The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-01
THE METHOOlSTS.
Rev. ID, steele Tells How the Nation is
Blessed.

Rev, DI, steele Tells HOW tue NdtiOh -
Blessed.
The Methodlsts had q Union Thanks
giving service az Ccnenary church. \
large audience heard Rev. DIT 5. \.
Steel preach. His text WAS Psalm lOi-l;
O. give thanks unto the Lord, Tor ne Is
good for His mercy onduTeth forever
DR.. Steel said iu part: 10 is beautiful
custom established now boy Ions usage as
a part OF American life. for the Prcsi-
dent Of the United states TO designate
one day in the year and invite all the
people 90 unite in the grateful worship
OF Almighty God as the glver OF all
good. We have assembled this morning
in response to this invitation and in
concert with millions % our fellow cit
liens. to offer praise TO the Most High
for all lis benefits.
SOURCE OF BLESSINGS.
The recognition of God as the source OF
all our blessings b. one Of the highest
duties OF the Christian. for in him We
live and move and have our being. Graft
itude is one of tho nOblest sentiments
that can animate the human mind. 1t
Yields the largest revenue Of happiness.
IL clears the clouds Of dependency from
the sky Il reyives hope IN our hearts.
II imparts strength TO our hearts. recon
Giles us TO our lot, sweetens our toll.
and diNuses a divine radiance through all
the avenues of life
We have abundant reason 20 give
thanks to God first for the prosperity
that has marked the present year. We
have had abundant harvests. Plenty has
crowned our labors. The earth has yield
ed her increase. and we have harvested
one Of the largest crops America has ever
known. This abundance has not been
confined 10 localities. but is general
throughout the country. On the Atlantic
Soaboard and the Pacific slopes, in Mich
igan and Mississippi on the vast plains
of Texas and the far valleys of oregon,
IS the same story OF fields bending under
the weight of their glorious fruitage.
Kansas. alone. boasts crop OF over
three hundred and sixty million bushels
of corn. There has been a marked re-
vival I'm trade. The railroads are hardly
able 10 handle the business Of the coun-
try. The activity is i'm all departments;
mills. factories. furnaces and mines-eve-
rvWhere the stir OF prosperous industry.
Wages have advanced and prices inn
proved. The laboring men are cheerful
and the capitalist cannot complain. When
We remember the condition Of things a
few years ago. with banks falling, cred
10 wavering gold hiding, trade suspended
strikes paralizng labor. and general dis
content threatening us with revolution. we
may well be grateful for the stability
and prosperity Of this time.
CAUSE OF GRATITUDE.
let us be grateful for our country
There are many reasons why We. as
people. should rejoice. Nowhere else on
earth. perhaps. can we find seventy-hVe
millions Of people living in the freedom
and happiness that bless the United
States. IL Is due 20 our Christian civil
lization. 10 the prevalence of the moral
sentiment in our social life. and the inilu-
encc of those rel gious ideas and institute
lions which conserve and support the
true interests Of men. II + true that we
are FAR from being a religious nation.
There is depl0rable corruption In high
places and IN law. The frequency OF d.
v0rce. the eecularizing of the Sabbath.
the lawlessness. the race conflict the
Mormon problem. the liquor traffic, the
overcrowded cities. all these arc Dark
plague spots on our country, ana Dreed
pcstilence and death 20 our people. BUT
over against each and ail of them we
may set the vigorous, moral, earnestnoss
that opposes them, and will never cease
TO oppose them. Our institutions are
safe liberties assured, our national pres
teee established. our domain so great that
morning song on one side OF our country
blends with the evening hymn on the
other and the sun never sets on the
flag. Every man sets in quiet and safety
under his own vine and fig tree and II he
IS not happy IL is his own fault.
GODS LOVE.
Above all let ms praise God for His
"a inns
His love il rs written on the earth be-
Meath our feet and the sky above our
heads. II is inscribed on every leaf and
flower. 1t whispers I'm every breeze ana
murmurs I'm every stream. ana r1ars in
every ocean and thunders iu the storm
II sparkles IN every star that gems the
vault Of heaven, and burns in every
rolling sun Creation IS a monument Of
the love Of God from the grain Of sand
on the seashore to the mighty orbs
wheeling through the depth OF space.
Rut- the cross is the GROWING achieve
mont of infinite love The seven-fold ef-
fulgance Of divinity IS seen in the Son
Of Man. The inner glory OF the god
head is revealed i'm the miracle OF re-
demntion. Calvary onchanis the uni
verse Angels as well as men, bend with
adoring wonder over the infinite mys-
terry Of the love that found way 10
save a sinful world.
God. I'm the person OF His Son.
Has all His mghtest works outdone."
20 for such love. let fields and hills
Threatening silence break.