The Portland daily press., 1896-11-27
MR.. CATE AT HIGH ST.
A Thanksgiving Sermon ON True
Patriotism and Citizenship.

The Services Participated in By Pastors
of Other Observation-Disclosures for the
Provident Society.
The Union service at High street church
yesterday was attended by an audience of
about 200. The very inclement weather kept
many at home. On the platform with DR..
Fem were Rev. Messrs. Pratt, Blanchard,
Dalton and Cate.
The music, which was delightful feature
of the service, was furnished by a chorus
choir.
Miss Robertson, and Miss Halves, sopranos,
Messrs. Waite and Hail. tenors, Miss Will
Jams and Miss Weeks, contraltos, Messrs.
Mcdonald and Pierce, bassos.
Mr.. Rankin was organist, but being called
away before the service was over, Mr.. San
giier gave the postlude.
The music, besides the hymns, as as fol-
lows,
First Anthem Rejoice in the Lord'' by
Tours; response-sI cannot always trace the
way" by Gounod.
Rev. DR.. Henry Blanchard, of Congress
Square Universalist church, read the Gov
ernor's proclamation.
Rev. DR.. W. H. Fem, of the High street
Congregational church, read the 1O3d psalm.
Rev. Dr.. Asa Dalton, of st. Stephens
Episcopal church, offered prayer.
After music DR.. Fem said that it had been
Lhe immemor1al custom in Portland at the
Thanksgiving services to take mp col
lection for the benefit of the Provident So
ciety, and such collection would now be TAX
en- up.
The congregation united in singing the
first four stances of the BOD Hymn;
sPraise to God, immortal praise,
For the Love that crowns our days.
Then followed the sermon by Rev. c. E.
Cate, of the First Free Baptist church, who
is about to go to the Roger Williams church
of Providence.
MT. Gates Sermon.
The last chapter of Joshua, IA verse, the
same being the farewell words of Joshua,
were the text of the sermon. Mr. Cate said
that they were met in spirit of devotion
to cease their own works and wills, and
submit to the influence of the Divine will.
They had come together from different de-
nominations, ON the high plan of Christian
citizenship to acknowledge that the hand
of God had guided safe their destinies.
Our feelings ebb and flow, but the great
true principles of religion and piety are the
sure stepping stones of life.
We have acknowledged our blessings let
us remember that each is a reason for obi
CATION
Patriotism, like every other human fault
needs to be trained and disciplined. 1t used
20 be said that ignorance was the mother
Of devotion. If that was true, SO much the
worse tor the devotion. So also with
patriotism which is not founded in reason
and conscience. There has been a patriotic
revival in the land recently; and the flag
now flies over every school house. But it
is not enough to believe that this flag is the
most glorious national symbol on earth
we ought to know why it is so.
foundation in historical study is an ex-
cellent basis for intelligent patriotism. Prof.
Woodrow Wilson has lately spoken some
words which are worthy of attention. 81
am much Mistaken he says ssif the scien-
tific spirit of the age is not doing US a great
disservice, working in us a certain great
degeneracy. Science has bred in us a sprint
Of ex perrin ent and a contempt for the past.
1t has made us credulous of quick improve
ment, hopeful of discovering panaceas,
confident of success of every new thing.
should tremble to see social reform led by
1 should fear nothing better than utter de-
struction from a revolution conceived and
led in the scientific spirit. Do you wonder
that I ask for the old drill, the old memory
Of times gone by, the old schooling in pre-
cedent and tradition, the old keeping of
faith with the past, as preparation for
leadership in days of social change? We
have not given science too big place in our
education; but we have made a perilous
mistake in giving it too great a preponder-
anee in method over every other branch of
study
Phillips Brooks is often quoted as saying
that all we have to do with our past is 70
get future out of it. But we ought to have
the historical knowledge. Iehave made nv
pilgrimage to the nations Bethlehem, at
Plymouth Rock, and would have my chill
dren make it also. I would bring the knowl-
edge of those heroes to every school child's
mind.
We have our roots'in the past, we yield our
fruits to the future.
The advantages of such historical knowl-