The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-26
SERVICES IN CHURCHES
CONGREGATIONS GIVE PRAISE
IN SONG AND PRAYER.
A UNION SERVICE AT FIRST BAPTIST
Eloquent Sermon by Or. Daniel--Sevces at
Christ Church and Church of the Good
Shepherd Collections for
0rphanages.

UrplidHdSeS'
Seldom has Thanksgiving Day been
more general observed by the people OF
Raleigh than it was yesterday.
There YVES partial suspension of BUSH
ness and labor and an Indulgence in va
rious festivities Altogether it was the
same old jolly day that our daddies cele-
brated and celebrated in the same old
way.
But amid their festivities and merry
making the people of Raleigh did not
forget the source from which their bless
mgs came and they assembled gladly at
the house of God and with anthem and
prayer gave thanks.
Union services were held at II o'clock
ct the First Baptist church, and spe-
eial thanksgiving sermon preached by
Rev. DR. Eugene Daniel. In this service
the Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and
Christian congregations of the city join
ed. The choir was composed of the
hest voices from the choirs of these sew
eral congregations.
"Some Memorable Thanksgiving re-
corded in the Bible" was DR.. Daniels
subject His text EXODUS XVI, III,
was: "Who is like unto Thee, Oh Lord,
among the Gods?+ Who is like Thee,
glorious in holiness, fearful in praise, do
ing wonders"
"H'e are to congratulate ourselves" he
psid, that we live in Christian land,
and that it is an occasion that the chief
executive alike of our State and our
nation should call US together to give
thanks.
1--WE do not live in country in which
there is union Of Church and State and
we are now here by virtue of procla-
nation that has not anything mandatory
in it. Neither are we here to discuss
things political, nor to give thanks solely
for temporal blessings, but for spiritual
blessings as well.
1T is my purpose to talk to-day of
some of the memorable Thanksgiving
recorded in the Word of God. One OF
these is recorded in the chapter | have
read. There was never any people that
Had more abundant cause for thanksgiv-
Ing than did the Israelites after their
passage over the Red Sea. How grand
and glorious was that deliverance
"Here they stood-mountains on either
side, the sea in front and the enemy be-
hind. 1t seems to have been night
clouds rolled up across the sky, a great
tornado develops and amid the terrific
roll of thunder and the glare of light
ming fash the waves of the sea rolled
back and Gods chosen people passed
eyer. in safety. Where could anything
De more sublime? What a glorious de-
Gverance! Jehovah hath triumphed, his
people are Free
rs this dead history? Is it not rather
symbolic of the eternal thanksgiving we
eve to Him who hath loved us and who
hath brought us out of captivity?
I'VE pass on in the history Of this
chosen people of God. They have passed
through the wilderness and now they are
ready to go over and take possession Of
the promised land. They are standing
on the banks of crooked river, but
they hesitated to pass over until the
priests come with the ark, and then the
waters of the Jordan rolled back and
back, some writer's declare to a distance
Of thirty miles, and the people Of God
pass over dry-shod and enter upon the
Inheritance promised them by God
Is this not cause for thanksgiving?
But again is this living history? What
has it to do with us? Is it not typical Of
the inheritance that God has bestowed
upon us as his people? Is it not proto-
type Of the Christian conflict which we
must fight to attain to those things which
fade away but endure forever?
But we pass along. There is that lit
tie ark-a wooden chest overlaid with
gold-why this rejoicing in its presence?
It is typical of the covenant that God
has made with His people. Lift up your
heads, oh, We gates, and let the King OF
glory come in
us this dead history? Know We not
that God is still the God Of the covenant
the God of David and of Abraham
"Now let us go to the New Testament
and find some thanksgivings there.
Come to the birth of our Lord. How
tranquil the night; how quiet the world;
how brilliant the stars! But listen!
Upon the midnight air is borne the cries
Of newborn babe. All the angels of
God come down. The glory Of heaven
smiles down. Angel wings and angel
voices go out to spread the glad news.
GLORY to God in the highest, on earth
peace, good will to men,
'Who shall say that this incident shall
ever die? Who shall say that we too
shall not lift up our voices in thanksgiv-
ing for the incarnation Of the worlds
redeemer? Unto you is born this day in
the city Of David, a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord
"But let us hasten. Come with me to
IN empty tomb. Come with me to the
stiffness and gloom of an empty tomb.
But the dawn is stealing over the sky
The light is touching the hill-tops and
creeping in the valleys below. Mary
stands by, but it is empty. The angel
Of the Lord has been there and broken
the seal, and the hope of our salvation
has risen from the coffin and walked
away from the city of the dead.
Sand this to-day is our hope. Death is
swallowed up in victory. The mortal
has put on Immortality. Thanks be to
God who giveth us the victory
Then the preacher reIated the incidents
OF the morning Of the ascension. "Were
The iao-simile signature ~ tY
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