The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-29
ALL CHURCHES UNITE
Thanksgiving Services Held in the
First Presbyterian Church.
THE SERMON BY Mr.. SPENCER
He Took for His Subject "The
Tragedy OF SAUL" and Spoke
EIoquentIy to q Large and
Interested Audience.
THE SERMON BY MR.. SPENCER


the churches united. were held at the
First Presbyterian church at IL O'Clock
yesterday morning. The church was
crowded and the services were atten-
lively listened ITO. Rev. James H. Spen-
Ger of the Baptist church delivered the
sermon. using for his subject, THE
Tragedy of SAUL" from Samuel K. o.
"a: And when He stood among the
people. He was higher than any OF the
people from his shoulders and upward.
And Samuel said to all the people, See
We him whom the Lord hath chosen,
that there Is none like him among all
the people. And all the people shout
ed and said. God save the king" He
spoke eloquently. as follows:
God save the king! What a strange
shout to startle an Israelite sky! The
momenuous changes 1t hera1ded are
well known to all students Of Bible
history. The period OF the judges has
ceased. Instead OF an aggregation Of
loosely connected tribes, with little pos
eibflity OF united or concentrated &C
tion. Israel will now present to her
surrounding enemies the more FORMED
able and august front OF an unified
and compact nation; its different MEM
bers closely knit together by their allie
NAehSC ~ uAC xNcNCT was SoIHl
fortuitous revolution ushered In with
more favorable auspices. Samuel. the
aged and honored representative Of the
old order was present to give his God
Communicated sanction to the import
ant action Of this day, and as for the
new Kingl Here was cause for Joy
and shouting indeed. When he stood
among the people he lowered above
them in stature.
He was handsome of feature and
noble in bearing. Samuel, looking on
him. lowed him and said to all the peo-
pie. See We Him whom the Lord hath
chosen. that there Is none like Him
among all the people," and all the
people. carried away with admiration
and rejoicing. cried, God save the king.
And for a time the demeanor and ac-
lions OF the mem made monarch bid
fair to confirm the impression made
on us by his fair appearance. We have
high hopes Of his distinguished success
In the difficult work of esta blisshing
and maintaining himself upon the new
throne. as we notice his modesty and
wisdom in going back to his home and
work till the night time shall have
come for seizing the reins of power;
his discretion in turning a deaf ear to
the distractions of his enemies is a true
mark Of greatness. We are captivated
with his swift. stirring. kingly action,
the PhiEstines and his noble magnani-
unity toward the malcontents, who had
refused to follow his untried sword
He wins our hearts by all these things
and 1t is with deep and poignant Cha
grin. something of the grief which
Samuel felt. that we come too soon
upon all too plain evidences of our
misplaced confidence and hopes. For
who does not know the end of this
man who starts out so well? There
Is no time for the details of his sad
TALL and gloomy end, and I have no
heart to dwell on them, especially upon
this Thanksgiving day.
suffice It for our purpose to re-
mind you that a quick developing
spirit of headstrong disobedience, to
the God who had chosen and anointed
him. soon plunges him into the follies
and madness which hang their black
pail about all our thoughts of him and
we see him now in frantic frenzy
hurting his Javelin at the hated David,
and now hunting his fancied enemy
through the hiding places of the
mountains. at last dn despera tdon and
degradation resorting to the dark
tricks OF Endor's witch, and the fitting
end OF the grim tragedy Is the suicide
on Gilboas bloody field. David's plant
finds answering chord In our hearts, as
he sings,
the high places!
How are the mighty fallen,
And the weapons Of war perishedv
"Our Sunday school lessons have LEFT
the story OF this strange career fresh
in our minds. Has 1t any teaching
suitable for the occasion which calls
US together to-day? Its great lesson
and. think. fitting one for us to
consider to-day, Is this: High pravil-
eyes prove in the end to be blessings
or curses. according as we use them
rightly and in the fear of God or not
This is true in the case OF individuals,
OF the ma ton and of the church. First,
as applied to us individually-Sau
was blessed of God in a very special
and extraordinary manner. His nat
ural gifts and graces were many and
superior. In stature and feature, In
bearing and many great traits OF char
acter he was naturally a kingly man.
The good and noble Samuel loved him
at first sight. and In addition to this,
he was singled out by the providence
OF God for great work and a great
place. Starting out one morning to
ind his fathers stray asses. the re-
ward Of his quest was d Kingdom and
a crown. The Providence which thus
sought him out In the first place did
not desert him but confined to order
things for his success. He was mani
ltclly NOa = ClkOSCH man anu 0OQ WAS
with him Samuel, the good prophet,
his warm friend. stood ready to coun-
sci him.
The peoples hearts turned as one
TO him. victory smiled on his arms, a
brilliant career. including the extern
sion of his sway and the perpetua ton
of his line on Israel's throne, lay at
hand marked out and awaiting him.
Never was illustrious success more
Overwhelmingly augured-and, alas!
never were bright promises more COM
pletely disappointed.
This king. with everything In his
favor. ended by turning everything
against himself He aaienated Samuel's
love and support and guidance The
people idolized him. but even they
could not brook at last his folly and
insolence no longer. He hunted David
from his presence and beat his head
in impotent rage against the kind
Providence who. to the last. tried 10