Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-11-25
THANKSGIVING SERVICES

Held i'm the congregational Church---A
Sunrise Service Wen Attended---The
Addresses OF the Day.
Yesterday was an ideal Thanksgiving
day, bright and sunny, with crisp, bracing
air, and the beautiful New England holt
day was celebrated with all good cheer and
the customary public observances. The
day opened at 7 o'clock with sunrise ser.
vice of thanksgiving, in which members of
the young peoples societies of the Con-
gregatonal, Methodist, Baptist and Uni
versalist churches joined, the meeting be-
ing held in the Congregational chapel, and
the presidents of the four societies each
having part in the pleasant service.
At 1890 the usual union Thanksgiving
service occurred in the Congregational
church, the town hall being otherwise oc-
cupiel. After the organ voluntary and a
selection by the ladies' quartet choir, the
prayer of invocation was offered by Rev.
Mr.. Parry and Rev. Mr.. Sprague read
Scriptural selections suitable to the occa-
sion, followed after another selection by
the quartet, by prayer by Rev. Mr.. Webb.
Rev. Mr.. Day, followed by e. f. Thomp-
son, spoke briefly upon the matter of the
Home for the Aged and Disabled, and
collection for benevolent purposes was
taken.
The general topic for the day was "Rea-
sons for thanksgiving" and the following
are brief abstracts of the excellent adj
dresses delivered by the local pastors upon
different phases of the subject.
MIR. Parry on Material Growth and
Prosperity.
We are gathered in this house of God today, as
company of patriots drawn hither by the execu-
tive proclamation; we meet also as company
who recognize God as the giver of every national
blessing: and so while patriotism rtars for us the
altar, religion calls down the fire TO consume the
sacrifice of thanksgiving we offer. American
birthright is a glorious gift. We are nation OF
frepmen, self governed by simple law, without a
soldery, a nation covering the sea with It's fleets
and the land with its cities, nation among tht
first in learning, science, art and every product
of industry and genius, and better ana hlgEtr ana
holier than this nation bound together IN pau
tiful brotherhood, nation luXurant with u e now
ar and fruit of Christian graz es. The world knows
the story of our growth and prosperity by heaTt
No power but that of God could nave forecast th'
wonderful transformation which has come To th
vast continent. The rapid growth OF the country
is unparalleled Other nations have struggled
through long periods and by slow process attained
dignity, but we have co"e TO ne front with Ih'
strides of Titan. Our nationality Is a grown
rather than production, a oclal ORGANISM grow
ing from germ, under God great laws OF DE
velopmpnt rather than "A social edidCe planned
and wrought by mans genus and sklll. Al ms
widely scattered and uncongenlal, nut Orough
and intolerance Of oppress on nom older coul
tries the heroic men who planted our repHnh
became one composite nation. As grown ma
come in every direction we teel that God cuuh
not have done more for us as a nation imam II
has done.
So marvellous indeed has been our growth an
prosperity that the wealth of the United States
nov estimated at about S62 OOO,OOOO0O, more ina
enough to buy the Russian aud Turkish empires
the kingdom of Sweden and Norway, Denma
and Italy. together with Australia, South Atrc
aid South America, the entire possessions
wealth of ours has been accumulated in the las
% y-aIs. 49,
phenomenal growth and prosperity Our clinat
advantages afford greater opportunity and VI
riety of cultivation that have ever Oten en19yt
by any other nation, while oeneath tue son al
costly and useful deposits, exhaustless IN eXtel
and fabulous in yield. We have another Wonde
full element of growth in the character o. our nj
tionalty itself, which is in a unique sense meter
geneous in its parts, yet homogeneous in ITS who
''dstinct as the pillows, yet one as the sea In
in fact has been one OF the secrets OF our co
spicuous growth and prosperity. We nave We
coined and still welcome men from all races VII
their various gifts. Bat there is danger In "a
very prosperity There may or such An unl :
as national engagement, abso bling without .
similating swallowing without dlKestlng' ana u
time has come when we ought TO give serlO
thought to the immigration, NATURALIZATION al
other questions which affect the destiny oi
people. - s.,o
when enter into the problem let me merely az
that all our material growth and prosperity
wealth, our commerce. our progress In arts a
manufacturers our pra ctcal charities the streng
and harmony of our political machinery, I
glory and honor and power which the world I
cords % us, everything which makes us prouu
lie Americans and which gathers us today in Il
house of God have all come to MS through
gospel and God claims at our hands as the OF
fit sacrifice Of thanksgiving, such a cohsecratl
10 his service as shall send us abroad IN q
strongest endeavor to keep the blessings inta
and transmit, undimmed of one glory, our u
institutions to generations that shall come al
us.