The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-30

seasons, ana mercleSI crown the day.
AS mighty rivers pour themselves into
the sea, SO God fills this world for
man. And as the sea gives back It's
wealth, 80 should we render thanks al
ways, and give to God the homage Of
grateful; hearts. ifs
Second, we are to give thanks to God
for oil things. This gate swings into
houndless ampliiuaes, We look out
upon this vast expanse, as a child upon
tile ocean. We are called to gather up
the divine benefactions to our world,
nur race. our country. our households,
our own souls. and for all to bless the
name OF the, Lord. We must particu-
larize also, and count them one by one.
We must recite our. dellyerances. we
must remember and speak Of the bene-
fits OF the past and the present. We are
to mark the notable mercies Of our lives
and stamp our gratitude upon all the
ordinary blessings of daily being. We
are to give thanks for all comfort and
safety, for every escape from peril and
sin. for the good Of the city where we
dwell. the land OF our birth or adoption,
for the blessings upon our community.
the church, the. world Is this IN easy
task? II God had given us but one
blessing, we could easily recall that; or
II but one mercy should fail upon us in
each year, or in each day, or in each
hour We might easily recount these:
but when our cup Is full always; when
not u thing we possess, nor u good we
enjoy, not hope we cherish, nor any
thing we have or are, but come from
Him, and are the gifts Of His low,
gratuitles. benefactlons to beings who
deserve nothing, but have forfeited all,
how. then, shall we find words to ex-
press this boundless munlncence, how
shall we recite infinite numbers. or
measure infinite love? At the best, We
can only gather up. here and there.
blessing, as we gather pebbles from
the shore. and while pondering these,
lift our songs OF praise to the Giver of
all.
5i,rE For Our Country.
Third. let us give thanks to-day for
our country, and that 1t has been our
privilege to be born and live in the
nineteenth century. We have goodly
heritage. which we must conserve and
pass down unimpalred TO the coming
generations. We have great civil and
religious privileges. wealth Of soil,
riches Of commerce. means Of education.
an open Bible. an unfettered conscience.
It is n land which the Lord has blessed.
The possibilities Of our country are be-
yond computation. To live to-day,
with all the vast interests of the globe
palpitating about US and reporting
themselves In our ears; to do business
in the tremendous rush Of one OF our
great cities; to belong to family
whose members are separated by thou
sands Of miles. and yet can communl-
cate in a day-ls O vastly more intense
and wearing thing than 1t was CEN
fury ago. People complain Of being
tired. They are weary without know
ing why. The wear and tear Of modern
life on the nerves and sympath!es and
anxiettes. on brain and heart. and soul.
are incalculable: and thousands break
and so down under the strain. Yet It is
vast privilege to live In these days,
notwithstanding the strain and the
pressure. To think backward over 4
year. and recall what 1t has produced,
Is to get new impression Of lIfe's
richness. How much has been seen.
felt. enjoyed. experienced. and done In
these twelve months!-how much in a
hundred years!
The nineteenth century Is the great
est Of all the centuries that have come
and gone. In all branches Of pro-
gross, 1t has been epoch-making, and
its closing yenr an experimenting year.
Measured by all standards. by the
good done the world and mankind,
making the Individual better. lifting
him up to higher levels, subduing sell
nshness, increasing charity, the spread
OF light and religion. more has been ac-
compllshcd in this century than In any
ten centuries In the past
The World Never Better.
The world was never better. manklnl
never purer; human character never
more elevated; education never more
general; charity and benevolence never
so aboundlng. The great Bible and
missionary societies of the world, the
splendid hospitals for the healing Of
the sick. the institutions for the blind
and the dumb. for the friendicss and
the homeless, were founded during the
nineteenth century. Steam also came
with this century. electricity followed
and may. largely supersedc steam In
contributing to the needs of man. The
telephone has made our cities, and
homes. and business places marvellous
whispering galleries. Wireless tcle.
graphy seems to be at hand We Won
der what wifi be the next step in the on
ward march OF progress. These are
among the many brilliant and useful
triumphs Of the closing century. The
forward look from this high vantage
ground, is full Of cheer; and looking
ahead. with such q vast accumulation
OF forces at work to make the future
bright and benefccnt. there Is no Ian
guage fitted to the occasion, but that
of hope for the country and It's people.
hope for the race. The experience O:
the century teaches confidence In God;
It strengthens faith; 1t develops trust In