The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-27

Prenehes n Thank sgiv'ua Sermon iu Centraf
PrrsbyffriGn Cburc,J,

Presbyterian Church,
The Presbyterian congregations of the
city held union services in Central Church
yesterday. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. Lafayette Marks, pastor of Ham
over Church. Special music. Including q
solo by Mrs. Victor X. Pyle, was rendered.
by the choir The church was crowded and
the congregation heard an interesting and
eloquent sermon.
DR.. Marks said that the people wsre sum-
moned by the voice of the Chief Execu-
tive to gather In the house Of the Lord to
give thanks for His abundant msTcies.
This custom of giving thanks was noS de-
rived from our tOrefathers, but from the
. Bibio and the laws and customs of the fn-
cient Hebrews. 1t was written In an I'D
ceremonial law: "Whel thou hast gathered
In the fruits of the year thou shall make q
feast unto the Lord" In the matter OF
national gratitude the Hebrews set an ex-
ample which VIC should follow. Some Of
the modern wise men say We want re-
ligion divorced entirely from the Judaism.
They know not what they say.
There lie no specimen of ancient litera-
ture that compares with the Bible In as
crtptlons OF praise 90 God. The Psalms OF
David are without parallel III voicing graf
itude OF derout heart. The preacher
spoke OF the men of ancient times as ex-
amples Of men Of modern time. They made
study Of tho age In which they lived.
They were the acknowledged leaders in
public opinion. Their advice was sought
in every great emergency and their intiu-
ence was widely felt on the nations pro-
Ii i.I, thap thov
politicians. The subject suggests two points
for consideration.
First. the times in which We live and the
preparations for meeting the obligations
Of our times. The value of life is exactly
proportiUned to the times In which we live.
Jesus said to His disciples; blessed are
the eyes which see the things ye see
Blessed are the ears which hear the things
ye hear" Jesus would have His disciples
to understand that it was Z great privilege
TO live and hear Ills words and see His
mighty works. 1t is Il grand privilege to
be living in the year OF our Lord 1896.
I'VE are living, We are dwelling in a grand
and awful time III an age Oh ages telling
to be living is sublime"
The young men and women who are be-
ginning their career in the last decade of
the nineteenth century are to be congratu-
lated, This Is an age of travel and rapid
transit. The whistle OF the locomotive is
heard on every hand The people are maxi
ing pleasure excursions to Japan Austria
liza and other fJrotf places. Men are run-
ming to and fro. knowledge is being in
creased. This is a wonderful age for get
ting ahead in the world. All the great for
tunes in this country have been alnassed
in the last thirty years. 1t is au age of
great invention and discovery. Wonders
upon wonders arc opening up before us.
We can SGT no limits to the inventive ge-
MUS OF man. CElcss We read the daily pa
pers and tle scientific journals We are left
entirely i'll the wake of the worlds pro-
grpss.
1t is an age that affords the greatest ia
cilitics for sclf-iMprovement. The means
of education are within the reach of all.
There is no excuse for any uue to remain
unlettered or unskilled or unemployed.
Every variety Of taste and talent can find
its field and its reward. IL is an age when
great questions are coming up for discus
sion and final settlement. Questions that
relate TO education, MORALS and good gov
ernment. 1t is an age when millions of
young people are banding together for car
rying on the great work OF the Lord and
yet We must not be unmndful of the dan
gers that threaten us.
The signs Of the times indicate that the
salvation Of the American Republic must
be worked out with fear and trembling.
We are threatened with a food Of political
corruption. Votes have a market value.
the same as wheat, corn and cotton, and
money has been almost onnlpotent in the
carrying of elections. Let US be careful
that the fair name Of our little common
wealth is not covered with reproach. We
are getting just now great reputation
for political croOkcdness. The eyes of the
world are upon Delaware.
The second thought for consideration Is
what manner Of men and women we ought
to he in these wonderful days. We must
be wide awake. like the men Of old. We
must have knowledge of what is going on
In the world. We must make a study of
tho times in which we live, The things
most needed are intelligence,a fair amount
of education, moral courage and personal
integrity.
In conclusion Dr.. Marks emphasized the
duty Of good citizenship and spoke OF the
manifest destiny of the American Repub-
lic He expressed the hope that the Ameri-
can people. strong, united aud prosperous
would march into light Of the milleniaf
morning 2Ot 900, 900 strong. singing then.
as now, and more fcrvcutly than now My
Country Ills of Thee"