The record-union., 1897-11-26

this peace and harmony-is the Lords
doingS, and in the eyes of any one who
looks among the nation at all, or at
the strong personal prejudices and wills
of men, it is indeed marvellous. 1t calls
for thanksgiving to the God who mas
done it.
. The prevalence of law and order.
Law and order prevail generally all
over our country, and when We consid-
er the broadness of our land, the wide
difference in birth, in the tastes, and
habits of our people, the fact that law
and order does prevail plainly shows
the overruling and harmonizing hand
of God. Our property, our homes, our
wives and little ones are safe. Certain
ly these great blessings call for most
unfeigned thanksgiving from every cit
izen of our republic
When we look over to poor pitiable
Cuba to-day, ravaged and devastated
by war; her people harried from their
homes and starving in her grass grown
bloody streets, it is a thankless heart,
indeed, that does not respond in de-
voutest Thanksgiving to God for our
happier lot.
g, The return of easier financial con-
ditfons.
The earth has yielded her increase
bountifully, and from all quarters come
up reports of plentiful harvests, WELL
filled granaries and good prices. AS
nation we have enough and to spare.
God has sent the seed-time and the
harvest-the early and the later rain
in it's season. Blight, mildew and the
scourges of useful vegetable and ami
NAL life have prevailed, if at all, only
in very limited sections. Truly, the
Great Giver of every good and perfect
gift has been wonderfully kind to us as
a people in this respect also.
Even the part of our territory which
was supposed to be most unproductive
and unpromising has this year yielded
UP its treasures, hidden from the foun-
dation OF the earth-hidden while in the
possession of another great nation, and
reserved for and revealed this year to
us, and Alaskan gold is now flowing in
plentiful and increasing volume into
all our channels Of trade.
For years our people have felt the
pressure of ''hard times" but now the
long-lookedfor and long -prayed-for
good times have dawned upon us. and
hopefulness has taken the place of de-
spondency in the hearts of millions of
our people. Thank God for it,
4. Wehave been afflicted with no great
plague or sweeping destruction of life
or property. Local accidents and dis
eases there have been, to be sure but
they have been very small, compared
with the health and safety that has
prevailed almost everywhere, and
scarcely more than enough to call at
tention to the general health. When
we consider the wickedness and goddess
ness to which we are too much addict
ed, we must certainly admit that our
punishments have been far less than
we have deserved.
3. Charitable institutions before estab-
lished have been generously supported.
and new ones have been instituted on
most liberal bases. Our people have al
ways shown a most kindly feeling for
the friendless, the helpless, the suffer-
ing and the outca.st, and this disposition
should be still further cultivated There
is no danger of our doing too much
for the unfortunate of our race
But | say that the grand brotherhood
that binds every man to the crushed
and suffering of Adams family has
been we'll remembered, and during the
past year thousands of hearts have
been made light, homes frightened,
sufferers raised, and discoura ged ones
cheered by the generous charity and
noble-hearted kindness Of those whom
God has placed in a position to bright
en- lives less bright than their own.
When we think of the suffering with
which sin has cursed this world, of the
pinched and hungry bodies, the shiver-
ing limbs, the wistful eyes, the unan-
swered cries for sympathy, and the
crushed and bleeding hearts that this
old earth bears around with it, it does
us good-it makes us thankful to know
that thousands of noble, generous and
self-sacrificing ones are devoting time,
talents and money to the betterment of
the condition of the wretched of earth.
6. Schools have been established and
fostered, and 1 count this not
the least of the things for
which we should be grateful to
God. Education among the COM
mon people has much to do in making
our Doasted American civilization and
society what it is. The time has come.
thank God, that no boy or girl in our
land. however poor they may be, need
go without a fair and indeed a higher
education. Education is the hand-maid
of religion. Wherever education goes
she dispels darkness, improves the con-
dition Of mankind, and does much to
prepare the way for Gods work of
saving grace
Z. Religion and it's institutions have
been we'll sustained and there is no
greater blessing for which we give
thanks to-day than this religion. that
institution that elevates and ennobles
human lives. that disceminates peace
and happiness, and that fits poor dying
mortals for a brighter and better world
beyond
Within the past year all our evangel-
ical churches have made giant strides
at home and abroad, and there never
before when so many were rejoicing
in the comforts. the support, the hopes
and the aspirations of the Christ-1ife
as this Thanksgiving Day, 1897. New
efforts have been constantly made, both
at home and abroad, and God has
greatly blessed these efforts. / have
not the statistics, but it is safe to say
that within the past year thousands
and thousands in our own United States
alone have put on Christ, and thus
passed from death unto life. There has
been joy in heaven and among the an
gels over the progress of the work, and
every Christian heart leaps with joy
and thanksgiving that the good news Is
spreading, and being listened to and
accepted by those who need it, and that
the time speeds when
From world to world the joy shall ring