The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-05
THANKSGIVING DAY.
RegiOus Services in the Episcopal md
The Presby terian Churches.

Regious Services in the Episcopal md
The Presby terian Churches.
Last Thursday was Thanksgiving Day, and
quite u number of our people assembled In
the Presbyteria and Episcopal churches TO
give humble and hearty thanks for the many
blessings that had been v0uchsated TO them
during The last year Rev. J. j. Grier Of the
Associate Reformed church, conducted the
services in the Presbyterian church. In his
sermon he spoke somewhat as follows:
WeaS n nation have occasion to thank God
to-day for a national day of Thanksgiving.
In l62l after The first harvest in the Plymouth b
Colony, a day of Thanksgiving was observed.
In lG23 in the same colony, because of refresh.
ing rains after long drought, and in 1872
while the colony was In great distress for pro-
visions. II food supply being brought to them
In ships from the mother country, q like
man Hesitation OF gratitude to God was given,
and if you will read the history the impress
sion is made by the proclamation Of 1850 that
Lha nkSgiving Was an annual ming The Mas.
SachuSetts Bay Colony from 1862 and the New
York Colony from 1914 observed such q day.
During the Revolutionary war Congress rec.
commended yearly thanksgiving; but be.
cause of prevalence of Deism doctrines and
scept tical notions IL was not observed. Presi-
tent Washington in l7S9 asked for The adop-
ton OF such q measure as would show The
gratitude of The people. and give evidence oi
their recognition of Jehovah as King of ma.
tions.
After that time, as appointed by presidents
and governors. some day in November of each
year was Set apart In the several states. But
not TIL the third year of the civil war, by pro.
clamation OF President Lincoln, have We had
a regular observance OF a national day.
So far as ! know, no other nation has like
institution. though such days are set aside en-
extra occasions We take the lead OF the
world In gratitude. To-day, from Canada's s
border 10 The Rio Grande. from the stormy
Atlantic to the peaceful Pacific our people are
gathering together from the noise and bnstie
Of city life. along the quiet of the mountain
nur God for the benedictons of the past year.
What a supreme ack acknowledgement, what an
nnanswerable argument OF the kingship OF
Jehovah God!
Again, IL is fitting that we should thank God
for this years emphatic declaration that the
American conscience is alive and quickening.
We hold our breath In amazement before the
political wave that swept over the country
short while ngo, but every man of God who
in terprets IL in the light OF the word Of God
will stand upright this day and rejoice. ]
thank high heaven for this heavy lash that
an Indignant people have thrown upon the
back OF political Scoundreis.
Men get offices by promises. They hold
them only by fulfilling promises. Our people
know; are not asleep. but awake. They despise
wrong and punish II promptly and with EN-.
phasis.
To abuse their confidence Is to insult their
Falsehood means failure. wrong
means ruin. |
But more, we are than k ful for the growing |
OF the equal rights Of all classes. |
rhe strikes and other industrial troub les of
he past year prove this. Men demand that
wealth and position shall not be passport TO
:rime or excuse for contempt Of law. This
much Is demanded on the authority OF Jeho- |
1ahs law, and, by the Eternal, II shall be done.
This great army-armed not with sword and
'aher. not with musketry or cannon-but
trmed with the divine sanction OF their |
lights, lay their claims at our feet. and their |
mandate must be heard.
s,ti WI vaQr'c fl
nancial depression and trouble. A child with |
avery wish gratified. every want supplied. no |
len ial At the parent haod is much Injured |
and morally, and soon the paren-
al authority Is denied. SO with nations.
Prosperity brings wealth, wealth luxury, lux
iry weakn and weak ness death. It would |
ways without restraint. In times like this we
realize as never before our dependence, and /
hat there Is an unseen Hand moving among
he nations shaping their destiny.
As we'll let us be thank ful for the religious |
tone Of the secular press. Sermons, church
notices, church enterprises, religious gather
ing are gaining more conspicuous place In
he newspapers OF this age. And I believe
enced as never before by the power Of the gos-
pei OF Jesus Christ; and 1t seems to me that
through the misty present we can catch
glimpse OF the glorious dawn Of more splen.
did day when The news agencies OF this land
shall stand togeih her one solid, brave phalanx
In champion OF the truth and right-and
when the dawn OF that day has vanished CIV
ing way to It's full approach there will be oc-
,aSion for such Thanksgiving. such jubi-
lee, such q shout OF JOY, such a halleuJah OF
praise TO the God OF Jacob as this world has
never heard since the morning stars sang to-
,ether and the angelic host sang the natal
song Of mans Redeemer and the worlds De-
ivsrer
The church OF the country has occasion to
hank God for AL increase OF brotherly love
among the churches. All denominations of
Christians are drawing nearer to each other.
We are one in the grand aim before US and
,ne In the essential manner of attaining that
more. AS children Of common parents, for
getting constitutional differences We bow at
me shrine, and worship with one spirit our
common Father The petty Jealousies Of the
md affectionate regard we will show the
world the wondrous power Of Him who came
With dyed garments travelling in the great
e ebnre shoad be- er the for
,ign missionary spirit that Is upon her. 1t
s hearing, as IL ought TO have heard centu-
les ago, with a new meaning a new thrill,
rumpet call of our God to feed the perishing
thousands. All opposition TO this grand en-.
erprise-not of the Church, but OF God-is
ounded either on lack OF grace In the heart,
,r ignorance OF the meaning and spirit OF the
gospel.
1 leave no margin for escape from this dec
aration.
Should not the church Of the country thank
5od also for the defense which she has made
If truth. 1t Is true errorlsts have crept into
he fold, but the church did not sanction II
md never will. Watch the warfare that is
Bible and the Sabbath On two
pillows the church Of God rests. the Bible and
he Sabbath. One fort captured, the other Ia
zone; one pillar broken and the other crum-
oles
Wise men say the whole of the Word is not
the Church denounces this dotrlne
IS the doctrine OF demons. Humanitarians
and philan anthropists say the Sabbath is needed
rhe church holding on TO the ark OF the Eter-
lai God, returns 1t fateiy where 1t rests.
AS community, we are thankful Tor great
many blessings. For the moral Status OF the
do not overlook the fact that
there are evils among us that must go down
q great many and fearful yet we must be
grateful to God for a healthy, growingimoral
condition among the young men.
ia more highly blessed in that respect than
ours. We can seat on every Lords day, every
man, woman and child in Aobeville In our
churches. No excuse for remaining out OF
the church here. God will call US to account
for this opportunity.
Thank God for the Christian women at work
for Christ. ! never have known commu.
women aud girls enlisted and working In the
great cause OF the church.
tBrethren, | thank God, and 80 do you, lot
the church harmony that prevails here. We
he brethren. we love each other and our coin |
munion is sweet. / am as much at home with |
Presbyterian. Methodist. Baptist and Epis- |
copa, rs when get over yonder TN my 10y
Il little band of "Seceders." God speed the
The day when all on these bills shall come
with US into this fold. shall share our commu'
MON, ex perlence our joys. be enspired bv our
hopes and march with us rejoicing TO the gol-
den gate and crowning hill of our God.