The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-26
My country 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
OF thee l sing
'TiS now -

Beloved hearers, if the dead heroes of
our republic who have passed through the
veil which separates us from the Great
BEYOND, had been permitted to listen
whilst We sang, they would reverenty
unite in singing, God IS Love"
CANNOT BE ENUMERATED.
Why should this nation thank God? The
question is a great one, aye, overpowcr-
ing for who Of us can enunerale whose
mind can conceive the manifold blessings
of the Most High? Not one save the mind
of God alone. Note a few. We ought TO
thank God for America, which partici-
patCs in the blessings Of the GOd-wrought
miracle Of changing seasons anu bount-
tul harvests. ON how regularly are its
summers, atutumns, springs and win
tcrs. Oh, how abundant and luxurious
It's harvests of fruit, its harvests of
grains, its wealth of minerals. DO they
not reveal the beneiicence and the WIS.,
dom of our Creator? What a granary-a
ycritable land of milk and honey. Is
there another nation in the world en-
joying these like unto US? Truly God is
Love"
Note a few Of the advantages which
our nation gives to its children. Ameri-
can ships grace the waters of the deep
and touch every spot in the world. Rail-
roads wind in scrpentine manner over
our valleys. plains and mountains, lay
ing at our feet the tropical fruits of the
sunny south, and our northern products
at the doors Of our brothers in DiXey
land. TelCgraphy, with the rapidity of
lightning, unites all parts of the Union.
Telephones lessen the business of an
hour to the space of "a moment.
Our public schools, colleges and uni-
versties all teach the practical concerns
of life. Here, we learn that brains count
more than blood. character more than
clothes Not our religious advantages.
America is the mecca of religious free
dom. In this respect she leads the world.
Here Jew and Gentle, Greek and bar
parIan, bond and free, worship side by
side. Knowing no state or national re-
ligion she says to the individual, you are
protected in your worship so long as you
intrude not upon the rights Of others.
These are blessings which fall to the lot
of all.
But | wish to bring you now to a closer
walk with God. How shall do it? Look
at your individual blessings. Here l shall
take the common blessings and cause
them to pass i'm rapid succession before
your mind. Why? Because we are apt 10
forget that we live only by the presence
of these so-called common, everyday
| blessings. That universal blessing of air,
| how many of us give thanks for it?
Again; we ought to thank God that we
are men and women endowed with the
sense of hearing, seeing, smelling, tast-
| ing and feeling What ecstatic joys have
filled your soul as you listened to the
murmuTfng brook, the song of the bird
| or a loving mothers hymn. What glo-
| rious scenes were presented to your Wis.
| ion during the past year. As these were
reflected on the retina of the eye did they
not reveal TO you that God is Love. Has
| God not given us a thousand fruits eact
| having q taste peculiar TO itself; surely
| that sense Of taste reveals to US the wis
| dom of God.
Lastly, the sense Of feeling. Oh, how
the touch revealed to us a mothers love
| When feVer-striCkGn it was her toucl
that proved to us her deep abiding affec
| ton. The Saviour made good use of It
| He touched His fellow men, without suCl
| power we would be as stones.
/ Finally the church Of God and its at
tendant blessings to the individual. Was
| ever such love as this? The church IN
primitive times taught that God "hatl
| made of one blood all nations" HaC
| Paul lived I'm the Nineteenth century ant
had he lived in America he would hav,
| exclaimed God hath made of all nation
ones blood. What would America b.
| without the church of God? What
| THANKSGIVING If every member had live
up to his duty! My friends, a faithles
king Is nothing to a faithful voter Wha