The Portland daily press., 1898-09-05
THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE.
Rev. DR.. Blanchard at Congress Square
Church.

There was large congregation at Con-
gress SQUARE church yesterday morning,
for it was the first Sunday after vacation
in the first place and in the second, Rev.
DR.. Blanchard's subject was one OF great
interest at this time.
The doctor took for his subject:
Thanksgiving for Peacs and his text
was from Psalms I. 2S, "Whosever
offereth praise glorifieth me, and to him
that ordered his conversation Alright WILL
show the salvation of God" The
preacher said that one of the benefits we
hoped would arise from the war was q
lasting peace for the world, and that the
carnage and costliness had been such that
the nations of Europe In the future would
hesitate to draw the sword. Another
point dwelt upon was that the war shows
that the general statement, SO currently
believed, that men are selfish and in
terested for themselves alone, Is faise;
that the men who were with Dewey at
Manila and with Shafter at Santiago
were not fighting for themselves but
sacrificing themselves for the good of
others. The preacher dwelt upon the
hroism displayed in all ranks from the
highest officer to the private soldier. deeds
that were not emhlazoned in the public
prints but recorded in the private corre-
spondence Of soldiers.
In his mind, the speaker said, the war
was inevitable and justifable. in that
the Spanish sense of honor could be satis-
fed in no other way than by war. The
history Of Spain from Charles v. to the
present time Is history of military glory
and in carrying out its theories it is a
history of oppression and of the Inquisi-
ton. Philip thought it would be o
glorious thing to invade England and
hang whoever he pleased, and SO extermi-
nate heresy. This war has givensforce to
the statement that without the shedding
of blood there is no remission of sins;
that Spain is paying the penalty for tho
years Of cruelty and oppression by the
loss of her best blood. the flower other
race, and her most valued colonies. But
with regard to this war with Spain 1t has
taught us to respect our adversaries. for
the fact that Spain was ready to make
war with the United States With pros
peot of certain defeat was heroic although
there was touch Of folly in 1t. ~
The preacher said that while he did not
20 so far as some who declared this to be
holy war he still insisted that it was
justiflable war: justifiable in that-it was
fought in the interest of humanity.
In conclusion DR.. Blanchard said that
thanksgiving for peace should be accom-
panied by prayer; prayer for Spain that
she may learn from the lessons the war
had taught that her future greatness
would depend on her emancipation from
the power of the church, the giving edu
cation to her peoples, and increased at
tention to agriculture and manufactures,
prayer for the United States government
that it shall see to it that foreign nations
enjoy all the benefits that we enjoy as far
as the power lies with them. The doctor
said that he was an imperialist, not a
lingo, and he believed strongly in the
views presented by Mr. Olney. ex-Secre-
tary of State.
The music was fine and was rendered
by the choir, composed of Mrs. Fellows,
Mrs. Horgan, Messrs. Barnard and Har-
mon.