The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-29
DELICHTSOME LAND
Elder Barnaby's Sermon at the Church
Of Christ.
ANACONDA GIVES THANKS
How the Day Was Spent by Citi-
gems Of the Copper City-St.
Marks and st. Paurs
Services.

The handsome new Church OF Cnrst
was very fittingly selected as the prop
or edifice in which ITO hold the union
thanksgiving service this year. Yester-
day was the first Thanksgiving day
that has passed since that building was
erected and 1t was most appropriate
therefore that all the congregation JOIN
therein in thankfulness. not only Tor
the new church, but other blessings
which might be to them cause TOR
gratitude.
The seating capacity was taxed to
the utmost extent. and an excellent
service rendered.
In opening the exercises the entire
audience stood and sang the majestic
meter, "Laus Deo." Rev. Z. c. Avis
then invoked the Deity, after which
America" was sung with fervor:
selection of Scripture was read by Rev.
G. w. Healy, who also offered prayer.
hymn written by Rev. Mr.. Avis,
appropriate to the day, was sung, and
another of similar nature by the same
author. later in the evening. was rem
dered.
]. H. Egbert read che presidents pro-
clamation AMI J. c. Dunlap the govern
or's proclamation.
A collection amounting to nearly $50
was taken up and will be divided
among the churches for their charities.
Miss Steele OF a womnn's home In Ia
coma male a pretty address. full OF
very touching pathos, in behalf of her
work. which is among the outcasts
from society.
Elder G. K. Barnaby's sermon was
listened to with closest attention and
was very able effort, and given in a
pleasing manner The sermon in full
is as follows:
Thanksgiving in the United States
denotes an annual festival. The time
when we assemble to return proper
gratitude to God for the blessings Of
the closing year At this time we
should gather up In sacred thought the
manv mercies and blessings of a year.
and with hearts filled with love make
proper returns for bounties of the har-
vest and the innumerable gifts freely
bestowed.
History informs us that until the
great national crisis of the civil war.
with the exception of Washington's
administration, the custom was strict
ly confined to the will of the governors
of the respective states. Frequently
during the war of the rebellion Presi-
dent Lincoln appointed days TO be de-
voted to thanksgiving because of vic
tory and sometimes requested the peo-
pile to fast and pray when dark clouds
OF Encouragement hung over a nation,
whose God is the Lord.
Der was selected and promulgated by
Mr.. Lincoln as day of thanksgiving.
Since that year every president OF
the United States has appointed the
last Thursday of November as a ma
tional day of thanksgiving; also. the
governors making proclamation to
their respective states recommending
a proper observance of this day.
Our foundation for this evenings
discourse will be found in the book Of
Mat. 3-12: And all nations shall cadl
you blessed. for we shall be a delight
some land said the Lord OF hosts"
This language, originally addressed
TO Gods ancient people regarding their
land. we will not now tarry to discuss.
Believing this language applicable to
America / will endeavor to apply IT,.
IL can truly be said this is a delight
some land-"Land of the free and home
of the brave" Indeed 1t was delight
some to DR.. S. F. Smith, when he
penned those lines:
My country tits OF thee.
Sweet land of liberty
OF thee ! sing
81 love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and tempted hills;
Ny heart with rapture thrills
Like that above"
Naturally the inquiry Is, What
makes this. our land, delightsome? In
fact. and land? With patriotic devo-
many blessings enjoyed by us as a
people. we answer:
Behold with delight our free institu-
tions.
Our material resources should be a
delight TO any land.
Our religious privileges are not sur
passed in any land by any people.
When viewed from various stand
points of observation we indeed have
a delightsome land. When the tourist
visits this. our land, he is led to ex
claim: How beautiful your natura
scenery-hill and dale. crag and rock
landscape. forest, field and flood, river
mountain and sea- In the eye of the
artist our land is delightsome, viz.
Beauties of architecture, paintings
sculpture. mansions and palaces. gar
den and park. The naturalist Is sat
isfied that we are a delightsome lant
when he speaks OF our structure ant
climate. position and production. plant
and flowers. birds and beasts. natura
wonders and various races Of men
The economist adds his testimony re
garding our natural resources of for
est. mine and soil. manufacture. popu
lation and governmental Characters
ties amount of commerce. mechanical
inventions and rate of progress TIL
philanthropist delights in our progress
as founders of grand institutions. viz.
Education. science. charity and benev
olence, hospitals. asylums. homes an
work houses, prisons and penitentiar
les refugees. reformatories and san
tary conditions. and last, but not leas
the diffusion of knowledge and happi
ness.
From the Christians standpoint G
observation and consideration. CON
bined with what we have thus IA
presented. our land is a Selightsom
land. The character and influence {
its religion. teaching. worship and di,
cipline. numerous churches. mission
domestic and foreign schemes OF benz
<1cence. usefulness. liberality. pros
ress of truth and advancement (
Christ's kingdom, observances of got