The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-11-30
THANKSGIVING SERMON
PREACHED BY REV. A. F.. HOOPER
IN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Apprcciative Congregation.
Text; Psalms iiT; 2o-He hath not dealt so
with any nation.
To devout Tsraelite there was no
more inspiring theme than a review of
his nations history and his nations
greatness. And well he might; for he
would be recreant to the principles which
were held by the founders of his nation
did he not rejoice In the fact that Israel
was peculiarly Gods nation, that his peo
pie were anelect people. that God indeed
worked nightly In bringing his people
from a condition Of bondage to that Of
liberty and honor and power and glory
But David only echoed the thoughts
Of Moses when he composed this beauti-
ful psalm. Long before the Psalmist's
day Moses had sung Of Gods wonderful
mercy and power
"For ask now Of the days that are
past which we're before thee, since the
day that God created man upon the
earth. and ask from the one side Of
heaven unto the other, whether there
hath been any such thing as this great
thing is. or hath been heard like it,
| did ever people hear the voice Of
God speaking out Of the midst Of the
fire, rs thou hast heard, and live?
''Or hath God assayed to go uut and
take him n nation from the midst Of
another nation by temptations, by signs,
and by wonders. and by war. and by Il
mighty hand and by stretched out
arm, and by great terrors according to
| nj that ha ,cl EpI liA far
In Egypt before your eyes.'--Deut. 4:
32-A.
o happy nation, to be the special OBJ
ject Of the divine watchfulness, beneath
whose wings Israel might nestle with
the happy consciousness that though
the heather might rage, threaten and
assault. yet no harm could come to the
loved ones as long rs they remained un-
der that protection.
1t is my purpose to bring before you
preparation and growth of American
nationality that ought tO bring forth
Thanksgiving from every truly loyal
heart. The hand OF God Is evident In
American history. Equally. though in
q different way. America with Israel,
is chosen nation. There are great
many things that show US that God did
really intend that America should bring
forth fruits Of peculiar kind
i. The very position of the country,
isolated as it is In its situation, shows
that He who created the land and tho
sea must have placed America where he
did for u grand purpose. To the East
and to the West there extend vast bod
les of water that formed an impossible
barrier to the navigators OF the early
times. Their ships we're incapable Of
combating with the mountain waves OF
the furious ocean. So the people we're
confined to the lands then known until
they had fought out the battles neces-
sary to prepare them for the new land
beyond the sea. Invention was in its
infancy. Their ships were Of such a
kind that they could not venture far
from the land. When nation was pit
ted against nation and people against
people II was very necessary that the
veil of mystery be drawn over this new
land until men had come to recognize
those higher principles OF brotherhood
and love that ought to govern the ac-
tions OF mankind. II these elements OF
strife were transported across the ocean
the condition Of things would have been
the same as they were in the lands from
which they came. But America, from
its very isolation and distance, was pre-
served for scenes OF different kind, for
people Of a different nature and people
with different purpose.
Ought we not to thank God even for
our loneliness sometimes. We know
not what He is preparing for us, we
know not what grand purpose He has
in view for us in the future. II our
loneliness teach us the value of His
friendship, years are not wasted In wait-
ing; for we know that from the sad
silence Of years shall rise the glad hills
OF our land Of promise beckoning us on
ward with the hand of hope to the
enjoyment that Is made all the more de-
licious for the waiting and the silence
more harmonious in contrast to the
strains OF heavens music. There were
green fields and delicious fruit in Amer.
lea that might have been enjoyed long
years before they were, but God had a
purpose in drawing the veil over this
unknown land until, in the fulness Of
time, His purposes were brought to
pass.
II. Gods remarkable dealings with
this country may be seen also from the
noble men that God brought over as
pioneers into this country.
1t is impossible to estimate the infu-
ence that countrys position has in de
termining the character Of its people.
Any ono looking over the map Of Europe
can see how true this is. At the North