Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-11-29
THE BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING
Rev. l.. -. Temples Address at the Un-
ion Service neutrality-suspicious. ON
the Armenian Outrages.

Rev. l.. u. Temples Address at the Un-
ion Service day---ResoIutions on
the Armenian Outrages.
Two sunrise services we're held Thanks
giving morning, one in the Baptist chapel,
and the other, union service, in the Con
gregational chapel.
The series of short addresses upon ques-
tons of public import, which has for sew
eral seasons marked the Thanksgiving
union service at II o'clock, was not taken
up yesterday, but instead Rev. l.. ID. Tenn
pie delivered a sermon full of the spirit of
the day, in the Congregational church.
! The music was led by +. l.. Parker, with
Miss Annie Wyman as organist, the au-
dience joining heartily in the singing of
familiar hymns
! The invocation was by Rev. A. j. Hough
and Rev. II. d. Maxwell read the Tooth
| Psalm and the fourth chapter of Ephesians,
| following which Rev. +. 3. Leavitt lead in
prayer. The annual contribution, taken
at this point, was, at the suggestion of Rev.
Mr.. Day, placed at the disposal of the asso-
ciated charities.
! Mr.. Temple announced his text as Psalm
! XCL, /: at is good thing to give thanks
unto the Lord" and proceeded to set forth
some of the reasons why it is a good thing,
referring especially to the spiritual bene-
fits derived from the cultivation of habit
of thanksgiving. The fact of personal
God has been taught from the earliest
times, and when there is added to the fact
Of his personality the fact that he is Faith
er, God who cares for and watches over
his people, our thanksgiving becomes a
rational thing.
While it is good thing sometimes TO
mediate upon our faults and sins and
shortcomings, 1t is better TO turn aside and
consider the mercies and blessings of God.
The cultivation of the habit of thanks
giving broadens our intelligence; ii develops
refinement of character. 1t is important for
us TO obtain and cherish clear conception OF
the character of God. The habit OF thanks
giving develops this knowledge of God.
The habit is also to be commended because
it leads TO an increased appreciation of the
divine nearness, as opposed to the old
Greek idea that the gods dwelt far remote
from mortals. We are brought to dwell
on the fact of Gods mercy, and thus man
will is brought into harmony and largely
identified with the divine will. Thanks
giving is also intimately connected with
new religious convictions, which in som'
form come to all who believe in the divin,
goodness. But there can be no adequate
thanksgiving without the exercise of a con
siderable degree of faith. With faith We
can thank God for the dark days as well a:
the clear. we Iepose in the keeping of ;
wise holy, loving God, who sends into GU
experiences the things which are for on
good
At the conclusion of Mr. Temples al
! dress Mr.. Day spoke of the strong feeling
} which is being awakened all through on
, country by the Armenian atrocities, and o
, the public action, in the way of protest
, and resolutions, which many communitie
are taking, and called upon DIR. Holton Il
speak upon the matter. The doctor il
very forcible and earnest language de
nounced the brutalites OF the sultan, whit
j not only permits, but even directs thes
outrages upon people whose only otfenc
is that they are loyal to their faith, an,
q then submitted these resolutions:
, Whereas. Christian civilization everywhere la
: | been profoundly shocked by the reported out
7 RACES and atrocities perpetrated upon the Arme
r mans atrocities at once the most cruel. Wanto
and disgraceful ever known TO history. therefore
ResOlred. that a. patriotic freemen, descend
S ants OF the men and women who contended TOT
l. and shed their blood to establish the right o
| mankind TO enjoy civil and religious liberty, "
Z protest against the fragrant barbarity with whic
: these people are being prosecuted;
q Resolved, that the Sultan, as the exponent {
! ! the Turkish government, IN allowing, or as som
1 reports Indicate In directing the piage, Tapin
= and slaughter Of his Armenian subjects, tine burr
, | ing OF their homes and the destruction OF thei
. villages and cities, deserves the anathemas OF tn
whole civilized world.
A.. Resolved that in common with the patriot
citizens Of our whole country in the name OF
common humanity. We urge upon our govern
5 ment at Washington, that they take such eff
Z cient and immediate action as will at once term
a nate these infamous acts Of a wicked aud imb
e Gle government.
q Resolved. that request the various churcht
= Of the town to take collection at their seryic
!, next Sunday in aid Of the Armenian relit
fund"
n Deacon Thompson and Rev. Mr.. Hong
4 spoke in hearty Endorsement of this NOV
and upon putting it to the audience Ii
i, vote was unanimous for the adoption {
the resolutions.