Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-01
THE PRAISES or GOD.
Rev. Dir. =. 4. steel breaches to n
Great Congregation ut Centenary.

Rev. Dr. =. 4. steel breaches to a
Great Congregation ut Centenary.
ra. M,thodists Of the city had their
union service at Centenary church. a
great audience was present, and heard
.. .lls sermon by the new pastor, Rev.
I- samuel A. Steel.
Ur Steel took "a his text: 90, give
.-uhs unto the Lord, for He Is good; for
i. mercy eudureth forever.
..... J.
After speaking of the custom OF observ-
i, 3D. day Of thanks as a beautiful one,
l- Steel said:
$40 have abundant reason 70 give
hanks 10 God-hrst, for the prosperity
that has marked the present year. We
have had abundant harvests. Plenty has
.rOwuOd our labOrs. The earth has yield
cd her increase. and we have harvested
ono Of tho largest crops America mas
aver known. This abundance has not
f..n confined 10 localities. but Is general
ar8ughout the country. on the Atlantic
-.t0.rd and tho Pacific slopes, IN Michi-
,.anl Mississippi on the vast plains OF
- and t.e far valleys of Oregon is
90. s.rs story of fields bending under
r weight ot their glorious fruitage.
-.sre a...e boasts a crop OF over $780,
a.... ~ corn. There has been
revival in trade. The railroads
Iv able TO handle tho business
\0untry The activity IS in an de-
r. mills. factories furnaces, and
Hrywhere the stir Of prosperous
Wages have advanced and
Euproyed. The laboring men are
4. a.. and the capitalist cannot COM
fn When we remember the condition
1a.a q few years ago, with banks
credit waverins gold hiding
t pended strikes paralyzing labor,
.rI .a discomfort threatening as
r..l PEW ution. we may well be grateful
t. stability and prosperity OF this
tina
MANY REASONS FOR REJOICING.
L.- us Doe grateful for our country.
There are many reasons why We. as
.a should rejoice. Nowhere else on
.r.. perhaps, can we find seventy-fvo
OF people living In the freedom
HapDiness that bless the United
....s 10 is due 10 our Christian civil
ln 90 the prevalence of The moral
r.uont I'm our social lifes and the in-
n.. NJ those religious ideas and insti-
rr..s which conserve and support the
r.s interests OF men. IL is true tnat
tre far from being a religious nation.
h. s deplorable corruption I'M high
and n law The frequency of
..r.e OBJ. secuiarizing Of the sabbath
aUles ness. the race conflict. the
a problem. the liquor traffic. the
r.Waed cities, all these are dark
spots on Our country. and breed
Il.r.e and death 20 our people. But
..r ....nst each and an OF them we
r.r mo rho vigorous, moral earnestness
.ses them, and will never cease
oppose them. our institutions are
rites assured, our national pres
ushed, our domain SO great that
song on one side Of our country
Hll the evening hymn on the
.l the sun never sets on the
Livery man sits in quiet and
t... under his own vine and hgtree
Ia is not happy it is his own
TGg CHIEF OF GIFTS.
Above A .st us praise God for His
ut n All nature proclaims
written on the earth be-
h our . and the sky above our
Dr. r.bed on every lear ana
DO Whispers in every breeze ana
n.r stream. and roars In
a. -hunders I'm the storm.
..e star that gems the
and burns IN every
ln is O monument OF
m the grain OF sand
to the mighty orbs
a ne depth of space.
Ie f.e ciowning achieve
'r Iof. THE sevenfOid eff
" divinity i seen i'm the Son
gram IT'D. un.r glory Of the god
roy -'d DID, fae miracle Of re-
calvary D.rhanf. the uni
Angels a. w.I as men. bend
'-eI'e wonder oEor tlo infinite