The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-25

adorned with large boquets. The past
or, Rev ]. b. Sweet, was in charge
and the church choir, led by Chorister
w. w. Jones, sang several anthems.
The service was opened with the
reading of a scripture lesson by Rev.
Thomas DeGruchy, pastor of the Jack
son street Baptist church. The lesson
was the one hundred and third psalm
Rev. s. F. Matthews. pastor of the
Scranton street Baptist church. offered
prayer.
The sermon was preached by Rev
j. =. Moffatt, pastor of the Washburn
street Presbyterian church. His text
was 20 Give Thanks Unto the Lord !:
for He Is Good: for His Mercy En-
dureth Forever" Psalm 136--1. His
sermon in part was as follows:
MIR. MOFFATT'S SERMON.
Thanksgiving Day Is peculiarly a New
England institution. About two hundred
and tiftY-siX years ago MassasOit ENJOY ed
Il Thanksgiving dinner with the PuritdnS
| Ten years later Governor Bradford )
small colony gave thanks for their de-
liNcranCe from starvation. Congress or
dered a day for nationals Thanksgiving
during thu Revolutionary war. Washing
ton recommended similar day when the
Constitution was adopted. President Lin-
coin followed the victories to our arms
with such a prcClamation. and since 1863
each year secs a similar proclamation Ivy
our president.
OF later years each governor of The sew
eral states issues Il proclamation to that
effect. Today we are carrying out both
the presidents and governors proclama-
tiOnS which set aside this day for the
purpose of giving thanks. Thus we Scc
| that the limited purpose of the original
day has now enlarged to national proper
tions. And, too, we have departed som '-
what from the austerc observance of the
early settlers and are apt to enjoy our
day in more superficial manner forget
ting the Great Giver, who does not for
get.
Today we have much to he thankful for.
First for spiritual blessings The bright
est day for mankind was when the mos
sage came from the angels at Bethany.
Second. for moral blessings. Those bless
inSs which help MS to remember God and
his good gifts to man. Third. for the
! Word of God. Therein lie teaches us how
to liVc and enjoy Ills blessings Through
this sacred Word we aIe given many
promises for our present and future hcnc-
! fit. The blessings and, indeed, the exist
| cnce of this republic itself will be guard
ed and secured by chcrishing the Bible.
THE BIBLE HELPS.
Let us, as Il Protestant nation, rCCo.E-
nizc from whence our blessings come, an!
| with Thanksgiving IN our hearts for those
blessings take no uncertain stand i'm re-
gard to this most vital question. | call
your attention t. the recent opinion hand
ed down by Judge II. NJ. Edwards. ancnt
the WaNerlN school case. The Bible helps
us 10 keep the Sabbath day holy.
w" should return thanks as a great
| nation. We marvel at the acComplish-
mcnts of the seven great empires of the
! East i'm ancient days. Eut we, of TO-DAY,
! i've in an age unCqualled in the history
of the world, and we live in Il nation alsl
unopGalled in the history of the worla.
| Few people realize how wondcrfully great
! III resources this land is. Add the five
| great monarchiCs of today to the soy
! crcign states Of Spain, Portugal. SwitZuv-
! land, Denmark and Greece and that ,X-
| panso OF territory would fit inside our
| boundaries. Read the late William Glad
stones opinion of us as nation.
The speaker then cited many sorts Of
statistics to develop the above idea
| lie spoke of the great mission a civil
| ized nation can have and what we can
| do. He concluded in directing his hear
| ers to he grateful for the much we
| already have, for what by right action
| VIII come in the future. and return
thanks with all our hearts to Him who
| ElNeth all things to his beloved