The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-30

gifts and blessings OIL tile past year, ioi
which, individuality and nationally, we nave
cause to give thanks. But there was aroth-
er thought to-day, in the fact that tbs
is the last T1anksgiving-Day of the cen
tl:ry and our grateful retrospection should
embrace, not only the passing twelve
month, but also the closing cycle OF the
wears that is beng added as a leaf to the
chaplet Of centuries entWinng the brow
CT time.
One hundred years comprise but an IN
fllttteslmal para grapil in the volume OF eter-
nifty, yet in the history Of a nation 1t may
mean very much. And of all the circled
centuries that lie buried in the sepulchre
OF the past, no one has been fraught " III
so much of blessing and OF progress for
the human as mas this nineteenth century,
now painting n the labored gasps OF ITS
!upnr ng dissolution.
REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING.
The speaker then reviewed the gigantic
mater al trumpns that have been achieved
during the last hundred years.
But proud as we are OF our industrial ana
mechanical achievements, that. pride would
be but shame and folly did We stop short
with our material triumras and go no
higher than the successes of the head ana
the hand a nation, like an individual has
the obligat of morality resting upon
it, and the obligation is proportonate TO
its material blessing. We quote the things
l.at we call the earmarks of our modern
civilization. but let us never forget that the
only true civilization rests upon the basis
of morality. The pillars of justice and
truth must uphold its structure. else that
fabric Will become the inevitable prey OF
the decaying ages, the ineluctable victim
of Times relentless tooth. Boast as we
will of the chariot of our progress, but I'M
less reverence and faith are the guiding
lines, it is bound to be wrecked on, the
roadway of the years.
The speaker then referred to the great
civilizations of the past that had sue
cumbed because Of their unfaith and ir-
religion. Our gratitude wells forth to-
day, he continued, for the gigantic strides
which the world has made during the CEN
Jury just passing. and especially fervent
is our Thanksgiving as we recall how our
own beloved country has been in the
very van of this forward march OF the
nations. And still more strongly and
more earnestly sounds the Daean of our
praises as we gaze at the picture that
the lar has presented, ana as W" see
HOY foundries are flaming, mills are II III
tTiying, the wheels of industry e,tty-
where revolving. harvests abundant, nd
a ccntented and prosperous people pro-
fcindly loyal to the loved dag ut telr
freedom. But in that gratitude shall ron
a stain of noble purpose; there shall be
a higher Thanksgiving that shall be not
only ii grateful retrospect, ptit Il + .=oiNc
for the future that all these material
triumphs and achievements shall be but
means to an end. but stepping-stones to
still higher and truer civilization
1t has been we'll said that the natural
forces which serve us do only lin
the direction in which they move They
never go out of their road; never swerve
from their foreordained paths, neither
the sun nor the moon, nor Il bubble Of
air, nor I, mote of dust" 1t is token of
what our action shall be. There are
foreordained paths along which peoples.
races and nations shall move. if they
wish to move with gertrude and safety
These are the paths Of morality, the
paths of justice, freedom, truth and chaS-
tity. In the joy OF our present prosperity
let this resolve be our highest thanks
giving that the material triumphs of the
past shall be eclipsed by the spiritual
spendors of the future, that our nation
shall so motive it's conduct that, as Kant
says, that motive may become a univer-
sal rule of conduct. Then, indeed, shall
the universal potencieS be ours, or hay
ing conquered ourselves we can with ease
conquer the cosmos.
The service ciosed with America" sung
by the congregation and nenedction by
Rabbi Calisch.
OTHER SERVICES.
The Presbyterian, With whom it is Gus
tomary to have the Thanksgiving ser
vice one of the best of the year, worship
ped yesterday at Grace-Street Church.
Rev. DR.. Russell Cecil, of the Second
Church, preached and a collection was
taken up for the benefit of the Richmond
Home for Ladies.
A union meeting of Hartshorn College
and the Union University was held at the
former institution, the sermon being
preached by Rev. DR.. Kerr.
The Method sts held a very well-attend-
ed service at Broad-Street Church. nearly
all of the ministers of the denomination
in this city being present Rev. John
Harmon. D. D., OF Union Station. preach
ed I'm appropriate sermon taking his sub
ject from the Eptstle to the Ephesians,
V: 20: Giving thanks niways for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ" The singing of
the Broad-Street choir was excellent.
The Baptist met in the Second Church
ana heard addresses by Dr. w. E. Hatch-
er and Professor S. @. Mitchell. The
quartette of the church rendered u spe-
cial musical programme. A thanksgiving
service was conducted at Pine-Street
Church by Rev. NJ. Ashby Jones,
The Thanksgiving sermon was preach
ed TO the Christian denomination by Rev
J. A Dearborn at the Third Church.
The usual Thanksgiving services We're 1
held in each Of the Episcopal nnd Catholic
Churches of the city
A Talk on Missions.