The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-30
THE DAY OF THANKS.

Generally Observed in This City and
Many Homes Made Bright by
Family Reunions.
Yesterday was generally observed in
this city and it's environs In accord
ance with the proclamations issued by
the president of the United States and
the governor of Pennsylvania as day
of thanksgiving. Many hearts were
lifted up In devout praise to Hin who
doeth all things we'll and who has
blessed the nation and the homes with
such abundance during the past year.
AT the Berean Baptist church Il large
congregation was present, the largest,
in fact, in some years on Thanksgiv-
ing Day. The congregations ofs the
Baptist, Methodist, Congregational and
Presbyterian churches held n united
Thanksgiving service in this handsome
stone edifice, and the various pastors
took part in the proceedings. Rev. Dr.
Whalen, pastor of the Berean Baptist
church. presided over the meeting. The
invocation was made by the Rev. w.
B. Grow. Presiding Elder j. F. War.
ner read the 147th Psalm for the
Scripture lesson; the Rev. NJ. G. El-
liott, of the Congregational church.
read the Thanksgiving proclamation OF
President Mckinley, and the Rev
Charles +. Lee, of the Presbyterian
church, delivered the prayer of thanks
giving. The sermon was given by Rev.
A. +. Chaffee, of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. who based his discourse m
the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy, part
of the eleventh and twelfth verses
when thou shalt have eaten and he
full, then beware lest thou forget the
Lord"
The sermon was a mastery and for
cible exposition and dwelt on the duty
of the recipient of Gods bounty 20
render thanks to the Giver of all good
gifts. The Offering taken was gencr-
GUS one, the congregation literally re-
spending, and the proceeds will be do
mated to the Emergency hospital of this
city. The benediction was pronounced
by the Rev. Y. c. Smith, of this city.
At Trinity Episcopal church services
in accordance with the spirit of The
day were held at II o'clock m ths
morning. In the evening the regular
weekly service was omitted. The Of
fering was donated to st. Luke's hos
ptal.
AT the Welsh Methodist church two
services We're held in the course of the
day. The first took place at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon and the second at !
o'clock in the evening.
At ST. Pauls Lutheran church u
Thanksgiving service was held at 73O
o'clock last evening. The Rev. Mr..
Witke, of Scranton, and the Rev. n.
Conrad, of West Pittston, delivered ad
dresses.
In the evening there was an invita-
tion dance at Burke's hall, given b"
the Recherche Dancing class. The six
Smith sisters gave musical entertain
ment at the Grand Opera house, the
proceeds of which We're donated to the
Carbondale high school.
Many homes We're made brighter
throughout the city by the presence ut
loved ones who had taken advantag"
of the holiday to revisit the old hearth
stone and once more hear the clear
voices ring melodiously in their ears
and feast their eyes npon faces that
had strangely familiar look. The
hearts and homes thus gladdened We're
happy abodeS for the son and dauGh-
ter. or brother and sister who had left
this peaceful city to fill out their lives
in other and perhaps wider fields, We're
'home' again. And the dimming eyes
of some old gray-haired mothers filled
with the dews of a swelling bosom as
they rested lovingly upon the face of
the child who had gone out in the
world to win fame or fortune, and at
ter long, sad absence. had come
back for another kiss from the trenl-
bling lips and to hear the sweet, we'll
remembered tones of mothers voice,
grown mellower with the flight of time
since he told her all his boyish troubles
and cares and was soothed by the
sympathy and love that was his balm
On next Thanksgiving Day some of
these dear old mothers will not be here
and the yearly pilgrimage will not he
taken by the son, but pang will
steal to his heart as he remembers
the days or his boyhood and the last
Thanksgiving Day he spent with her.