The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-25
The Raleigh People Attended
the Churches.
MUSIC WAS VERY FINE
THE SERMONS WE'RE OF \ HIGH
ORDER.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OR2HANA6ES

Rev. (. c. Glenn, Who Preached at the Union
Service, Strongly Endorsed the Pol,
icy Of Expansion. Or. Mar
shall's Sermon.
Thanksgiving Day was, perhaps, never
so generally observed in Raleigh as it
was yesterday.
Crisp and sunshiny the weather was
al that could be desired-an ideal
Thanksgiving day. The sunshine was
bright reminder of the many good
things sent by an all-wise Providence;
the cold winds suggested the appropriate
ness of doing something for those who
have not been so bountifully blessed.
All banks and public offices were
closed, many merchants suspended bush
ness. special services were held i'll the
churches. extra fine dinners were serv-
cd in private homes and at hotels, the
turkey always occupying n conspicuous
place on the menu. Then there was Il
football game and finally an inter-colle-
giate debate.
Altogether it was Il great day i'll Raj
eigh-one of the greatest Thanksgiving
days the city has ever seen.
And what is best of all, amid the mer-
ry-making and good eating, the widow
and the orphans were not forgotten and
hearts and purses alike were opened to
the poor At all the churches special
collections We're taken for these pur-
poses.
However reluctant you may be to
enter church on the regularly-recur-
ring tifty-two Sundays in the year.
you would find it not uninteresting, as
we'll as beneficial, to occupy pew on
Thanksgiving Day.
| know that men of my stripe. and
perhaps of yours, are not so found Of
church-going as we ought to be. Too
often we prefer to stay at home. read
the Sunday papers. or discuss and cuss
our neighbors from the club-window
standpoint.
But / think yesterday you would not
have found the atmosphere of one of
Raleighs many houses of worship alto
gether unpleasant. There are reasons
why you would have enjoyed it ON yes
terday's crisp, bright morning.
To begin with, it was, as | have al
ready stated, Thanksgiving Day-a day
set apart by both civil and ecclesiastical
authorities as a religious holiday. And
for this reason the seryices-sermons
and singing-are always of Il special
character.
For instance the sermon | heard yes
terday was full of good things; and 50
delightfully."- was it delivered that some
how it reminded me all along of Il poem,
vigorous in thought, but metrical in ex-
preston. Under the spell of the preach
er's voice and words faces in the congre-
CATION underwent change. Those that
were hard and bitter assumed an ex-
preston of love and liberation; those
that were young grew tender and lumin-
GUS; the old and care-worn became rest
full and satisfied.
There was no striving for sensation
or effect, there was nothing harsh OF
bitter in the voice that was speaking
clear as crystal, resonant as Il bell. II
was the voice of love and that, perhaps
was why it so easily penetrated the
veneer of cynicism that cloaks so many
hearts.
Surely hearing such sermon would
have been worth your while.
The anthem of the day was a thing
of beauty. "Oh pray for the Peace OF
Jerusalem" it walled in rhythmic sor-
row. "Glory, Glory to God in the High
est" it burst in joyous praise. Its har-
monies rose and fioated through the
place, wooing the senses to rest and the
heart to peace.
4 Il
trouble of trip to church.
Then there were the people. Perhaps
you love to watch folks. There are al
sorts to be found in a church congrega
ton, as in any other large crowd
There to the left is a prosperous look
ing old gentleman. He is groomed like /;
thoroughbred, and his jolly face, bale
head and snow-white mustache make
him not altogether bad looking. Though
at first sight you might take him to BIZ
a "hard and austere man." if you will
watch him for moment you'll see tha
he utters his responses carefully ant
promptly, looks all men square in tn,
face, and when you catch his eye HI
has q pleasant smile and kindly nod o
the head for you.
A wholly bad man could not be guilt,
of these things.
Near him are two little girls, will
furrcd cloaks and broad, brimmed hats
They have large, serious eyes AM
mouths like June rose-buds. Watcl
their innocent interest in the service
Their yellow curls and porcelain com
pleXions are frightened by the sweetes
of smiles up into your eyes.
These things warm the cookies out 0
your hardened and scared old heart, am
you confess to yourself its worth having
gone to church.
You watch a sunbeam filter itsel
through stained window. The slant
ing, softened rays fall upon the head 0
a demure, trimly-built girl. The hal
beneath the gray, modish hat is of
rich copper hue, and under the toucl
of this shaft Of light it leaps ant
bourgeons into many glittering tints. |
is now n shimmerng rainbow of scarle
and gold. The young face is fair RS
saints, Of course; for plain girls neve
go to church. If they do they consider
ately keep out of the sunlight.
Who will say this sight is not wortl
having gone anywhere to see.
Or that mothers there. with her chill
drcn? How calm and serene is the ex