The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-11

OF evening were Pht44StlS 80 $3.50
acter. In nearly all of the churches the
congregations were very large the
church-golng public observing the Day
Of Thanksgiving set apart by the Pres
iaent in his proclamation last week,
providing that on Sunday the nation
would extend thanks to Almighty God
for the glorious victories that have
crowned American Arms in the Hispa-
no-Amerlcan war.
The most notable services Of the day
were at the Fourth street N. p. church.
and at Vance Memorial church. Both
took place in the evening, and were very
largely attended. Every pew in the
Fourth street church was taken, and
the congregation composed members Of
all the north-of-the-@eek Protestant
churches. Seated on the pulpit with the
pastor, Rev. ]. L. sooy, D. D., were
Rev. D. A. Cunningham. D. D.. pastor
OF the First Presbyterian church, and
Rev. N. S. Thomas, rector of st. Mat
tllews P. e. church. Rev. DR.. Gun
ningham and Rev. Mr.. Thomas earnest
~ dweE on the spirit Of the occasion,
and with Dr.. sooy. eulogiZed the PTesl-
dent for his proclamation.
The services opened with o selection
by the choir. Congregational singing OF
q hymn used for national occasions. be-
ginning Great God Of nations, now TO
thee, our hymn OF gratitude we raise, I"
followed. and It was sung in splendid
chorus.
Rev. DR.. sooy offered the prayer. He
said Gods hand was seen In the mar
yellous successes Of the American arms,
as His hand was manifest in all great
events. 1t did look as II the American
forces were aided by the God Of might
and right. Rev. SoOy eloquently prayed
for the boys at the front, and for the
bereaved relatives Of the heroes who
have fallen in this war for mercy and
/ justice.
The choir then sang another selection.
In making the announcements. DR.. Sooy
referred at length TO the notice OF the
meeting tomorrow morning at the Car
roll Club, TO form Red Cross auxiliary,
ard he strongly urged oil interested In
this grand movement to be present at
the attempt to form an organization,
which is represented in many cities
much smaller than Wheeling.
Before introducing the first speaker,
Dr. Sooy read President McKinleys
thanksgiving proclamation. Dr.. sooy
thought the proclamation very oppOr-
tune, and hence had arranged for the
service In conformity with 1t.
Rev. N. s. Thomas was then intro
duced, and he began by saying that It
was O glorious proclamation, showing
that the soldiers were also soldiers Of
the cross. Rev. Mr.. Thomas thought 1t
a grand thing that the man in the high
est Office in the world should say over
his nations successes. LET the glory
be Gods" Then the speaker drIeted
into an argument why Thanksgiving
day every November should be observ-
ed, and referred to the argument adj
Vanced from a western pulpit against
giving thanks for good weather, good
crops ETC., because such things would
have come about. The speaker wouldn't
answer this kind Of argument by science
or logic, but his mind turned to the
parting OF the Red Sea, to Gideon, to
Joshua, TO David's conflict with Co
liah, to Elijah, and since God hath done
so much, what can He not do? Rev.
Mr.. Thomas believed that when the
President issued the proclamation, DO
being Christian, he knew better than
the scientist. AS to arms, the speaker
said God could conquer by many or by
few, and he reclted many battles the
most famous in history as examples.
| There was something back OF all those
great conflicts. When Germany threw
her forces against France, Italy was
emancipated from papal sovereignty.
/ NyyhnFN f.ttrs fiVsut chnf HPhh Mt HNNVk
Sumter It sounded the knell Of slavery.
And the hand OF Providence was evil
dent at Manila when Dewey's ships
Hsalled over the harbor mines Gods
blessings have been showered on this
country, but whether or not the sue
cesses were due to the englnery OF war,
It was fitting that the nation should act
on the Presidents suggestion to give
thanks to God.
After Rev. Mr.. Thomas concluded, the
congregation sang another appropriate
hymn.
Rev. DR.. Cunningham was the next
speaker. He said all had united In the
services to praise God, for 1t was He
who presided over the conflict with
Spain, therefore the meeting was not so
much for speaking, as for prayer, and
for the humbing OF all before the living
God, the living Jehovah. The presiding
One in Cuba was the same as presided
over this meeting. DR.. Cunningham
took occasion to tell OF Spanish oppreS-
sion and cruelty in Cuba and Spaln's
colonial possessions. Persecution and
tyrannous trampling Of all rights re.
suited in the call OF the poor natives for
help. 1t is true that many Of the ma
tives may be degraded, but they are
human. DR.. Cunningham spoke along
this line Mt lengthy and said II was the
sympathy OF this Christian nation
which impelled It to call q halt to Span
lsh oppression. AS being particularly
appropriate to this time and the thanks
giving meeting, DR.. Cunningham read
the twentieth Psalm. and traced its
significance to the Presidents procla-
nation. which called the people TO bow
humbly before the throne OF grace in
gratitude and praise giving.
DR.. Cunningham lauded the President
| for his course and for the spirit OF his
proclamation. 1t didn't become dlgni-
fled citizens of great republic to first
stand out and defy other nations be-
cause the American nnvy had shown It's
| superiority. 1t was best to give glory
TO God. and to have confidence that
when the cross was with the nations
banners no calamity would overtake a
Christian people, "some trust in char
lots, some trust in horses. but we Will
remember the name OF the Lord our
God"
The tenderness, the manllness and
the Christian spirit OF the Presidents
proclamation, said DIR. Cunningham,
had keenly affected more than one man
In these anxious times. It was grand,
noble document. Tho speaker then
blessed God for Dewey, a Sampson,
and the other lenders Of the time. and