Evening journal., 1900-11-26
THEATRE STAGE
WAS A PULPIT
Opera House Contained 1000
Sabbath WOrShipcrS
SERMON WAS ON GRATITUDE
Il Was a Thanksgiving Discourse At
tended by Members Of Junior
Order Mechanics

Another evidence that Opera House
religious exercises are sufficiently
novel 10 attract many men who do not
attend church services. and others who
never worshiped with the EpwOrih
congregation was manifest last even
ing, when the Rev. Il. Burgette Short
preached 90 an audience in the Opera
House that filled the building from pit
TO dome. In the large audience were
members OF the Jr. o. u. A. NJ, carry
ing out their purpose 90 attend SER
vice in a body at least Cnce a year
The church choir and the childrens
vested choir of sixty voices sang eX-
cellent music.
Mr.. Short used as his text the words,
"Be ye thankful" and said:
The president OF this great nation
and the governors of the various states
have set apart next Thursday as a
day for Thanksgiving to Almighty
God for his benefcence to us during
another year. This annual custom Is
surrey well. We ought to paIse fer
cne day during the year, at least, and
in sanctuary, and around festive
boards and tiresides express our graft
tude TO Him who hath so wonderfully
provided for us as a nation
The spirit Of gratitude should ever
abound in our breasts for the blessings
that come TO us. and yet. despite them
all how many Of us are like the ten
lepers that the Master cleansed, of
whom nine passed ON without express
ing any thankfulness. My friends,
there is a great deal of ingratitude in
the world-indeed, entirely TOO much.
All of us are more or less guilty Of this
charge, and It is my one and only pur-
pose tonight to show the need OF this
almost lost virtue-gratitude
GRATITUDE.
What is gratitude? From our die
tionary we learn that it is state Of
being grateful. But it is mere than
that; IL Is that condition of the mind
and heart that not only feels grateful
but also acts grateful.
Some illustrations may help US 70
see this meaning better. In the MAS
ter Christian" Marie Corelli intro
.duces us to the noble hearted Cardinal
Bonpre and to the precOciOus Manuel
You remember how the cardinal found
the boy and took him into his room.
and that the lad was so overcome with
the kindness that ne took the cardinals
hand in his and caressed it. "A very
small thing to do, you say: but it was
all and the best he could do. 1t was
a token Of genuine gratitude.
Among the steerage passengers
bound for this country on the Ken
sington last September, was a Russian
Jew boy. A violent toothache one day
almost drove him crazy. A dentist Of
fered his help, it was accepted and the
tooth was treated. The ache was soon
gone, but the poor boy had no money
to pay the dentist But, my friends, he
had that which was better-a heart
of gratitude. He could not say in En-
glish. thank you, but clasping the kind
hearted dentists hand in his own he
pressed it to his lips and covered il
with both tears and kisses. That was
gratitude
This is a great and good country;
we believe il is the best land in this
world. We love our institutions Of
commerce and education, our civil and
religious are our pride and our boast.
but have we shown our love and sense
Of gratitude to God for these bless
! ings? Have we once during the past
week, or year sincerely said. 60 Lord.
I thank Thee for the land in which 1
live. For the noble and brave hearted
souls, now at rest. who made possible
| the blessings I now enjoy" Do we fur
/ lthermore show our gratitude by using
lour capabilities in bettering the condi-
tions of our home and native land?
Just at this point it might not be
amiss to say that there are many ex-
lcellent orders and organizations In OUT
midst that are doing what they can
to better the condition of mankind.
Among these we find with pleasure the
Jr. o. u. A. Mechanics. This order
is doing great good, and thereby show
ing gratitude to God for the blessings
which this nation enjoys Gentlemen
/ / bid you GOd-speed, and bespeak fol
you great success in your desire tc
have our Bible read in every public
lschcol. while over it without the Stars
land Stripes float upon the breeze. Yes
for our national blessings we should
be profoundly thankful.
HOME GRATITUDE.
Again I plead for more manifesto
! tions of gratitude in our homes.
! Home! It is the most beautiful
, word ever uttered, for with it are as
sociated the words father, mother
children, love. devotion and self sacri
fee My young friends, what love
what devotion and what self-sacrifc'
/, have been poured into our lives. How
, the father has toiledl What kindnesse
the mother has bestowed All for us
Have we ever voiced our appreciation
: in words or deeds? Have we ever said
Father. mother I thank you for you