Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-24
BEST IN HISTORY.
Rev. Heisse's Estimate of the Present
Thanksgiving Day.

lhahksKlSfng DAY.
This the Best Thanksgiving Day in
American History" At Wesley Chapel
Methodist Episcopal Church the pastor,
Rev. ]. F. Heisse, preached on the above
topic at this mornings service. The con-
gregations Of North Capitol and New York
Avenue churches worshiped at Wesley.
The speaker sketched rapidly the history
of Thanksgiving in the infancy of this
nation, and spoke of the nation of today
in contrast with the past, its strong place
in the councils of nations; form of gov
eminent engaging profound attention: in
stitutions, secular, educational and eccle-
slasucal, and their power in the thought
OF other peoples. the flag honored wherever
1t goes, the principles and facts for which
1t stands; an organized people speaking
through wealth, scholarship, craftsmanship,
industrialism, commerce, art, literature, to
the world; also startling the nations by
prowess of men on land and sea.
This is the best THANKSGIVING day." %
because of the quckened sense of home life.
Home in the development of character,
preparation for good citizenship and quail
fcations for all ethical and religious rela-
tonSh1pS, Is the fountain head of national
greatness. If signs are read correctly, the
American home is emphasized now more
than ever.
CD Because the quickened conscience.
This country never saw the individual or
national conscience more deeply quickened
than at the present. Let a careful study
be made of fidelity to contracts, honesty in
manufacturing, justice in merchandising.
Certainly there is much veneer for mahog-
any and shoddy for WOOL but along these
lines conscience is quickened
(3l Because of a strengthened belief in
an overruling Providence. Never have the
people spoken SO much about Gods war.
What is the full meaning of those two
words. Gods WARP God is on His throne
More than ever universities. colleges, speak
or hf,,lra
getting weary of empty PHILOSOPHERS. ex-
ploded theories, meaningless negations.
Advanced thought is not SO railroads.&c.
formerly.
"a Belief in the people At the right time
they can be trusted to do the right thing
Grave crises reached US in city, state and
nation. The people bravely meet them.
The recent war is an example. Out of
stores and banks and government positions
men gladly went forth to struggle for their
land.
90 The many opportunities presented
Opportunities for man to express himself
to his brother in sacrifice, endurance of
hardship and the highest manifestations of
brotherliness. There is vast heroism in the
world. Men are ever struggling for the
perpetuity of goodness.
90 Advanced ground taken in reference
to vital questions, such suffrage. popu-
laton, education and kindred problems.
"a Health signs are abundant. A few of
these are: The people of America are
purer: public opinion is more potent bet
ter legislation is being constantly secured;
labor interests are receiving an attention
too long delayed: official honesty shows a
marked improvement; moral questions,
purely such, as temperance and chastity,
are taking a firmer hold; general benevo-
lences are gaining ground: missions are
pushed with increasing vigor; foreign mis-
sions are losing their name with the open
doors of the Philippines the power of re-
ligious and educational assemblies and con-
Ventions; the increasing study of Gods
word, and the welcomed approach of Chris
tian union. Religious bodies are surely be-
ing drawn more closely together in the
vast opportunities for good presented
About to swing into the twentieth CEN
fury, century before which we stand
scarcely daring to guess the rich treasures
1t possesses for us, We can count this as our
best Thanksgiving day. for unms takably
during this year a good God has given US
magnificent lessons in preparation for the
supreme tasks of the coming century.