Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-25
nAprIsTs ARE GRATEFUL.
Union Services Held at second
C,urch-serm by DIR. smith.

mon NfNNiff 4
Church-Sermons by DIR. smith.
several of the large Baptist churches
held union services at the Second Bap-
ts. church. with sermon by DR.. W. r. l..
s-r.. tae pastor. DIT. George Cooper,
q taa First church, presided. and other
.rl.s who took part in the service were
..,s. D.. % Haley and r. b. Thames.
Ir. Smiths text was: "Bless the Lord,
.n uy soul. and all that is within me
bless His holy name.-Psalm ciii., J."
d. spoke in part as follows: The self
.au..,ation % the psalmist challenges
..urrti0u and imitation In firm
rryrr of devotion he calls on memory,
..r.e.rcr feeling. imagination. judg-
nent. and reason TO unite in Inscriptions
honor and praise. His sweeping
thought embracing angels and inanimate
r.t1re. and completing its circle, returns
tl himself. with the great hortatiOn.
SHALL we not accept his invitation and
.I..u The company of the seraphim in the
as5.rs o. thangsgiving?
Ns-e.es-physical political. social. and
.rr.u.I-flIDish us with abundant oc-
..s... Objects seem large or small, ac-
lc.Iur 90 The medium through which
r.r -ra seen. Regarded through the
rta end Of the telescope. q mountain
N'.l..A.'H 100 q A-sb4N AAAtAf hA+AAN NAi'ANA NA-N
microscope % grain of sand appears a
mass o. rock. To the humble mind, His
uegcics loom large and innumerable.
DARKEST INFAMIES.
That ths catalogue Of Divine favors
should become a list Of platitudes is full
~ accusation. IL is near TO forgetfulness,
which lies hard by ingratitude. which is
or. of the darkest .intamies Of human
..-.ro.
That the grace of thankfulness is rarer
riau 10 should be is due TO the fact that
serious obstacles hinder its growth.
The very exteusiveness of His bounty,
fle very multitude of his mercies. Grail
t.la is confounded. 1t is like a line
.t figures. that passes the usual limits
., calculation. becoming so vast as to
make HQ definite impressions Of number.
iet it is a good thing 20 give thanks
unto the Lord. il is His due; it lightens
che burdens Of life and exalts the soul.
ANOTHER HINDRANCE.
Another hiudrance lies In the regularity
and continuity Of our blessings. They
come 20 be taken as o matter Of course
J.. is as n the widow Of the Scripture had
.- length concluded that there was no.
thing remarkable in the unwasted barrel
NO meal. and iu the unfailing cruise of oil
The stream followed Israel through the
desert until. becoming a common sight
t ceased 70 excite emotions OF thank
Hluess. Was it less benefcent because 1t
followed them forty years rather than
ono day? Mamma became common bread
and the pillar Of cloud a familiar scene
matters OF course Alasl that the fire.
o.elcy and regularity Of our mercies
...uld tend TO produce practical forget
t..ress of the Giver. Shall we pane the
Hebrews and yet initiate their example?
thankful SENTIMENT DESTROYED
Wrong views Of Gods favors destroy
U thankful sentiment. 4 man says the
lalvest comes from the operation Of the
Jaws of. air, water, and soil. We cannot
rl..se an impersonal law. We cannot
thank the hammers and saws that are
used 10 build our houses. plain man
says. God sends the rain and gives the
crops He is more exact, and His per-
s1ral cause makes occasion for thanks
giving Jesus said that God sends the
r..r. To "a costly gift comes 20 you from
friend, rrateful emotions rise in the soul
But 90 hysauder, seeing your mistake, IN
forms you hat ne has seen the machine
that made The giftl Such is the shallow,
scientific view OF the mercies Of our Coo.
The most serious hndrance Hes in our
selves: iu The absence Of determinate pur-
pose 90 be thankful. Like other Chris
IAN guces, this one refuses TO thrive on
laattention and neglect. Count your bless
lrei as the miser counts his gold, and
li your requests be made unto God with
thanksgiving.
Those churches Joining in the service
were First. Second Grace-Street' Calvary,
Emmanuel, Leigh-Street, and East-End.
Pine-street Service.
A large congregation assembled at Pine
y
Harrison preached the sermon. The sing
ihs was excellent and the sermon In
keeping with Mr.. Harrison's reputation OF
b-lug sound. forcoful and eloquent
SPEAKER. Among the reasons why we
should be thankful Mr.. Harrison men,
toned these:
A. Our Creator-He made all things for
Ills own glory. He made man, ana gave
MIN power over the beasts or the beId
We ought 20 render thanks TO Him as
His creatures. He deserves our thanks
f1r watching over ali things. His WIS
dom. power, goodness and love are all
manifested in His rule over the works OF
It's hands. He makes no mistake.
For what shall we thank HlmY Fol
common hlesslngs-sunshine and showers,
.easons Of sowing and reaping, abundant
harvest.
For personal Distinguishing made IN
me image OF Cod. saved by the grace OF
Cod. heirs Of God.
For all things Sometimes the dealings
~ the Lord seem hard. Like Jacob, we
mink all things are against us; but we
hear Him saying: "All things work TO-
Seiher for good 10 them that love God.
We should thank Him at all times. II
h right that we should respect the calls
OF the Executive OF the country and OF
lhe State. and meet I'm compliance with
their request once q year, but what IL
better stiIl. is 10 make every day a thanks
giying-day.
All our offerings must be made In the
name OF our Lord Jesus Christ without
Him we are cut off from God. II am the
way No man cometh unto the Fathei
but by me. Thanks be unto God for HIS
unspeakable gift"
A good sermon faster" said or MI
Fsrrison's discourse: 1T was appropfi