The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-11-30
"THE EXALTATION OF A NATION
A THANKSGIVING SERMON,
By Rev. WILLIAM GEO. TEowER.

BY Rev. WILLIAM GEO. TEowER.
Duet. rs, Is, 19.-"And the Lord
hath vouchsafed thee this day to be a
peculiar people, as he hath promised
thee, and that thou shouldst keep all
his commandments; and to make thee
high above all nations which he hath
made, in praise; and in name, and in
honor and that thou mayest be holy
people unto the Lord thy God, as he
hath spoken"
On this day we are reminded that
we should be grateful, if we have not
been throughout the year, for our
liberties, our increased opportunities.
This nation is so peculiarly favored in
its enjoyment of prosperity and peace,
it's freedom from war and pestilence,
that there are especial reasons why
we should on these annual days Of
festival, look with pride upon our
growth in matters material, political
and moral. It would be profitable
and would fill us with gratitude to
Almighty God. A retrospect of the
past century would result in an in
creased reverence for our political in
situations and more ardent
patriotism.
AS American people I do not think
we can be charged with undue pride
andimpudent audacity in the assertion
of our liberties, of political and
religious freedom. God the Ruler of
Nations has prospered us as he has
no other nation. Let us to-day open
our mouths and be not fearful, of
pralsing the giver of all good,
It is we'll to look at the evolution of
the world from the standpoint of
Gods providence. He hath hold of
the helm and because of this we have
ridden prosperously overthe century's
| sea of disaster, which would have
shipwrecked any other ship of state.
The American people are loyal
people and have stood at their posts
| in times, past. In view of the past
| history of our country can we not
venture to prophesy that in future
they can be depended upon to main
tain their right against all foes
whether within OF v'thout?
One hundred and seventeen years
ago John Adams SAID that the giving
forth OF the Declaration of Indepen-
derce would strengthen us. Has it
not made Us Il nation? He said we
would be encouraged to conflict. Has
it not been an inspiration to reform
measures IN our past? John Adams
closed with a demand for Indepen-
dence forever. 1t is our prerogatiye
to carry out this inspired exhortation
and see to it that our independence
will be forever maintained in the face
Of political tyrany, whether it be
called by the Christian name or not.
Continuing, said he, cit may cost
treasure, it may cost blood, but it will
stand and will richly compensate for
both. Through the dark gloom of
; the present I see the brightness of the
future, as the sun in the Heavens.
Our children will shed tears, copious,
gushing tears; not for subsection and
slavery, not of agony and distress ;but
of exultation, of gratitude, and of
joy"
AS heirs of these SO dearly pur-
chased liberties let us take up the
note of praise, and rejoice. Standing
to-day on the opening portals of the
10th century let us look back and see
what progress we have made during
the reign of the 18th. Is our country
improving, has the world made any
Advancement materially, morally and
politically? There are those who dc
not think SO. They tell us the former
days were better than these. We are
told there is less integrity in mer-
camille lines, less real plety among
churchmen. The preachers used to
preach better sermons by far. The
doctors used TO give better medicines
There will always be pessimists, some
one will growl. From the standpoint
of one who is rather optimistic let us
look at our growth. The Bible is
optimistic, surely we ought to be. Its
authors always gave US the brightness
if there is any. In the pace of these
objections the march during the loo
years has been wonderful.
1--WE are living, we are dwelling:
! In grand and awful time, !
| In an age on ages telling, -
| To be living is sublime"
"The Lord hath vouchsafed to us
| to be a. peculiar people"
| I. Materiallv.-Less than one
| hundred years ago the first steamboat
was launched, and there are men anc
women to-day in our neighborine
cities who will remember standing OF
1.-THE river bank and clapping thei
| chubby hands with delight as the fir,
fish swept by. The steel pillow is les
than one hundred years old. Har
graves and Whitney have gone int,
the cotton fields with their inventions
and with their magic wands WORKED
wonders. The deposits of coal hay,
come up out of the darkest regions o
the earth. They make to-day on,