Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-01
THANKSGIVING DAY
IN BRATTLEBORO.
"Amcrican Civilization as Dis
cusScd at the Union Service.

Brattlcboro observed, in much the usual
manner, the yearly feast day yesterday, and
tbe bright sunshine and mild soft air
added to the enjoyment of Thanksgiving
The days observance opened with a union
service of the young peoples societies for
praise and thanksgiving in the Bap-
fist chapel at seven o'clock lin charge of
the presidents of the several societies. A
large number were present and pleasant
service was enjoyed. At 1890 the usual
union service, participated in by the pas
tors of the different churches, occurred at
the town hall. The exercises were of I'M
usual interest and the audience, though of
good size, was smaller than it should have
been The singing was under the lead of
L. W. Hawley, with Miss Izetta Stewart
at the piano, assisted by part of the Baptist
Sunday school orchestra. Rev. Mr.. Leav-
lit led the responsive reading and Rev.
Mr.. Hough offered a fervent PRAYER of
thanksgiving. The theme for the day, as
briefly announced by Rev. Mr.. Sprague,
was American civilization: Reason for
gratitude"
Rev. F. j. Parry was the first speaker,
his subject being "Its power and glory"
To no creatures out of heaven, said the
speaker has there ever been given lot
like unto our lot. All the past has labored
together to make 1.-THE magnificent fabric
which we call our American civilization.
This civilization has been growth rather
than a production, and in its progress,
from the beginnings in colonies of various
name and nationality, was brought through
hOstilities, expressions and experiences
which bound all together with common
interests, and made of them one united
whole. There were in the nation elements
which threatened destruction of our ma
tional life, but years have brought eXpe-
riences which have melted and nodded the
different parts unto the composite whole
with a strong, common, constitutional life,
so that American civilization of the 10Th
century is the fairest and freest ever seen,
and its glory is unmatched in the history
of the generations. While apparently the
most heterogeneous people, on great and
vital points we are the most homogeneous,
are one by deep and mighty principle of
unity. Notwithstanding the vacillation of
governmental policy, our resources have
grown so rich and vast that their statistics
stagger belief, and we are surrounded by
great material prosperity-so great that
the figures representing it seem like the
stupendous figures of astronomy. Our
civilization is broad and comprehensive,
blessing not the few but the whole body
polite. 1t seems to be Gods purpose to
send us forth on the Hottest national mis-
sion, to be His almoner to all the world.
God claims of us, as fitting thanksgiving,
such a conservation to the lofty principles
of our American civilization as will keep
its glory untarnished and transmit it I'M
dmmed to future generations.
Mr.. Days topic was "Its debt to the
past" He thought it natural to gather in
a service like this to congratulate ourselves
on the glory of our heritage, for which we
owe thanks to the past too great to be eX-
pressed. But as we listen to the rumors
of the times we may hear another note, and
find that while some may feel gratitude to
the past, others may feel that the past
tyrranzes over us, may feel discomfort
which wishes to get rid of the past and
live in the present and the future. But
We owe much to the men who have broken
the roads on which we travel. We feel
grateful for that which has benefited us,
even if it has not been done with any view
to serve us. Never has nation had so
great problems to deal with as have come
to us from the past, yet ours would be a
poor miserable lot if everything had been
settled for us and no problems left to solve
or work out. We are grateful for these
problems, and we are grateful for the great
principles which have been vindicated in
the past and which have also come down
to us to aid us in their solution. The
three great principles are the supremacy
of the ghty God, the sacredness and
worth and responsibility of man, and the
sacredness of nationality. We do not
want religion without humanity, or human
ity without nationality, but all are neces'
sary, each completing and filling out the
others.
Rev. F. w. Sprague, speaking of "Its
composite population" said he believed
our people were destined to become the
n0blest human development. Like the
famous Corinthian brass, which was a
composite of all metals, so our American
population will possess the better qualities
of the iron Saxon, the volatile French
man, the cOntemplative German, the ar
tstic Italian, and the dreamy Spaniard, al
blended into one great type of matches
American manhood. One OF those grea
tidal movements of population which We
have seen again and again in human his
tory is now in progress and this is the lane
toward which the overflow of nations il
pouring. Many serious problems confront
us, like that of giving self-gOvernment tt
the Alaskan natives, the negro question
and the Chinese question, but the speaker
did not believe that the mingling of race
is producing race deterioration-that ou
civilization, mixed in its population, car
ries dagger in its sleeve" Race antago
nisms, it is true, are the most lasting o
human passions, but their strength is IL
isolation, and our means of rapid commu
nication are mighty force in breaking
down barriers The great and final RENE
dy is by education and the civilizing art
of social life There must be, too, divin
patience and a cheerful and confident hop
in the future.
Rev. Mr.. Leavitt, in speaking OF ut
social problems" thought there was dan
ger, in the midst of our prosperity, of for
getting our responsibilities and duties
There are great dangers, social and political
threatning, and great problems demandin
solution. The greatest danger in GU
American civilization, underlying all socia
and political problems, is indifference
Public opinion is the purifier OF the socla
and political atmosphere, but it must b
goaded into action. Some of the specih
evils against which the country shout
rise are the ring rule in our cities, tn
grog shops, the lottery ventures, the rae
courses, the prize fights, the juggling Wit