The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-11

American victories and giving thanks
for the victories that have been at
tanned.
The congregations that assembled for
the patriotic and Thanksgiving sermons
and prayers were unusually large. In
many of the churches America" was
sung by the congregations and stars
and Stripes Forever was rendered by
the organists.
At the First Congregational church
DR.. Linus Blakesley took for his text,
The Lord of Hosts is with US; The God
of Jacob is our Refuge"
Dr.. Blakesley said in part: 1T is
one thing to be glad that success has
attended our armies in the present
struggle; that the Spanish fleets are no
longer menace and that the humane
and beneficent purposes for which this
war was entered upon, are in prospect
of such speedy realization. 1t is one
thing to be glad. I say. and quite an
other thing to be thankful In the one
case we are like any other animal who
feels grattfied and happy; in the other
we intelligently and gratefully recOg-
nize the source from whence our bless
ings flow, and reverently acknowledge
Gods good hand in the events which
nave transpired.
"One reason for thankfulness today
Is the very fact that we have a presi-
dent whose heart has prompted him to
issue this Proclamation, calling public
attention to the existence of a Higher
POWER TO the truth that God relgnS
and that to Him is due the thanks of
this people for his guidance and deliv
erance thus far.
Lincoln, the man who led US through
four years of civil strife. was a man Of
intense religious sensibility. And now
In this eventful time of our national
history, when besides finding ourselves
at war with a foreign nation, new ques-
lions are to be determined. new policies
to be formed, and a new chapter and 4
new departure IS opening before us, it
is a cause of ngratulatiOn and
h. n K 81 h1E f0r-
leader a God fearing statesman VINO
seeks divine guidance and calls upon
the people to turn their faces GOdWard,
recognize his interpretations and thank
Him for the manifest tokens of his IA
vOr.
Then again we are to be grateful
Tor the victories which have crowned
our armies Our enemy Outnumbered
US in trained soldiers and her fleets
were fully our equal. And vet some of
the most remarkable victories ever re
corded in naval annals have been
VouchsaTed to our armies. We expect
ed to be victorious. Yet with all the
difficulties to be encountered in carry
ing on war across the sea. we could
hardly expect not to meet with temper
airy reVerseS, while our fleets were be
ing created and equipped and our arm
les being modified. It seems like
special interpOsItiOn of Providence that
our armies should be so terribly sea f
tered and our forces so rernarlza Div
preserved from harm It is no dispa r
agement TO the herOism of our navy
and to the generalship of our command
ers to say that it is through Gods
goodness and over ruling hand that
victory has perched upon our banners -
DR.. Embree's Sermon.
At the North Topeka Methodist
church DR.. A S. Embree delivered a
patriotic sermon
DR.. Embree said certain Pharisees
animated by a dishonest purpose Went
to Jesus upon a certain occasion and
asked him if it were proper TO pay tax
es to Caesar. Though he knew the
motive he ignored it and answered