The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-29
UNITET0GIVETHANKS
Churches Observe the Day at
Union Services.
DIVINE OPTIMISM THE THEME.
Pastors Point Out Cause for Thanks
giving and Congregations sing
the National Hymn.
DIVINE OPTIMISM THE THEME.

From Beacon hill 20 Queen Arne's and
from the bay 10 the lake deyoat pearie OF
all creeds assembled yesterday in their
various places or worship in obedience To
the state and national proclamations, and
observed the day with appropriate relig-
ious services.
The North Seattle churches. including
the congregations from the Battery street
Methodist Episcopal. North Seattle Bap-
list, Taylor Congregational Second Pres
byterian and Trinity Methodist Episcopal
churches, assembled IN goodIy numbers at
the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church
The Scripture lessons were read By Rev.
d. Bagley and the opening prayer as Of
fered by Rev. z. r. Hayward The SER
mon was preached by Rev. ". A Major
OF the Second Presbyterian church. who
selected a topic somewhat outside the or
binary range of Thanksgiving sermons,
SO Run That Ye May Obtain" Referring
10 the murmurs or psssimists, he stated
that such complaints were not new, but
could be traced back for centuries. He did
not believe IN pessimism; this is the best
day the world has ever seen" He repre-
scented life as great struggle, a contest
In which few men win prizes; yet these
few prize winners become the servants OF
all. and the Good Samaritan principle OF
universal brotherhood is permeating the
world now as never before.
AT ST. Marks church the regular
Thanksgiving service was preceded by an
early Communion. At the regular service
there Was q large congregation, a full
choir and good music. Rev. ID. c. Garrett
delivered the sermon, which was based on
Ephriam, v.20. His central thought was
that while Thanksgiving day is Inc one
time in the year when the whole nation
with special emphasis honors God, Yet the
real lesson Of the day is a continuous and
universal gratitude at all times and for all
things. He elaborated the doctrine Of a
divine optimism, holding forth the coneep-
ton Of an ideal relation between God and
man. and advocating the Scriptural decla-
ration that 'all things work together for
good 10 them that love God" During the
service an offering was taken for the bene-
fl of the Seattle General hospital
The First Christian, Plymouth Congre-
gational. First Methodist Protestant,
First Presbyterian and First Baptist
churches were the guests of the First
Methodist Episcopal church. The pastors
were all present and occupied seats in the
pulpit with Dr. Shanklin. The Thanks
giving sermon was delivered by Rev. j. y.
Smith, pastor of the First Christian
church. who discussed some OF our nation
al perils and safeguards in practical and
incisive manner. The entire service was
an interesting one, and the music, led by
the full choir OF the First Methodist
Episcopal church, was especially good,
closing the service with a great congrega-
tional chorus IN the national hymn.
The churches beyond Broadway and d.
vision streets, including the Calvary Pres
byterian, Market street Baptist, Grace
Methodist Episcopal and Third Cumber-
land Presbyterian churches, united in
service at the Calvary Presbyterian,
where the sermon was delivered by Rev.
T. r. Powell, pastor OF the Third Cum
berland Presbyterian. His discourse was
based on !. Chron. Xvi:S-S2, and was taken
up mainly with a sketch OF our national
history and a statement of the causes Tor
national caution and gratitude. Although
delegations were present from all the
churches, by a strange coincidence, MI.
Powell was the only pastor present, Rev.
s. ]. Kennedy being away from the city.
and the other pastors for some reason
absent.
At the Madison street Methodist Epis-
copal church a good congregation as
sembled al II O'clock. and despite the in
clement weather there was an interesting
service. The choir furnished good music,
and the pastor, Rev. NJ. A. Covington.
delivered q. sermon appropriate 10 the
day.
In compliance with the provisions of
the Episcopal prayer book, Thanksgiving
was observed at Trinity church as
Harvest Home festival also. The carved
altar and reredos were very lovely in their
vestments of pure white, the canopy
above the holy table being filed with
small sheaves OF grain artistically ar
ranged. The service was a choral Eucha-
rist. rendered by the rector and full
choir of vested men and boys. The
Thanksgiving anthem, a Joyful and
Pleasant Thing 1t Is 10 Be Thankful"
was sung as an introit TO the communion
office, and the "Jubllate,'' after the ser
mon. The general verdict was most ia
vorable the precision and harmony OF
the singing being noticed by all. The
rector preached a short, practical ser
mon from Psalms Tvs: There be many
that say, Who will show us any good%'
His discourse was especially calculated 10
encourage people who are in need and
amlction. seeking 10 lead them from
morbid state and to consider the mani
fold goodness of God.
The Asbury Methodist Episcopal church
and the Edgewater Congregational church
held union services at the latter church
building Rev. J. T. Nichols and Rev. 7.
E MacMullsn officiated. the latter giving
an address. The remainder OF the even
ing was devoted to a praise and song serv-
Tee