Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-26
tween the woman's Christian Association

tween the woman's Christian Association
and the Central Union 1Fsion.
In his prayer DR.. Butler gave thanks for
day Of national tha4ksgivlng; for the
be observed; for the fatASrs who Instituted
the custom and planted the seeds of a
great Christian nation; for every church.
every school and every Christian home.
Divine blessing was invoked upon the Pres-
ident and his cabinet. the two houses of
Congress soon to assemble the governors
of the commemorative. the people and the
land itself, and fervid petition was offered
to prosper the forces which are attempting
to put a stop to intemperance and Sabbath
dissertation. e Z
No special text was selected for the SER
mon, though several appropriate passages
were quoted The occasion itself, as Dr.
Butler explained, would be his text It is
the day. he said, on which we annually as
semble in our houses Of worship. by official
proclamation. to return thanks for divine
favor and mercy. While. 1t ought to ba a
day Of recreation and enjoyment and Of
family reunion. its pivotal point is the
worship'of God in His house.
DR.. Butler enumerated several CAUSES for
Thanksgiving, the first being that of the
official setting apart Of the day itself by
the authority of the President. 1t was
only in Christian nation. he declared,
that such a recognition Of a divine provi-
dence was made. and Christian people
should rejoice that such recognition is
made in this country. He sketched rapidly
the history of the nation from the time cf
the Pilgrim Fathers to the present, as
showing abundant cause on the par, Of the
people for gratitude for divine favor One
OF the latest notable causes for thankful
ness, he said. was the result Of the late
elections, which, in his opinion, was not a
party triumph. but an occasion when Ia
triotism rose superior to party. It was a
verdict for national integrity and national
honor. you and L." he declared with en-
phasfs, "sell our integrity, our honor. our
manhood too cheapiy. II we put them on
the market at any price" AS it was with
the Individual. he believed 1t would be with
the nation. and he hailed the verdict Of the
polls as indicating that American honor
and uprightness was dear to the hearts Of
the people.
One feature Of the Presidents proclama-
tfon, ne said stood out in bold relief and
ought to be received by all Christians with
qualification. 1t was the recognition OF
Jesus Christ as the God Of nations He
recalled an occasion when with a delega-
ton Of ministers he had made a request
OF former President to embody such
recognition in his Thanksgiving proclama-
ton, and the request had been refused.
The wording Of the proclamation by Presi-
dent Cleveland. he said, marked distinct
advance toward that time to which the
church is looking when the Kingdoms OF
this world shall become the kingdom OF
Christ.
The speaker devoted some time to a dis
cussion of the forces with which the coiin-
try was threatened, and denounced heartily
the evils Of intemperance and Sabbath
desercration. He rejoiced in the growing
spirit of liberalism which permitted a
Christian man and a minister of the Cos
pei to discuss without criticism moral and
political questions affecting the welfare OF
the people. Time was, he asserted, when
a minister could not speak on political
questions or take active part as a citizen
in the politics Of his community. The
country was growing, he thought, in intel
ligence and in moral and religious senti-
ment, and good citizenship had recog-
nized position in the minds of the people.
In concl, sion he reviewed the moral and
religious trend of today and defined his
position as an advocate of interdenomi-
national fellowship as against denomina-
tioral reserve and as in favor of Chris