The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-12
THANKSGIVING SERVICE.
A Good Time in the A. II. Church AT
Due West-The People Give Hum.
bic and Hearty Thanks to the Al.
mighty.
A. r. Presbyterian.

Due West-The People Give Hum.
bic and Hearty Thanks to the Al.
mighty.
A. R. Presbyterian.
An occasion OF exceeding interest to our
people was the Thanksgiving service last
Thursday. The pastor, Rev. o. y. Bonner,
conducted the meeting. The services opened
snd wn magEify os 9 the hord. Prayer was then Of:
fered. The 65th Psalm, beginning at 9th verse
was sung:
"Thy visit brings the showers,
Thy floods enrich the fields.
Thy blessing SO provides IT,
That earth our food shall Yield"
The pastor said hope we have come togeth.
er today not only because the President and
Governor have appointed the day, but be.
cause we feel In our hearts that we should
thank God for his mercies and blessings. II
seems to me thata AS the years 60 by am more
and more impressed, when l see SO many
marks of goodness, that we should more and
more thank him. AS we read of other coun-
tries we should thank him. doubt If In all
the years past we have more reason 10 thank
him. A good woman said TO me the other
day, ~ win have to go back TO my very birth
TO thank him." thank God that during the
whole Of the past year have not been kept
from preaching single day that l was 10
preach. Again, thank God that have been @
able to see my people grow IN grace, especially
among the young people.
I thank God for answered prayer. This
year ] have been more and more impressed
that God Is "a prayer hearing God" thank K
him for souls that nave been converted
among our people.
1 thank God for the many unspeakable
blessings to my own soul.
lam glad that some gentlemen and so many
ladies have sent In TO me on paper their eX-
pressions Of thanksgiving.
We will be glad now TO hear verbal express
sions from any present
Dr. Grier's remarks.-Dr. Grier said, aside
from the many blessings that might call ior
thanksgiving he would mention two things
We are called together today as citizens: l
think one cause we have Of Thanksgiving Is
lie strange to US. Yet think It true. We
hear much criticism oi men and parties. The
late political revolution Is an expression OF
purified public sentiment. These changes are
often mere caprice and from ignorance. But
generally it'simpIy means that the people are
saying 10 their own party we are not satisfied
with you and we want you TO do better. IL Is
IN expression that this government must be
thought it manifest that there was growing
sentiment which means that this country ls
religious country.
will now speak of domestic and personal
blessings. You will no doubt tinu In the eX-
pressions and the papers that you Will read
great measure Of sameness. For that very
thing we should be grateful. Distinctions
mark an imperfect state. 1t is q matter for
Lhankfulness that We have SO many blessings
mat are the same. Good houses. comfortable
homes, kind friends, food 10 eat, health, these
are common blessings and for them we ought
MIR. d. s. Edwards remarks.-I think we
should be very thankful that God mas so bless
cd our church.
God that enjoy the privileges OF this year.
[ want TO thank him that ! am able TO be IN
school, That may be able TO serve him with
greater usefulness In the future.
AA T~t.r MnfNn r mt m
that he has spared my health. C2) That he
nas made the plan OF salvation so plain. {3)
That we can come together on occasions like
this In brotherly love.
DR.. +. III. EdWards-Of course we can not
enumerate all our blessings. D am thank
ful That one more year has been given to my
life. ~ That though my fam lily Is scattered,
yet there Is no empty chair The circle Is still
Ira CALDWELL feel grateful for Christian
parents and for the effort that they are put
tlng forth TO educate me, and that they have
led me to Christ.
MIR. q. G. Parkinson-I feel grateful that
God has shown me so much OF his goodness.
Mr.. Hayes-I am thankful to have SO many
OF my friends Christians. (2) am profound
ly grateful that a desire cherished from my
Youth is now being realized. hove looked
forward 10 the day when could be student
In some seminary preparing for the ministry.
Mr.. F. /. Bell can not say with the broth.
er that haye no empty chair or h 0roken en- iam I'm.
shown me my error and changed my life.
Thus hope to meet that dear one who has
gone on before.
nations so stepped in sin we should be thank
full for the position our nation occupies. (2)
thank God for the privileges he has given
me. l consider my vocation the greatest on
earth. (3j / thank God for the power OF
prayer. That the family circle OF prayer can
be found in my own home.
Mr.. J. l.. Oates-I wish to thank God for the
blessing he has let rest on my l!fe. (D That
he has permitted me go to collegeand prepare
for my coming life that Is before me.
Mr.. J. V. Black-We should be thankful
that God has crowned with blessings other
nations as well as our own.
Mr.. B. J: Gifen-To-day thank God that
He has afforded my younger brother school
In which he can get an education and be-
come useful in life.
Mr.. NJ. E. Hollingsworth-tD am grateful
for many mercles (2) Thankful that God has
spared my life to see the error Of my ways.
Mr.. Bonner now read 25 or 80 papers from
gentlemen and ladies expressing the many
things for which they we've thankful. Some
Of these were very touching. The pastor
made closing remarks. He hoped that as we
went away from this house we would not for
get what God had done for u.s.. One of the
features OF this hour Is that IL has made us
think OF the individual blessidgs God has
sent US. 1 wonder that II in all these thank
offerings that are going up here to-day there
is one Individual that has made no offering
anu WQlCQ Ou6rlDR COu is SLlll WalLluR.
This was one OF the most precious occasions
our people have enjoyed In long time. Tears
were frequently upon the cheek. A good lady
Of another church said to the writer. Wasn't
1t grand time?" r. s. q.
The editor Of the Mccormick Times was not
present at the meeting, but he gives the fol-
owing in his paper as his reason for being
thankful
We are thank full this day that we are alive.
We are thankful that the sun shines as
bright to US to-day as 1t ever did, and that the
love OF our friends Is as dear today as IT ever
was.
We are thankful for the mistakes and fail
ures Of the past, that we may profit by them
In the future.
We are thankful for the faith that the tlttest
will survive, and that conscientious work
and perseverance will succeed.
We are thankful that the future is before
Us. and that we may make 1t what we will.
We are thankful that we have known Gods
chastenings, that we may love Him; and that
we have known His blessings, that we may
love Him.
We are thankful that the dark clouds of
adversely that have hung over this people
have been no worse and for the confidence
that they will soon pass away.
We are thankful that we can be thankful !;
we are thankful for an abiding faith In an All
Wise Providence who rules over US, and for
the faith that His watchful care Is freely
given TO those who humbly and reverently
seek It.