The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-01

Thaulfulnsss- Rev. Messrs, Hark-
ness schwarm, Birmingham and
Others Deliver Discourses.
In several OF the churches yesterday
morning. Thanksgiving Day services
were held, and at all the congregations
were large. The music was a feature
everywhere. AT the Second PresbyteF-
ian church, the congregations of the
First and, Second and United Presby-
terrain churches united. The sermon
was by Rev. Joseph speers, pastor of
the Second church, who said:
Thanksgiving is defined as an ac-
acknowledgement and conressIng with
giadness, the benefits and mercies
which Cos bestows either upon our
selves or others
The Psalmlst asked. What shall 1
render unto God for all his benefits to-
ward me?9 and we hear, as 1t were,
the Apostle Paul answering him across
the centuries. in his letter to the Ephe-
slams. $3.50, giving thanks always for
all things in the name of our Lord Je-
sus Christ, to God" and experimenting
this in his letter to the Thesslans,
5:l1-1s. Rejoice always, pray without
ceaslng, in everything give thanks, for
this Is the will OF God in Christ Jesus
to you-ward." 1t is to this sage advice
given by the apostle, would direct
your attention this Thanksgiving Day
In the year Of our Lord, 1899.
In the closing days OF the century as
well as In the closing days OF this year,
Thanksgiving day" has peculiar sig
nificance as
I'VE sit In the swing Of thought,
And lelSurely TO and fro,
We swing to the future and down TO the
And back to the long ago.
The sunbeams cleaning bright,
on the future their Glories throw,
And the. present IS chequered with shadow
But dark in the long ago"
When the FIRST "Thanksgivlng" day
was celebrated in the wilderness in
the midst Of the deepest disappointment
when earth and Bky and sea seemed to
be arrayed against them, but their
faith In God was as deep and abiding
amid the drought and scarcity, as when
in q land beyond the seas they commit
ted their all to His guiding hand and
INFINITE wisdom, so that they might
worship and serve Him according to
the dictates OF their heart and con-
science. In new country.
Year by year. that memorable
Thanksgiving has been repeated, and
from that day to the present has car
ried its serene joys to an ever widening
circle.
Thanksgiving day is peculiarly an
American Institution, confined for two
hundred years to the New England
states. 1t has reached out into all the
land, until to-day 1t touches the ends
Of the earth with Its benign influence.
Year by year since President Lincoln
Isused the first real presidential! proc
lamation for a Thanksgiving day In ac-
cOrdanca with the time-hOnored New
England idea, and in the spirit of the
old Pilgrim fathers, the Presidents OF
the United States have called upon the
people to celebrate this grand, and we
might truly say. Divine institution, and
are not the words Of the apostle appTo-
PIRATE for the day, Rejoice always:
pray without ceaslng, In everything
give thanks, for this Is the will Of God,
in Christ Jesus to you-ward."
Casting the mind over the century
now drawing to n close, think of the
mighty changes, discoveries and adj
vancements that have been made
which time will not permit US to re-
count. but for which we have grent
cause to rejoice and to give thanks all
ways to God In the name OF Jesus
Think of the changes In govern
ments. In geography, Of the wonderful
discoveries and inventions, the adj
vancement in civilization. In learning
in all that makes the Tong ago" seem
rough and unlovely, yet, withal. the
long ago stands rs a background OF
stern, immovable integrity, loyalty,
reverence, patriotism, heroism, which
towers grandly above the foreground
Of the pictures IN our mInds-eye OF "the
present cheQuered with shadow and
gold"
Year by year! How our memory as
socIates special experiences with GER
tain events, seasons, and days. AS the
season or day returns, the event Is re-
called and sometimes the Impressions
awakened by 1t have apparently all
their original sharpness,
As n nation we have our memorial
days, our historic landmarks, We cele-
brate washlngton's birthday. Indepen-
dence day, Decoration Day, even as In
the home. where the domestic life Is
diversified. by birthdays. and bridal
days and the more solemn and sad re-
turn OF the day in which we laid in the
"lRng hame' a loved form.
TO say do not know. ] cannot re-
member the fact or feature Of such &C.
caslOns, leads one to infer the lack of
those sensitive elements which go to
make up the real beauty of life. There
are grave and important lessons to
learn from the habit Of family and ma :
tional life, in keeping In memory notn-
BILE events. by appropriate observances.
As we review the past. Our memories
cling to those experiences In which the
heart had part. those which have
touched its springs Of Joy and grief;
those events which are linked with our
heart life, and show the power of af-
lection In the soul. We may cultivate
all the powers OF mind and body to the
highest possible degree Of eXCellenCy,
but after all we find heart culture Is
supreme, for In this we cultivate love,
which brings us nearer to Him who IL
perfect In love, for love is OF God, and
the love OF God has been bountifully
displayed to us and to the nation, not
only during this year, but all through
the years OF the century drawing TO a
close. for which we should rejoice with
exceeding Joy, giving thanks for all
things In the name Of our Lord Jesus
Christ, Not only for the bright, pros