The Indianapolis journal., 1892-11-25
AT ST. PAUL's.

DR.. Christensen Enumerates Various Causes
for General Gratitude.
Episcopalian interest yesterday centered
at st. PauPs Church. where DR.. Christensen
preached from the following text:
Giving thanks always for all things unto God
and the Father, In the name of our Lord Jesus
Chrisr-Ephesians, v, 20.
Dr.. Christensen SAID: ITO any one who is
inclined TO take q gloomy view of the
tendency of our modern life, or to inter-
pref the signs OF the times as portentous
0mens OF the decadence of our best and
most valued institutions and privileges, the
recurrence of our one national reli Rious holi-
day Is in itself a subject of devout thanks
giving There are those who think that the
preservation OF our character as Christian
nation demands some recognition OF God
In our Constitution. It IS not necessary
to enter upon any discussion of this moot
cd point, but We may at least say this: A
fact may exist without proclaiming il,
and the more evident the fact. the less the
necessity for proclaimlng it. The countries
where church aud state are in most inti-
mate union are not those which are pre-
eminent as Christian nations. No one
would claim the same degree of religious
excellence for Russia as for Germany. and
the contrast Is still more striking between
Italy and America. There can be no ques-
tion that men judge nations as they Judge
individuals-not so much by what they pro-
fess rs by what they are. History takes
little note OF q nations creed. but make
much of nations acts. Indeed, there is
something beiittling IN the idea of labelling
any thing to which We attach O high idea of
dignity or Importance. A man does not
paint his name on his f0rhead or pin his
card to his coat; he trnsts to better means
of asserting his individuality. mer-
chant vessel has her name In plain letters
on her bow or stern, but ship-of war has
an identity-almost q personality of
her own which would be belittled If asserted
in so common place q manner.
1T is somewhat SO with q nation. How
ever desirable, on some accounts, it may he
TO avow q recognition of God in it's const-
tuition. there are better and more emphatic
ways OF asserting the principle. The ideal
nation would be one which said nothing
about its religion. because no one would
ever think of questioning it. 1t would be
known and judged by Its fruits. The Puri-
tan settlers of the New England colonies
stamped our early American history with
such an impress that the Christian charac-
ter of the people and not their civil enact
ments. stood for what they believed. Not
the least among the many debts which the
Nation owes to New England is this abid-
ing power of religious influence. which has
spread throughout our borders. withstand
ing the dangerous tendencies of the ANAL
gamation of races. counteractine the evils
of unrestricted immigration, making it safe
to open our gates TO all nations and peoples,
and assimilating them all to the standard
AID pattern OF Anglo-Saxon life and char
acter. The fact that we have O national
festival like this: that the people demand
1t. and that no President or Governor would
dare to neglect the appointment of it, is
better evidence than the name of God in
our Constitution would be that we hold q
place side by side with England and Ger
many, and second TO neither. among the
Christian nations of the world. When the
flood of French intidelity threatened to
overwhelm our land, one President. Thomas
jefferson, himself an unbeliever, refused 10
appoint day of thanksgiving, but the
people observed the day without the official
proclamation. and no President since the
time of Jefferson has failed as the peo-
pies servant and representative. thus to
acknow ledge the Nations dependence aud
trust In Almighty God as the giyer of eve-
~ good and perfect gift. 1t is hardly DOS
sible that any chief magistrate Will ever
follow the example of Jefferson in this re-
spect: but even in the event of such con-
tingency, the authority of our church
would require all her children to assemble
OH the last ThurdaY of November, in their
respective places of worship. to return
thanks to Almighty God for the fruits of