some great purpose to accomplish through
us, viz: The redemption of the world
Shall we prove recreant TO this trust2 Each
one is bound to do his duty. We can not
hide ourselves in the general mass. We
may do much to make our own community
what it ought to be; TO improve our fami.
lies and to elevate society. A vast response.
bilty devolves upon each Of us. There are
elements of danger in our land, but the
forces of righteousness are stronger than the
powers Of darkness. There is future fol
our country grander than the past, il w
keep faithful to the Lord who reigneth ovel
the nations OF the earth.
The above isan outline Of sermon which
many more of our people should have hearC
on Thanksgiving Day. X