The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-25
THE DAY OF
THANKS.
It Was Largely Observed
in This City.

II was Largely observed
in This City.
Thanksgiving Day was celebrated with
more than usual interest yesterday. de.
spite the binding snow storm and raw
atmosphere. Weather conditions need
never affect the proper observance of the
great holiday, however for it is essentially
the home holiday, when the family gathers
together to give thanks In the privacy of
the homo for the blessings Of the year,
and end it all by eating the beautiful
Thanksgiving dinner which 10 perhaps
after the religious nature OF the day Is
considered, the feature Of par OK ;ellence
Of the celebration.
Undoubtedly there were more people
who were able to enjoy the typical turkey
dinner than there were last year, for the
twelve months leading up TO yesterday
were productive Of great blessings in the
shape Of widespread prosperity, which
meant work to the masses, and con se.
auently some OF the luxuriss which make
THANKSGIVING something more than q
mere name.
The rather heavy fall of snow during the
afternoon lent al aspect Of "reminiscences to
the day, and on appearance to surround
ings out of doors. which In these days are
rare indeed. We read sometimes in books
Of the Thanksgiving Day Of our grand
fathe when SOW storms were typical of
the season, but, alas for the mutability of
human affairs, how things are altered.
There were number of entertainments
of various kinds during the day and all
Of them were fairly attended, One of the
most enjoyable celebrations was that by
the Epworth League of Grace M. Il.
Church, which collected provisions from
various persons who contributed ard fur.
nished Thanksgiving dinner to num-
Der OF poor people who were to have them
and to allow them 10 prepare their own
dinners and to have it at the time that
they saw fit
Order during the day was excellent.
There was no disorder to amount to any
thing and there were few arrests. There
was little drunkenness and there was
noticeable improvement over the record
for the last Thanksgiving Day.
Next to the home gathering the church
services attracted the most attention.
The Methodist congregations worship.
ped In Union and Epworth Church. Presi-
ding Elder Watt preached the sermon from
the text Deuteronomy 49, %: Happy
art thou, 0 Israel, who is like unto thee
oh people, saved by the Lord, the shield of
thy help, and who is the sword OF thy ex-
cellency" etc.
DR.. Watt sal d in part: "Wo are as
sembed In the sanctuary ut the call Of our
hcnored President md also by the prompt.
ings of our ow hearts, to return thanks
to Almighty God for His providence over
us another year. There are two tendencies
at work in our national lire; let us con
slider them.
First The elements which menace the
stability of our institutions These are
~ Our hotero genious population (2) dis
trust between the rich and the poor; (O
the legalized rum traffic. This horrid thing
that feeds Oh dishonor and virtue that
luxuriates In widows tears, and orphans
cries, that walks exultantly over broken
hearts, and ruined lives and whose delight
is the nations woe, Is the rum troffic. But
brighter day is dawning. Public senti-
ment is being aroused. God is against it;
one day it shall be swept from the earth.
Second. Causes for renewed thankful
ness and hope: a. Increasing intelligence
and independence among the people;(2)
religious conditions II nnifying 90 the
relation of science to religion. These two
powers have joined hands across the cross
Of Christ and are the representative of one
commonly inspired truth, For all the
blessings we enjoy and for all the victor
les We have won, we are debtors to the Al
mighty God and while tho wlzardry Of
TINT flag has wrought so wonderful that
the sombre past gives place to q radiant
present, we must not forget that we owe
our greatness to the God of All Battles
And now let tho red cross of Calvary DO
embluzoncu OIL tho rod, white and blue,
and may thoir combined spirit pervnde
Our national life, then shall we bid defiance
to the serriod ranks Of n score of armies.
For they who put their trust in the Lord
shall never lie moved. And when our
national structure shall have been COM
pleted on its foundation stone we shall
read in letters of immortal spcudur:
'Righteousn ess eXaltelh Il nation, and on
its cap-stone: We are people whose God
is the Lord"
AT UNION.
Union congregation worshipped alone,
Pastor Hanna preached from the lO3d
Psalm, u review of Dtvid's merces from
God, which proved highly beneficial to
the congregation. An old time Metho-
dist NEE ing in which numerous thanks
were returned to God for his goodness
followed. The members of the church
contributed largely to the relief of needy
families, md enjoyed a supper In the
church in the evening.
THANKFUL BAPTlSrs
The Baptists held union services in
North Baptist Church. The sermon was
preached by Rev. o, G. Buddington Of
Be many baptist Church, There was
large attendance at the services.
Mr.. Burlington took AS his text Joshua
II, l4-l5: And tho children of Joseph
spake unto Joshua, saying: Why hast
thou given me but one lot, and one por-
ton TO inherit. seeing l am a great peo-
pie And Joshua answered them
Ii thou be great people, then get thee up
nto the wood country, and cut down for
thysef there in the land Of the Psrrlzites
and the giants"
Mr.. Ruddington, said that on y by Gods
favor are we what We are. Thunkfulness
to God becomes us on this national Thanks
giving Day for our greatness as people
Let us be thankful for the sense Of security
we feel from from nay foe. How force
fully it was illustrated IN the recent war.
When hosilitles were declared there were
thousands OF miles Of our sea coust with
hnrbors and great cities located on them
There YVES tbs opportunity for an enemy
with the resources of II 900 600 of upOplp 10