Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-30
UNION THANKSGIVING SERVICE.
The Pastors of Four Churches spoke
fmpressiveIy on the Theme or''God i'm
america"

america"
God in America" was the general
theme impressively considered before an
audience of 800 at the union Thanksgiving
service at the town hall Yesterday forenoon.
beginning at II o'clock. The exercises,
which were arranged by Rev. Mr.. Maxwell,
consisted of responsive reading, hymns
sung by the congregation led by G. f..
Westgate and addresses by Pastors Man.
well, Hough, Leavitt and Day The ad-
dress by Mr.. Parry was omitted on account
of his absence in Philadelphia.
The address on the theme of the meeting
God in America" was given by Mr..
Maxwell, who spoke of the beautiful Gus
tom of lthe annual observance of Thanks
giving day as a reminder of the Divine,
suggesting to the individual a more thank
full and reyerent spirit. We all believe in
a great source of our blessings, both indi-
vidual and natiOnal-GOd, the life of re-
ligiOn We recognize the divine presence
in life by its attributes. When we meet
with the divine qualities Of intelligence,
freedom, love and justice we meet with
God and may thus infer his presence in
the world.
Mr.. Hough's subject was "God in the
home The speaker took a cheerfuly
optimistic view of his subject, claiming that
our land was full of God-illumned homes
and emphasizing the power of Christian
homes. The influence Of the homes of
Nazareth and Bethany was dwelt upon
Among the elements in the light of the
God -ilumined home, knowledge, purity,
love, joy, faith and hope were named. In
closing Mr.. Hough spoke of the American
homes as the cleanest, sweetest and hap
piest under the stars.
Mr.. Leavitt's subject was "God i'm the
| church, The church loses its hold upon
men by dwelling upon the God of the past
rather than upon the God of the present.
1t is the 81 am not the 81 was" who is
the present and living God. We see in
the life Of Jesus the influence of the in
dwelling God-not only God who did,
but God who does. The realm of the
mysterious and supernatural is being en-
croached upon by the natural but there is
no conflict between religion and science.
Religion is not alone belief in things past.
God is not alone in the Bible but in things
about and around us. The Bible is not
religion, Christ is not religion Religion
is life and life, the seat Of Gods Kingdom,
is within.
Mr.. Day spoke Of "God i'm science. 9"
While heartily agreeing with the thought
of the last speaker he expressed the con-
verse statement that the realm of the SUI
| pernaturai was being increased by the dis
covery of the divine in the facts of nature
all about rs. Science in America and the
world has God in IL. Science is a divine
thing, for it is making for the good of man.
I Science Is an inspiring power making US
feel the need of truth. The unity of the
| sciences reveals the great head Of the uni
| verse directing all its activities. The
revelation Of nature calls for the revelation
| of God. In closing Mr. Day compared the
soul OF man to a bird that flies from the
darkness into a room filed with the light
OF science. But when the sun rises, the
| bird, attractediby the greater light without,
| flies forth from the narrow confines into
the great light of God and OF eternity.
\ collection to defray the necessary ex-
| peDses of the union services was taken,
Mr.. Crosby moving that any balance should
be turned into the treasury of the Old La
dies home. The exercises closed with the
| singing of America and the benedlction by
Mr.. Hough.
The sunrise service was largely attended
in the Congregational chapel at o'clock,
each of the four societies being well repre-
| scented. The leaders were e.. l.. Durham,
| president of the Congregational society, f.
). Liyermore of the Epworth league Mrs.
II. NJ. Wood of the Young Peoples Chris
tian union, and 5. II. Warren, vice presi-
! dent of the Baptist society, in the absence
of Mr.. Maynard. \ delightful spirit per
yaded the meeting, and the thought of the
day was brought out in great variety of eX-
! preston, and in the songs which were sung
| with evident enjoyment. This service
makes pleasant opening for the observ-
ance of Thanksgiving day.