The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-30
THANKS AND PRAYERS
MORNING UNION SERVICES HELD IN
SEVERAL OF THE CHURCHES.
Chancellor Sims at Roberts Park
Chureh-Rev. Mr. Hodge breaches
to EpiscopaIians.

Roberts Park Church was largely filled
yesterday morning at the union Thanks
giving services between that congregation
and that of Meridian-street The pastor OF
the latter body of worshipers delivered the
discourse. The church was handsomely dec
grated with flowers for the occasion, and
the choir discoursed special music. The
sermon was from Romans xiii. 4: He Is the
minister to God for thee for good" and the
theme was Gods Purpose in Civil Govern
ment." DR.. Sims said that the Christian
should rejoice in the setting apart Of a day
for thanksgiving. first. because 1t gives
him an opportunity to reflect upon the mer-
cies OF God and TO cultivate a spirit Of
gratitude for the ~unnumbered blessings he
has received: second, because, in the proc
lamation which set apart the day. our rul-
ers. in their representative capacity, rec
ognize God as the God OF nations. This
being so, the preacher said he was not now
so greatly concerned as to whether God
shall appear as a word in our Constitution
or not The sermon then referred to the
general blessings that have been the ex-
perience OF the people during the year. and
said that an hour OF careful reflection
would be better than the words Of any
preacher In discovering the reasons impos-
ing gratitude. The sermon then launched
upon the theme. and DR.. Sims said that one
of the mistakes arising out of the lttleness
of our nature Is TO separate spiritual and
secular things.
The truth is" he continued, for the
deeply religious spirit all things become
worship. and we serve God as much in
these things as in the exercises of the
sanctuary. God directs the merchant to his
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clan to his practice, as well as the minister
TO his study and the saint To his closet for
secret prayer. He says to US: BE kind.
be honest, be truthful; think Of others; ap-
ply the golden rule as well as the yard stick
and the balances in the transactions Of the
days business What tends to the right
performance of the common daily tasks
must be part of Gods plan for the we'll
being of his human children. Christianity
takes in the whole of life, and whether we
eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, our
whole religion requires that 1t shall be done
! as unto the Lord"
DR.. Sims said that the first occasion for
thankfulness which, as American citizens,
the people have, is the great silent force
| of law, which secures to every one the
wight to go where he pleases and do as he
pleases. so long as he does not interfere
with the rights of others. We walk the
streets feeling secure against the assassin
and the thief. We live. he said, in a land
OF law am legal security. In this great
system OF law which God has created and
given to US. and which is made efficient
for our protection by the government under
indeed, a minister unto us all for good.
The second occasion for gratitude is the
blessing of religious liberty, and the third
said. Jesus told his disciples to cali nc
man master. for one is your master, even
Christ, and one Is your Father, even God
trine of equality, not of endowment or con-
dition. but in the state. is a cardinal prin-
ton of ours, in the franchises of citizen
snip, gives us the right OF our brotherhood
, Of humanity. AS we fall upon our knees
to-day, among the chief blessings let us
count this right of American citizenship.
II tends to the establishment of ~self-re.
spect. it places the noble restoration of
conscience upon each mans conduct. it
makes US concerned in the matter of gov
eminent. 1t gives us a Anse OF responsioil-
fty as men and women. Under 1t we are
lawmakers and rulers, and there grows a
disposition to care for government, to be
intelligent I'm political subjects, and to
study the principles upon which our coun-
try rests. In our country a civilization has
developed around this idea of equality
ciety and the processes of the law"
Dr.. Sims set forth another occasion fol
S8a@ 1911 oL Ia
reason why il IS Fight that the rich Should
be taxed for the education of the poor
Education, he said. encourages thought
thought gives birth to advance in civilza-
ton and multiplies the common comforts
of life. Our free schools" ne continued
("are the undoubted stands i'm logical re.
lation to longevity. The average of human
life grows long as the average OF human
intelligence grows higher. Education
teaches health, physical strength, the
eradication OF disease, supply of natural
wants to a degree not observed unless ouI
attention has been called to 1t. Let us
thank God to-day for our system of public
schools and let us charge ourselves with
the responsibility OF maintaining them un-
,trameled by any influence which would
turn them away from liberty of con.
science"
The fifth occasion for gratitude set forth
by the speaker was the religious privilege
under our free form OF government. 1t Il
one OF the glories of civilization that be-
side the church and the cathedral has
grown up the the schoolhouse. the factory
the courthouse, the legislative hall, and
whichever party comes into power the
church stands undisturbed. the worshipeI
comes and goes undisturbed in his rights OF
conscience and faith. His past faith ripens
into rules of life. his past morality be-
comes a supporter OF the State. In con.
GLIDING, DIR. Sims pointed out that i'm the
partial destruction OF the blighting liquor
traffic there is also an obligation minglins
with our gratitude.