The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-11
FROM WHOM comETH STRENGTH.
| Portland Clergymen Comply With the
Presidents Suggestion.


In compliance with President MoKin-
ley's special proclamation, prayers were
offered in the local churches yesterday
in recognition of the glorious victories
of American. naval and military arms
during the present war.
In nearly every Portland church the
proclamation was read, and the sugges-
tions followed in prayer and sermon.
The proclamation is as follows:
To the People of the United States OF
America:
At this time when the yet fresh remem-
brance of the unprecedented success
United States fleet in the bay OF Manila
on the first day of May last are added
the tidings of no less glorious achieve
ments of the naval and military arms Of
our beloved country at Santiago de Cuba
it is fitting that we should pause and
staying the feeling of exultation that too
naturally attends great deeds wrought
| by our countrymen in our country s
cause should reyerently bow before the
| throne of divine grace and give devout
| thanks to God who holdeth the nations
| in the hollow of his hands and Worketh
upon them the marvels Of His high will,
and who has thus far Vouohsafed to us
| the light of his face and led our brave
| soldiers and sailors to victory.
therefore ask the people of the United
| States. upon next assembling for divine
worship in their respective places of meet
| ing to offer Thanksgiving to Almighty
| God, who, in his inscrutable ways now
leading our hosts upon the waters to
| unscathed triumphs, now guiding them
| in strange land through the dread
| shadow of death to success, even though
Lot, n7rfr ort
out accident or loss to far distant chimes,
has watched over our cause and brought
nearer to success Of the right and the at
tainment of just and honorable peace.
| With the nations thanks let there be
| mingled the nations prayers that our
gallant sons may be shielded from harm
| alike on the battlefield and in the clash
| of fleets and be spared the scourge OF
suffering and disease while they are striv-
| ing to uphold their country;s honor, and
withal let the nations heart be stilled
with holy awe at the thought of the noble
men who have persisted as heroes die and
| be filled with compassionate sympathy for
| all those who suffer bereavement or en-
dure sickness, wounds and bonds by rea-
son of the awful struggle. And above
all, let us pray with earnest fervor, that
| he the dispenser of all good may speedily
remove from us the untold action of war
and bring to our dear land the blessings
of restored peace and to all the domain
now ravaged by the cruel strife the price.
less boon of security and tranquility.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY,
Executive Mansion.
Washington, July 6, 1898.
eat the First Baptist church Rev. Mr..
Aver read the proclamation and in the
prayer gave thanks in accordance with
It's suggestion.
At Chestnut Street church Rev Mr..
Freeman did the same and at the morn.
ing service at Pine Street, swhere he ofIici-
ated for Rev. Mr.. Rogers, he followed the
same course.
At the High Street church in the eve
ming Rev. DR. Fem preached fine SER
mon on the Thanksgiving En- joined by
the President.
At the Congress Square church Rev. Mr..
Marsh of Saco otticiated in the absence of
DR.. Blanchard, referred to the proclama-
ton in his prayer and preached a patri-
otto sermon.
Rev. John Carroll Perkins, pastor of the
First Parish, read the proclamation at
the morning service and preached SER
mon on "Peace"
The pulpit Of Williston church was oc.
cupied by Rev. John Barstow of Medford,
Mass. At the morning service he read the
proclamation and alluded to it in his
prayer. His evening discourse related to
the war and the overwhelming success
of the American arms