Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-04
Many Hear Sermon Preached by
Rev. P. Adelstein johnson.
THE REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING
Briefly Reviewed-Prosperity of the
! Briefly ENTHUSIASTICALLY of the
Nation a Cause for General Re.
joicins.
[From Fridays Daily.l

:
There was a large attendance
in the First Baptist church. The ex-
IRENE beauty of the day, the mellow
ness of the atmosphere, the cloudless
skies, and the beneficent sunshine
were conditions which ordinarily
might keep people from attending SER
vices, but today was a special occa-
and of gratitude overcame that of a
desire for pleasure, and the result was
that the church was filled.
Rev. P. Adelstein johnson, pastor of
the Congregational church, preached
the Thanksgiving sermon, and he was
listened to with deepest interest. The
singing features of the program were
excellent, there being a larger choir
than usual, the singers having made
special preparation for the days SER
vice.,
Rev. Johnson's Sermon.
''The Enduring Mercy of God, the
Ground of Perpetual Gratitude" was
the theme of the sermon delivered by
Rev. Johnson. In part the speaker
said: The 11Sth Psalm is introduced
WIN lofty strains of soul music, and
1T closes with the same sweet har-
mony. AS one verse succeeds another
in stately procession, now and again
the refrain is introduced: For His
mercy endureth forever Competent
scholars affirm that this Psalm was
written for festival occasion and it
Is not at all improbable that it was
written for the opening of the second
Temple and in connection with the
Feast of Tabernacles. This feast
was the harvest home festi-
val of the ancient Hebrews. 1t
lasted for a week; Jerusalem
was arrayed in holy day attire
While the feast had in view the COM
memoration of the nomadic life of the
people in the wilderness, it had also
an agricultural significance; it mark
ed the close of the labor of the field,
4 the harvest of all fruits, flour, wine
and oil, and the whole festival was
charged with the spirit of joy and
thanksgiving.
The Nineteenth Century.
Rev. Johnson proceeded then to a
review of the nineteenth century. He
said: 'It is most significant fact
that the founders of nations and re-
publics, have been, as DR.. Bushnell has
said, great in their Inconsistencies.
When the pilgrims landed upon these
shores they had no plans worked out
for the foundation of an American re
public; they brought no legal tue tc
these lands, but they brought religion
and in their breasts they brought the
law of liberty, which was in time des-
tined to build itself into the very warp
and wool Of this nation. God was en-
throned in the hearts of the founders
of the earlier colonies, and with the
religious impulse of the center OF
their being, they were great tho they
/. knew it not, and they builded better
than they supposed. From that time
we have been known as a Christian
nation. This is what gives Thanks
giving day its significance. 1t is pos
sible that war has brought death to
many of our citizens and desolation
to many of our homes; that fire may
have devastated our forests and fac
tories; that floods and tornadoes have
RACED to the ground our growing
cities; financial loss may be the out
come of year of most patient ant
exhausting toll; continued sickness
may have been the portion of the fam
lily; loss OF friends by death the mos
significant events of the year; yet, tt
all, rich and poor, the proclamation
goes-to go into the house of God up
on the appointed day and be thank
full.
What gratitude can be expected
from those who have been visited with
sorrows, sadness and calamity?" ask
ed the speaker, and he then reminded
the listener of the words of the psalm
list, His mercy endureth forever.
Thanksgiving day isenot for those wht
are gratified at business successes
those who have enjoyed health ant
happiness, and if thanksgiving were
expected only of these there would b,
indeed few who would meet to join il
sending UP prayers of gratitude.
Deliverances From Peril
Likewise with our season of in
gathering, comes Thanksgiving day