The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-25
At THE | PTST CHURCH
UNION SERVICES HELD IN THE
WEST SIDE.
Sermon Preached By Rev. George
Bailey of the First Baptist-The
Smile of God Upon Our Land.

Rev George Bailey, who preached
the union sermon at the First Baptist
church, took for his text: Now, there
fore, our God, we thank thee and praise
thy glorious name" I Chron. xxx, 10.
The speaker declared that the sense
of gratitude and responsibility in the
human heart needs constant renewing.
Hence we should welcome all the ap
pointed helps, memorials, sacraments,
ordinances and thanksgivings, lest we
forget the great debt of gratitude we
owe to him who daily loadeth US with
benefits, for to forget is an old, old
failing. The world today lives in prac-
teal forgetfulness of the providential
blessings of the Most High. Conse-
quently, it is a happy custom which
calls upon the entire nation to ded1-
cate one day to the giver of every good
and perfect gift.
The blush of health is on Columbia's
brow. the rose of beauty is upon the
national cheek God has smiled upon
the land, never was the shout of har-
vesters more gladstone, never was the
harvest moon so large and so rich as IN
this year. Against it's own traditions,
wishes and plans, the nation was hur-
ried from peaceful aVocations into
foreign war. 1t was war for which
we were very poorly prepared. But
what singular results followed! What
wonderful SictorieSi What World-en-
comprising consequences! Who sank
the fleet of Montijo in Manila bay? VINO
destroyed the flower of the Spanish
! navy at Santiago? Some will answer:
Our brave sailor boys did it. but the
reverent and thoughtful commanders
| of our ships say, and all true Chris
tians say, God did il"
Whichever way we look, reVerent
eyes see the working of Gods gracious
and bountiful hand-neverl more evil
dent in the history of the chosen people
than in that of the United States
! Therefore, let US shout with gladneSs,
I Now, therefore, our God, we thank
thee, and praise thy glorious name.
But, my brothers, our God is a God
of Justice. He always sympathizeS
with the oppressed He freed the col
onists from British tyranny; he freed
the slaves from the cruel lash; he has
freed Cuba from violent and bloody OPP
preSsion;i and so, too, Will he free the
Philippine archipelago. But while you
and I are rejoicing in our blessings, let
us not forget that there are tens of
thousands of our felloW-citizenS who
are living under intimidation and prac-
teal oppression from the whites. They
dare not exercise their right to vote.
The race war in the south is a disgrace
to our civilization. The Almighty will
arise in his wrath and smite US if we
permit this iniquity to abound. Let the
citizen be free, whether yellow, black
or white.
Today, as some of you mingle in the
circle of loving friendship, and gather
around the festive board, you miss
from your midst some loved one, and
ask, How can 1 say these words 2"
Your thoughts speed away to the
empty chair, and then to the cold and
silent grave. You miss the cheering
word and smiling face, and you falter
and stammer as you try to say, Nov,
therefore, our God, we thank thee.
The year has doubtless brought its
share of sorrow and trial into life, but
God hides the sunshine behind the
gloom and cloud. Every experience is
intended to minister to our discipline
and perfection of character God never
makes a mistake. The departure OF
your loved ones only brings heaven
nearer than before; it makes the pros
pect brighter and the thought of death
more welcome than ever to yourself
Get alone with God, if you can, today
and ask him for the balm of his con-
ISOLATION. Many of the purest joys OF
the Christian life are found in private
fellowship with the Master. AS oul
own Longfellow has said:
The hottest of holidays are those
Kept by ourselves in silence and apart
The secret anniversaries of the heart.
So through all your tears and pain.
full signing bid you join US all this
day in saying with jubilant exultation
Now, therefore, our God, We thanl
thee, and praise thy glorious name"