The sun., 1900-11-26
GREAT CROWD HEARS
REV.F B. SHORT At
THE OPERA HOUSE
Thanksgiving Service Held
There Last Night Was
Very Interesting.
A SERMON on GRATITUDE
Rev. Short Said We Ought to Pause
for One Day During the Year
at Least and Express
Our Gratitude
LEO God.

Ito God.
'Grntitudp' was the subject Of i most I
eloquent sermon delivered by Rev. H.
Bufgettc Short at the Thanksgiving Ser
vice held in the Opera House last even
ms ndel the auspices Of Epworth A E.
Church. The service throughout was
very Interesting one. There WAS excel.
lent singing by a chldren's choir ana \
double male quartet.
me Opera House was crowded tlesDita
me unpleasant weather. A large dela-
cation of members Of the Junior Ordr.
american Mechanics occupied seafs IN
the balcony. Rev. Short occasionally
holds services in the Opera House rs hiS
church is too small TO hold the pponlo
VINO desire to hear him when he holds |
special services Rev. Short took rs his
text: BE Ie Thankful" Col. 3I5. lie
said in part:
The President OF this great nation |
anu the Governors of the various States |
nave set apart next Thursday as a day |
for Thanksgiving to Almighty God for
his benificence to us during another year. |
This annual custom is surely well. We
ought to pause for one day during the
year, at least, and in sanctuary. and
year, at least and in sanctuary, and
, around festive boards and firesides and
1 express our gratitude to Him who hath
so wonderfully provided for us as a ma
. tion.
, THE spirit of gratitude should ever
l. abound in our breasts for the blessings
. come to us. And yet, despite them all
t how many of us are like the ten lepers
}, that the maker eleansed, of whom nine
!; passed on without expressing any thank
fulness My friends there is great deal
of ingratitude in the world-indeed en-
tirely too much. All of us are more or
less guilty of this charge, and it is my
- one and only purpose tonight to show the
: need of this almost lost yirtue-gratitude.
n what is gratitude? From our die
- tionary we learn that it is Il state of be-
4 ing grateful. But it is more than that
!. it is that condition of the mind and
Ia heart that not only feels grateful but
q also acts grateful.
This is a great and good country. We
believe it is the best land inthisworld
We love our institutions OF commerce
and educatiou: our civil and religious
az institutions are our pride and our boast
u But have we shown our love and sense
7u of gratitude to God for these blessings
y Have we once during the past week. OF
10 year sincerely said, o, Lord, thank thee
u u for the land in which / live. For the
90 noble and brave hearted souls, now a
rest, who made possible the blessings
now enjoy. Do we Furthermore show oul
gratitude by using our capabilities il
a. bettering the conditions of our home anG
nd native land?
hel Just Mt this point it might not be amiss
ayl to say that there are many excellent
er orders and organizations in our mids
el-l that are doing what they can to better
n-s the condition of mankind. Among thes,
ne we find with pleasure the Jr. o. u. A
Mechanics This order is doing grea
good and thereby showing gratitude tt
God for the blessing which this nation
:, enjoys. Gentlemen, l bid you God
u speed and bespeak for you great success
" in your desire to have our Bible read il
40 every public school while over il
=, 20 the Stars and Stripes float upon tn,
90 . breeze. Yes, for our national blessings
E. e. we should be profoundly thankful.
again | plead for more manifestation:
of gratitude in our homes Home. II
is the most beautiful word ever uttered
for with it are associated the words
Id father, mother, children, love, devotion
e. and self-sacriice. My young friends
p- what love, what devotion. and what self
ne sacrifice have been poured into our lives
'p- How the father has toiled! What KIND
ell ness the mother has bestowed. All FOL
us. Have we ever voiced our appreca
tion iii words or deeds? Have we ever
said: father. mother | thank you fol
Il your ten thousand kindnesses? Read the
rd story of Joseph's reception to his aGec
,se father when he visited the Court OF
i'll Pharoah: what filial gratitude is hereli
ira seen.
DIV How much gratitude we owe on
mothers? They are our constant com
nanions and friends, What sacrifices
tbcy have made for us, And still the!
are willing to make more. Misfortune
'er may befal us but mothers love vii
ass never forsake us.
A. young men and young women, fal
ce. not to pour your tokens of gratitude int
an the hearts and lives of your parents
1T, Speak to them kind Words do for then
kind deeds. BE We thankful" and mani
fest it to those in yourhome. Sad am
dark is that home where the words am
acts of gratitude are no longer spokel
10y and performed.
~. ~. Again | plead for more manifesto
~ tions of gratitude to God for the gif
of Jesus Christ. This is n debt tina
every denomination and tribe ap' pee
pie owe. The whole earth is feeling tn
mighty touch of the Christ-life. Th
ur- desert places of heathendom are. indeed
in taking on life, and the flowers of peac
,ay and love are blooming throughout tn
vas earth
why doHs America occupy her 9.