Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-11-30
THANKSGIVING.
Union Services in the Congregational
Church.

Sermon by Rev. II. II. Marvin Upon
the Text, els Not the Life More Than
MeatI''--- Collection for the Associated
Charities.
The Brattleboro churches united yester
day in giving thanks for the many bless
ings of the past year by holding services in
the Congregational church, the several
pastors participating. The service opened
at II o'clock with an organ voluntary by
F. G. Leitsinger. Rev. Mr.. Miles led in
the responsive service, and the congrega-
ton repeated the Lords prayer. The
Scripture reading was by Rev. Mr.. o.
good of the Unitarian church, and was fol-
lowed by an offering for The Associated
Charities. The Centre church male quar-
tet rendered an anthem and led in the con-
gregational singing. Rev, r. K, Marvin
of the Universalst church preached the
annual sermon.
The text of Mr.. Marvin's sermon was
Matthew VI, 25 as Not the Life More
Than Meat?' Many live as though the
material concerns of life were of more i'm
portance than the concerns of the soul.
They plan and worry about their daily
bread and starve the soul. To one who
observes the way of the world comes the
distressing fact that life for great many
people is not the happy, broad, unfettered
existence it was Intended to be. No one
who really has the interests of his fellow
men at heart can behold them devotng
their best energies to temporal things with
out protesting and pleading for larger
and deeper life, life that is rich in the
wealth of spirituality.
Thanksgiving day will find many poor
who are rich, not in worldly goods, but in
the spiritual treasures revealed in the Mas
ter and bought, not by money, but by pa
tient endeavor to follow in his footsteps.
A soul that is heir to the life of the Master
is more to be envied than soul that is
heir to large landed estates and nothing
else.
On the other hand Thanksgiving will
find many rich who are poor. It will find
many who set their whole heart on getting
money, and consequently have neglected
the soul and are spiritual paupers. Whether
this impulse of man as man to accumulate
becomes boon or a curse depends on the
character of the treasures he wills to seek.
To follow Jesus is to become truly rich,
and the way is open to all. When
death compels nam to let go his grip on
worldly possessions, and when he is usher
Gu luIO JIG IlBuoI llo Lue bLduudIu VI
wealth is no longer question of dollars
and cents, but of spiritual riches.
There are certain things in which all are
rich at this time. We are rich in that
Mother Nature is impartial. She gives her
delights to all and is no respecter of per-
sons. One who sees God in the design of
the world feels himself rich indeed. But
we must not forget in the Thanksgiving
season another of our many riches-our
good fortune in dwelling in that portion of
Gods world called America. Happy is
the man whose star of destiny shall lead
him to dwell 10 the land made free and toll
Grant by Washington, Lincoln and the
long line of heroes.
But above all else, we are rich today be-
cause we are one great family in God.
The person who can feel that God is on
his side-that the Fathers living eye is
upon him and protecting him on ocean
and on shore-is rich as no one else is rich.
And SO today may we center our minds
and hearts in the true riches, on the reali-
ties of life, as we never have before, and
may God grant that all his children today
will remember Him with gratitude for
many faVors in the past, and many bless
ings that yet remain.