The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-30
UNION THANKSGIVING.
The Baptist, Presbyterian and Christian Unite
to Give Thanks.

The Baptist, Christian, and Presby-
terrain churches were all represented at
the Union Thanksgiving service held this
morning in the First Presbyterian church.
DR.. Eugene Daniel conducted the service
making a few opening remarks upon the
fitness of such union of thanksgiving
for the many blessings received.
A choir composed of members of the
choirs from the three churches repre-
scented led the singing of hymns in the
intervals between the addresses of the
different pastors. DR.. Daniel called upon
Rev DR.. A. w. Curtis, of the Congrega
tional church, for the opening prayer
Rev. DR.. A. A. Marshall, pastor of the
First Baptist church, then spoke on "Our
National Blessings He said in part:
Our gathering thus together and rem
dering thanks to God is most appropriate,
being an acknowledgment of our recogni
tion of the power of a Supreme Being in
the world now as well as in the days
Of old. God is present in all the affairs
of individuals and nations. AS we stand
at the close of the century and look back
al the manifold blessings we have re-
ceived, there is every reason for us as a
nation to give thanks. From the condi-
ton of a few struggling colonies, we now
occupy an enviable position among the
nations of the earth. Today the United
States is the most powerful of nations
We have seen Spain lapse into the con-
dition of secondary or third rate nation
We see Italy struggling with conditions
for which there seems no remedy. Ger
many is being honeycombed with the in
sidious doctrine of socialism. England is
graphing with difficulties abroad and at
home. But our own land, having passed
through commercial and financial distress,
is now enjoying a peace and prosperity
not had for years past. Perhaps never
has there doomed up before us a greater
national prosperity especially bestowing
it's gifts upon the Southland. in which
our own State is taking foremost posi-
ton. North Carolina is one of the first
in number of manufactures, and the first
in number of cotton mills. For all these
blessings to the nation we should rem
der thanks
Rev. M. w. Butler, pastor of the Chris
tian church, then took up the subject
of ftOur Religious Blessings" He called
attention to the fact that in most of our
blessings we are the benefciaries of the
labors of our forefathers. I'VE are the
fortunate heirs of the ages. The bless
ings we receive were handed down tc
US through the sufferings and the blood
of others.
THE root of religious culture is men
Man is naturally religious. God has pro-
vided for mans physical and intellectual
life, but he has made far more wonder
full provision for his spiritual life. We
feel proud of our nation, of our national
blessings, but we ought to be specially
thankful for our spiritual blessings. The
glory of our educational institutions is
that they have been touched by Chris
tianity. Formerly the individual existed
for the State; wherever the gospel anC
Christianity have gone, the state exists
for the individuals. Education wlthou
the Christian religion is curse.
The next subject was 'Our Educationa
Blessings" upon which Rev W. d. Hub.
bard, of the Tabernacle Baptist church
spoke. He said he was in the right place
to speak on such a subject. in the center
of so many great educational blessings
There is no doubt that Internationally Tho
world is seeing its best day. People sa.
there are no more Shakespeares, Bacons
Tennysons, or Lowells; no more grea