The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1900-12-04
..sHgss!g!Na Egss!y!Na SERMON SERMON
By} Rev. G. A. Joplin, Of the Pirst
Presbyterian Church. Thurs
day, November 29, 1900.

After an abundant harvest mas
crowned the toll Of spring, it is
meet that we offer thanks TO our
God. And we are accustomed at
this sea son Of the year to assemble
ourselves together in our various
places of worship, in obedience TO
the proclamation of the Chief Mag
trate of the United States, and in
accorSiance with the growing Gus
tom of many years, to return our
thanks for all the blessings that
have crowned the year. Thansgiv-
ing Day is peculiarly an American
institution, and who of us are not
thankful that we live in America
It the grandest country that has
ever existed; we glory in all that
goes to make it "a free country, and
that gives to man his full liberties.
We rejoice in our history, surely if
any people in the world have had
evidence that Gods hand is in their
history, we are that people. From
the very discovery of America
down to the present day we can
trace the hand of our God in max
ing this land what it is. With the
three great nations, England,
France and Spain contending for
this country, and each desirous OF
planting here the religion of Cathol-
icism. with all of its superstitions
and ignorance, can any one doubt
that it was the hand of God that
led little company of believers,
through persecution, to fly from
England to Holland. and few
years later, though few in number
and poor in this worlds goods, yet
rich in faith, to come to this new
country? The story of their COM
ing Is familiar to us all. We can
see them as half their number
all that could afford to come
were about to set sail in the little
Mayfiower; on the shore they are
gathered, and their good pastor,
John Robinson, kneels with them
as they are about = nmit them
selves to the cal their God as
they sailed away to an almost un-
known world, going that they
might there upjnolested worship
God. Out upon the great, deep
ocean we see the little vessel toiling
amid many storms, until at last
land is sighted:
"The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock bound coast,
And the woods against stormy sky
Their giant branches tossed;
Ard the heavy night hvps dark
The hills and waters DER,
When band of exiles moored their bark
On the wild New England shore.
Not as the conqueror comes,
They, the true hearted, came;
Not with the roll of the stirring drums,
And the trumpet that sings of fame;
Not as the flying come,
in silence and in fear;-
They shook the depths of the desert gloom
With their hymns of lofty cheer.
Amidst the storm they sang,
And the stars heard and the sea;
And the sounding allies of the dim woods
rang
To the anthem of the free.
The ocean eagle scared
From his nest by the white waves foam,
And the rocking pines of the forest
roarcd,-
This was their welcome home.
There were men with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim-band;
Why had they come 10 wither there,
Away from their childhood S land?
There was woman's fearless eye,
Lit by her deep loves truth;
There was manhood S brow serenely high,
And the fiery heart of youth
What sought they thus afar!
Bright jewels Of the mineI
TIKI The wealth. os seas, the spells Of p
They sought a faiths pure shrine.
Ay, call it holy ground,
The soil where first they trod;
They have left unstained what there