The times., 1898-07-11
THANKsGIV|RGf FOR VICTORY
Many Pastors Yesterday Comply
With the Presidents Request.
THE DEVOTION OF THE BRAVE
GaTIantry On Field and In Fleet
Remembered by Appreciatiye
Hearts i'm Beautiful Observance
"A Special Program for the oc-
casiOn at st, Marks Pro-Cathe-
draI-

Yesterday was observed as day of
thanksgiving for victory in many of the
churches Of the city. in accordance with
the request or the President contained
in the proclamation issued on July 6.
In keeping with the spirit of that in
strument there were mingled with the
songs and prayers of thanks for the vic
tories which have been vouchsafed the
American arms the orisons of the bowed
worshipers that the gallant defenders
OF the nation 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
striving 10 uphold their country's honor
The observance was a beautiful one, and
it displayed the strength of the cord OF
sympathy that binds the people of the
nation together. particularly in the hour
OF darkness and Of war. There were tears
in the eyes of many of those persons
who thus appealed to the throne Of
heavenly grace, as their minds turned To
the devotion of the brave who sank into
eternal rest amid the bursting of shell,
the booming Of cannon. the cheers of the
combatants, and the groans of the
wounded and dying.
The thanksgiving exercises at st. Mark 5
Pro-Cathedral were attended by an un-
usually large congregation. The service
consisted of the responsive reading Of
psalms and the prayers for thanksgiving
after victory. The sermon was preached
by the rector, Rev. DR.. W. L. Devries,
who spoke upon religion and education
and the need Of more perfect secular
training, necessitated by the responsible
ties which confront the people as a result
of the war
Among the congregation were many del
egates to the convention of the National
Educational Association, who listened TO
the discourse with the closest attention.
The special prayer for the occasion was
as follows:
@, Almighty God, the Sovereign Com
mander Of all the world, in whose hand is
power and might, which none is able TO
withstand, we bless and magnify thy
great and glorious name for this happy
victory. the whole glory whereof we do
ascribe 10 thee, who art the only giver OF
victory And, we beseech thee, give Us
grace 10 improve this great mercy 10 thy
glory, the advancement OF thy gospel. the
honor Of our country. ana. as much as in
us lieth, TO the good of all mankind. And,
we beseech thee, give US such a sense OF
this great mercy as may engage us 10 a
true thankfulness, such as may appear in
our lives by an humble, holy and obedient
walking before thee all our days; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom, with
thee and the Holy Spirit. as for all thy
mercies. so in particular for this victory
and deliverance be all glory and honor
world without end. Amen
The Offering, which was for the benefit
Of the District soldiers who are sick in the
hospital at Chickamauga, was unusually
large.
Al the Calvary Baptist Church, DR.. s
II. Greene read the Presidents procla-
nation and delivered a patriotic address.
He referred to the condition of the Cubans
before the present revolution began and
traced the course OF the Presidents Of the
United States in the matter up TO the
present day. He described the effect that
Dewey's victory has had on the Euro
pean nations and expressed the belief
that the prestige of our country in the
East is established. He said that there
could be only one result of the war-the
complete subjugation Of the Spaniards-
and that the American victory would estab-
lish a new era in the history Of the world.
DR.. Greene then said that every Ameri-
can heart responded TO the President 5
request that the day be devoted 10 Civ
ing thanks TO God for the victories OF
The American arms and that prayers
should be offered for the absent who
were on distant fields fighting to sustain
the nations honor.
Rev. Frank SeweIl read the proclama-
tion Of President Mckinley al the New
Church. corner of Sixteenth and Corcorar
Streets. in the morning and expressed
the hope that every true American would
not only not cease to pray for the com
plete triumph of the American arms
abroad but would petition the God OF
battles that the war might come to 2
speedy termination and that no more
lives be sacrificed. He also said that il
would be only just and generous to pray
thar our enemies might be shown the
error OF their way and that benighted
Spain should have its eyes opened to tn,
truth Of the present situation.
We should thank God, he said, '.fol
the victories at Santiago and Manila, anC
should pray that the heroes of those bat
ties may be spared in order that the,
might receive the honors that a gratefu
country is eager TO bestow upon them
AT the First Baptist Church Rev. DR.
Charles A Stakeiy said that in response
to the proclamation Of the President the
services Of The morning would be devoted
10 giving thanks 10 God that the arms
OF the United States had been victorious
in the battles that had so far been fought
IN this war Of humanity Sc said that il
was impossible that il could have been
Otherwise, as this nation had been plung.
ed INTO war TO avenTe the persecution and
the suffering Of the miserable inhabitants
OF the island of Cuba This was not a
war Of conquest, said DR.. Suakely. but
u was deereed in heaven that this ma
zion should become a leader Of the ma
tions OF the earth, and that the independ.
ent spirit OF the United States should be-
felt by people that ever had been Oh.
pressed.
The thanksgiving services at Hamlin,
NJ. Z. Church yesterday were attended b,
a congregation which taxed the seating
capacity OF the vast auditorium and gal
leries Of that ediiice 10 the utmost Tn,
sermon was preached by the Rev. W. r
Stricken. the pastor, who took for hi:
theme, Divine Providence in Nationa
History" Dr. Stricken used as his tex
Samuel l., 7-l2-"Hitherto hath the Lor,
helped US"
IN developing his subject, DR.. strickler
said II was evident that there was a Di
vine Providence guiding the dumb ami
mails, the birds and the beasts. as well a
watching over and directing intelligent be
ings. The American intelligence of his
tory. he said is Voicad IN the single cap