The morning call., 1893-12-01
THOUGHTS.
Pith of Thanksgiving
Day Discourses.
Sermons by Clergymen of Several
Denominations on the Lessons
of the Times.

From the sermons delivered yesterday in
several of our city churches the following
utterances are taken:
Rev. DR.. Stebbins of the First Unitarian
Church said he did not think we had
anything to thank President Cleveland
for.
Presbyterian Church: IF praise and
thanksgiving held so large and important
a place under the Old Covenant. surely it
ought to be equally prominent at least I'M
der the new. There is reason enough for
1t. 1t belongs to the very nature of our re-
ligion. 1t Is an essential part of mans life
Gods goodness. his enduring mercy and
personal blessings. will furnish abundant
reasons for joyful praise and heartfelt
tina nksgving."
Rev. George d. B. Stewart at st. Johns
Presbyterian Church: "We have to be
thankful because we have religious liberty.
This country owes more to John Calvin
than Is generally realized. We recognize
no connection between church and state.
We may worship God as We see fit. There
is no one TO tell US what we shall believe.
The Roman hierarchy could never have
arisen under q republican government, but
in the United States Rome will make its
final struggle. 1t is biding its time. The
cldWS Oh tu6 WOli are ufQUeD, nut LQ6y Will
strike when the time is ripe"
Rev. DR.. Hemphill of Calvary Church:
There Is no room for more than one flag
in this country. There is no room for a
red flag anywhere. There is no room in
the United States for any flag but the stars
and stripes; The great problem for our
statesmanship. our press anS our churches
Is that assimilating the many diverse
elements of our population. Let those
which cannot be assimilated go back to the
countries from which they came"
Rev. Rabbi Voorsanger: Every citizen
possesses the inherent right of particips-
ton In every national advantage. To
what extent social or business conditions
interfere with individual enjoyment of
such advantage it is impossible to describe
in a few fieetlng moments. But the
thought is worthy of closer consideration;
the advantages of the nation are in reality
the advantages of the individual, or they
ought TO be. The simplest illustration
might be those of peace and education.
Every Individual enjoys immunity from
attack as long as he is protected by the
flag of his own country. Every citizen is
participant la the benefits that accrue to
his own country from the prevalence of
international peace and amity. Every
citizen. if interfered with at home or
abroad, enjoys the right Of protection by
the whole body of his peers, represented
by the chosen agencies of law aud power
functions"
Rev. George w. Chalfant OF Pittsburg.
Pa, at the Howard Presbyterian Church,
THE saloon is here on every street, with
all its baneful. blasting influence upon the
bodies and souls of men. The gambling
house is not far away. The brothel is
avowedly protected by the officers of the
law. and not even city lamp allowed to
shed its itful glare into some Of the alleys
reserved for the votaries Of this most de-
grading of all vices. The presence and
potency of evil in the city are sufficiently
evident-the fact that it will destroy us
unless. it be itself destroyed Is equally
clear"
Rev. DR.. Walk of Trinity Episcopal
Church: ut Is, indeed. question whe tier
there is not more adversely than prosper
ity, more suffering than rejoicing In the
world. One fact is indisputable: Nothing
In the phenomena OF mortal life, death
alone excepted, has made so deep an i'm
preston upon the heart of mankind as
human suffering. Stretching away back
to the remotest periods OF fable and myth,
IL has been the theme alike of poet, orator
and philosopher. 1t has inspired gloomy
and solemn literature. 1t is the music Of
the prophetic harp. 1t trembles upon the
lips of the evangelist. 1t comes in weird
strains from the Man of Sorrow. 1t has
been for nearly 1000 years the favorite
song of the church. And men hearing have
been softened. and have turned toward
each other with fraternal regard and mu-
tual forgiveness of the errors of life. 1t
is the bond of the pobest feeling of hui
manity. 1t Is that which will open your
hearts and purse to-day Tor the poor and
needy. 1t underlies the divine spirit of
Christian brotherhood. Prosperity Ad-
versityi They are both from the same
divine hand, and let us always remember
that it is God who hath set the one over
against the other"