The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-01

Chioh lHduhSEiNlhb StiNiNtS NtlS
conducted in the Christian church on
North Main avenue yesterday morning
at 1890 o'clock. An exceptionally large
audience was present. The church
was beautifully decorated with palms
and chrysanthemums.
The following programme, already
printed in these columns, was given:
Doxology, congregation; invocation,
Rev. George Z. Guild; hymn, congre-
cation; scripture reading, Rev. Will
liam Edgar; Thanksgiving prayer,
Rev. S. j. Reese; anthem, choir: Of
fering; sermon, Rev. S. G. Reading;
hymn, congregation; benediction, Rev.
George e. Guild.
Rev. Mr.. Reading took as his SUBJ
Ject, THE Growth of National Glory
and spoke in part as follows:
Nations, as individuals. are apt TO
glorify in forbidden objects. We are
apt to prize the seen above the un-
seen; to glory in the gift, rather than
in the Giver.
Nor are we as a nation entirely
free from this weakness. We are in
clined to glory in our ancestry an1
origin. 1t is a cause of gratitude that
while this country was to be settled
by emigrants, that these emigrants
were not the offscourings of the
earth, but the very bone, sinew, intel
lect and industry of the best popula-
tion of the Caucasian race. Our
fathers were men of renown and deter
mination.
yet let us not forget that the prin-
ciples of our fathers were noble, but
often narrow; their practice was excel
lent, but some times exclusive; enough
so to mar and obscure their glory.
No unqualified praise is not their to re-
ceive, nor is it our duty to bestow.
Let no man glory in men,
I'VE boast of this being the land of
the free and the home of the brave,
vet with it all there is much to fill us
with alarm and deepest concern over
sins and infirmities are many. National
sins mean first, weakness, then decay,
| and lastly destruction.
! 1T is not only Gods due, but it is
! our duty and our interest t. render
| Him all praise. Compare the nations
that honor God with those who dis
honor Him. How striking the con-
trast! One elevated and the other de.
graded. How true it Is that righteous
ness exalts a nation. but sin is a re-
proach to any people: The national
character will never rise above the
object of national worship. God has
been recognized.
1T is to the influence of christianity
that we owe all we are above the ma
tions that are in heather darkness ant
growing vice. While we have faller
far below our duty to God, yet God has
I,
people and acknowledged in the ofiicia
acts of government.
From the days when Columbus anc
his followers knelt on this shore anC
kissed the ground and shed tears o
gratitude and rendered thanks unto
the God of ALL up to this last procla
nation by the president, calling fo
thanksgiving, there has been continued
recognition of God.
MAY it ever be so. May We as /;
nation set up our banners in the nam
of Cod This is our only hope ant
safety. Without this the nations ar
mics, statesmen and civiliza ton woult
have gone down in long and d!sma
array; and unless this nation cease
to glory in itself and glorias in Co
only it will go to the rocks and founde
there. The nations that will not serv
God must perish, and all human states
manship cannot prevent it.
I'VE have abundant reason to rende
thanks unto the Giver OF all good, as
nation, as a community, and as indi
viduals. The good hand of God ha
been upwards, and plenty has crownet
the revolving year; all calling 70
heartfelt thanksgiving unto that Co
who is glorious in holiness, fearful Il
praise, doing wonders"