The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-29

MUSIC WAS VERY FINE
TIE SERMONS WE'RE OF y HIGH
ORDER.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ORPHANAGES
Rev. E. C. Glenn, Who Preached at the Union
Service, Strongly Endorsed the Pol
icy of Expansion. Or. Mar.
shalPs Sermon.

icy of Expansion. Or. Mar.
shaIrs Sermon.
Thanksgiving Day was, perhaps, never
50 generally observed in Raleigh as il
WAS yesterday.
Crisp and sunshiny the weather was
al that could be deSired-an ideal
Thanksgiving day. The sunshine was A
bright reminder of the many good
things sent 10y an all-wise Providence:
the cold winds suggested the appropriate
ness of doing something for those who
have not been 50 bountifully blessed.
Al banks and public offices were
closed, many merchants suspended bust
ness. special services were held in the
churches. extra fine dinners were serv-
ed in private homes and at hotels, the
turkey always occupying Il conspicuous
place on the menu. Then there was Il
football game and finally IN inter-colle-
%iate debate.
Altogether it was Il great day in Raj
cigh-onc Of the greatest Thanksgiving
days the city has even seen.
And what is best of all. amid the mcr-
ry-making and good eating. the widow
and the orphans were not forgotten. and
hearts and purses alike We're opened To
the poor. At all the churches special
collections were taken for these pur-
poses.
However reluctant You may be to
enter Il church on the regulariy-recur-
ring tifty-tWo Sundays in the year.
YOU would find it not unintcreSting. az
we'll rs beneficial, to occupy Il 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 n~eighbors from the club-Window
standpoint.
But | think yesterday YOU would not
nave found the atmosphere Of one of
ltaleigh's many houses of Worship alto
gether unpleasant. There are reasons
why You would nave enjoyed it on yes
tcrday'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 Il religious holiday. And
for this reason the scrvicrs-sermons
and singing-arc always Of Il special
character.
For instance the sermon | heard yes
terday was full of good things: and so
delightfully."- was it delivered that some
how it reminded me all along of Il poem.
rigorous in thought, but metrical in eX-
preston. Under the spell of the preach
er's voice and words faces i'll the congrc-
CATION underwent Il change. Those that
were hard and bitter assumed an ex-
preston of love and liberation: those
that were young grew tender and lumin-
full and satisfied.
There was no striving for sensation
or effect, there WAS nothing harsh or
bitter III the voice that was speaking
clear as crystal. resonant as Il bell. 1t
was the voice of love and that, perhaps.
was why it 50 easily penetrated the
veneer of cynicism that cloaks SO many
hearts.
Surely hearing such Il sermon WOuld
have been worth your while.
The anthem Of the day was q 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 i'll joyous praise. Its har-
monies rose and tioated through the
place. wooing the senses to rest and the
heart to peace.
This alone would have repaid your
trouble of Il trip to church.
Then there We're the people. Perhaps
You love to watch folks. There are all
sorts to be found in a church congrega-
ton, as in any other large crowd.
There to the left is Il prosperous look
ing old gentleman. He is groomed like Il
thoroughbred, and his jolly face, bald
head and snow-Whitc mustache make
him not altogether bad looking. Though
at first sight you might take him to be
Il hard and aCsterc man." if YOU will
watch him for a moment you'll see that
he utters his responses carefully and
promptly. looks all men square in the
face, and when you catch his eye he
has a pleasant smile and kindly nod of
the head for YOU.
\ wholly bad man could not be guilty
Of these things.
Near him are two little girls. with
furrcd cloaks and broad. brimmed hats.
They have large. serious eyes and
mouths like June rose-buds. Watch
Their innocent interest in the service
Their yellow curls and porcelain com
pleAlons are frightened by the sweetest
OF smiles up into your eyes.
These things warm the cookies out OF
your hardened and scared old heart. and
you confess to yourself its worth having
gone to church.
You watch Il sunbeam filter itself
through Il stained window. The slant
ing. softened rays fall upon the head o,
Il 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 an,
bourgeonS into many @littering tints T
is now Il shimmering rainbow Of sc,rIa
and gold. The Young face is fair ,s .
saints. of course: for plain girls ncve
90 to church. Ii they do they consider
atelv keep out of the sunlight.
Who will say this sight is not wortI
having gone anywhere to see.
Or that mothers there, with her chill