The herald., 1898-11-25

LOS ANGELES H
who appoints both conditions, and that hu
man helplessness and ignorance are a neces
sary discipline. Though human life abound'
in trouble, still there are blessed intervals
of sweet and satisfying repose. There |,
never suei a cry heard in our land as was
heard in|ancient Egypt: "There was not q
house where there was not one dead" But
there are few families, few communities, few
religious assemblies, where we may not find
some in a state of affliction. The bolt fall!
upon some of Gods chosen; sorrow is the
portion of some of Gods elect. Prosper
ity"-"a "adversity"; God has set the one over
against the other. While one is rejoicing
another is mourning. The wall of the new.
born babe is heard in one house, the sigh
OF departing spirit is heard in another
| The treasures of fortune are pouring plen-
tifully into one lap, while poverty is the
portion of another. In this house all re-
joice in vigorous health, while in that the
blight of disease rests upon some beloved
member.
From out the great abyss of human suf-
fering a new world has arisen-the world of
christian civilization. And looking upward
through the rifted clouds, we see the in
finite field of mellow light, shoreless sea
of untroubled glory; we see beautiful realm
of peace, a land of reunion with the loved
and the lost of earth; yea, we see the bright
and smiling plains of heaven spread out in
all their glorious amplitude, even as the
beauty of Canaan was displayed before the
eyes of Moses from the summit of Nebo.
Prosperity; adversty:. they are both from
God, and it is the Divine hand that has set
the one over against the other, so that they
become counterbalancing factors of life.
Rev. A. b. Prichard preached to union
congregation in the Third Presbyterian
church yesterday, taking his subject from
jeremiah xxxi:l. He said, in part
"Some texts are
God, Families, appropriate to such
Israel an occasion as this
because of what they
express or contain; others are no less ap-
propriate because of what they suggest. The
one before us belongs to the latter class.
Three words in this verse serve to suggest
an intention in the observance of this day.
The Almighty God, over all, blessed for
ever; the family, Gods gracious and per-
petual institution; the nation, mans gov
ernmental alternative, the outgrowth and
enlargement of the family. To these three
great themes the observance of Thanksgiv-
ing Day is closely allied and inalienably de-
voted. To the exaltation of each of these
is this day set apart. Consider first the
family. The very mention of the day sug
gests family associations. Thanksgiving
Day is the single domestic holiday OF the
year. New Years Day belongs to society;
February % to an individual, "The Father
of His Country; Decoration Day to our
citizen soldiers; Independence Day to the
charter of our nation; Labor, Arbor, Found
ers' and Admission Days are local celebra-
tions of class interests. Christmas belongs
to the person of Christ and the children,
but Thanksgiving Day belongs to the family.
Today the scattered members of the family
come home to enjoy together the feast of
annual thanksgiving. The memory calls
up to view each absent one; those far away
and those who have passed over to the silent
land. Father, mother. brothers and sisters,
they are all present with lis in person or in
thought today.
Secondly comes the nation. This day
holds to our nation peculiar, an unique
relatp pn, different from that of any other of
our holidays. 1t more than any other dis
tinguishes us as a nation. There is nothing
peculiar to ourselves in the celebration of
any other of our holidays. Other nations
join with us in reverence for certain chris
tan anniversaries. Every other nation has
it's celebration of national events and of local
interests No other nation claims an ami
versary like this-voluntary, christian, do
mestic-a general celebration of our pros
perity and the author of it. This day is the
outgrowth and expression of our faith in
God. Once, at least, each year the United
States as a people stands up before the eyes
of the world and with barred head and
reverend attitude confesses its faith.
Thirdly, this day leads to the thought of
God. Thanksgiving Day-the very desig-
nation serves to direct our thoughts to Him,
and however we may think of the family
or the nation we cannot help recalling the
goodness of the Lord. God has established
this nation as home for all, help for all
The eyes of the world turn to us as to a
refuge, and just now, as never before, as
protector of the oppressed.
We have for many years enjoyed the
honor of being the most at peace of all ma
tions, the most progressive and the most
abundantly provided for. In less than one
hundred days changes were brought which
affect the interests of centuries. God has
lifted us up before the gaze of wondering
world and given us as people wider out
look, mightier prestige and more potent in
fiuence in the counsels of nations. Is not
the hand of God in all this? Aye, verify!
Then let us praise Him for our new honors
and ask for our nation the grace to exer-
else the prerogatives which He has
entrusted to us.
Benefit Concert
At the Y. NJ. C. A. hall last night con-
Il nG4 & hc