The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-11-29
ST. THoMAs, oHuRCH.

Day FittiDgly ObserVed-Flne Music by the
 Choir-Sermon by the Rector-Appeal for
 the Appropriate Observance of the Day
 Things We Can be Thankful For.
 A beautiful and impressive Thanks giving service was held In St. Thomas Episcopal church yesterday morning at 10:SO.
 There was the full service, with ser mon by the rector Rev, w. A. Beards- ley. The congregation was large one for week day service.
 The singing by the full vested choir was of a high order of excellence, and included two numbers by Professor C. Bonney, ohoirmaster of St. Thomas'.
 The complete order of music was as follows:
 Maths
 Processional Hymn 191.
 Anthem, Gloria PaItri-Chant.. t......
 "".. ...... ............. .MacFarren Benedicite in D Bonney enedictus-Chant,. ........ Smith Holy Communion.
 Introit 472.
 Kyrie Elelson, Gloria Tibi in G...
 .''..,........ .,........ ..."Gounod Hymn 46e.
 Gloria Patri-Chant.
 Offertory-Behold a King Shall
 Refgn...." ........ ......C. Bonney Reoessional Hymn 192.
 In accordance with the custom of the church a collection was taken up for the fund for aged and inf1rm clergy and widows and orphans of clergymen.
 The sermon by the rector was one peculiarly adapted to a Thanksgiving service and was based on the text found In Collossians 2:6, '. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him! Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught aibounding therein with thanksgiving
 pr. Beardsley said: This epistle of Paul was written by him while a pris- oner at Rome. We are sometimes sur prised to find the apostle doing so many things while a prisoner, but this Is &C., counted for by the fact that he was allowed considerable liberty in his inn prisonment, and so while prisoner at Rome Paul was the center of a little circle of Christian believers, who were kept in contact with the other Chris ttan churches by messengers sent and received.
 Although Paul does not seem to have ever been individually connected with the church at Collassae, yet he wrote this epistle to strengthen them against the agnosticheresy which was springing up in that place. Therefore he exhor.ts them as they have received Christ Jesus, the Lord so to walk in Him.
 But there is an especial significance in these words of Paul to us on this day. It is not an inferior day on our calendar, yet the true purpose of it seems to be fading away, and one of the strongest legacies of our forefath- CTS is losing its force and becoming 8 mere holiday
 The day represents the wise effort on the part of the church to preserve the just balance between the asking for blessings and the giving thanks for them when they are received
 We are very prone to forget the Thanksgiving after that our requests have been answered.
 We have much to be thankful for to-day; for the bounty which has made the earth to bring forth her fruits in such abundance north and south, east and west.
 Again I do not see how any loyal man can be otherwise than thankful that the efforts at reform in our great metropolis have met with g. fair meas ure of success, and have strengthened our faith in the fact that when laws have been enacted they can be enforced if officials are honest and have the support of good citizens in enforcing them.
 We have had moral wave sweep over our land for two years, but what we need Is that a continuous wave of reforms shall sweep the country.
 Another cause for thankfulness Is that wiser heads than those of partisan politicians have conducted our inter- national affairs and preserved peace in our dealings with other nations.