The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-29
MANY union SERVICES
THANKSGIVING SERMONS PREACHED
BY CITY PASTORS.
Plymouth and the
Jewish Temple Unite-Excerpts
of the Dfscourses.

" "- - NAC ~ 1890
The congregations of several Presbyterian
Churches of the city held a union service
in the Second Presbyterian Church in the
morning, the Rev. J. Cumming Smith
preaching the sermon. His subject was
The Greater Anarchy" He said in part:
Anarchy often CLEANS out unconscious
ly in the frenzy of some reformers for
laws premature and forceless. The Prohi-
titionist In his noble ardor cries, 1t is
wrong for the State to license a crime
hence that party is deaf TO all measures
short of humiliation. 1 will coin another
phrase: 1t is a sin to scOrn imperfect
methods on the way to perfect meth
DDS not yet attainable.' Personally, L lean
to the Gothenburg system. where pure
liquors are sold with plenty of check. Any
thing seems better than the present saloon
laws that breed anarchy and demonism
everywhere and honeycomb our municipal
cement.
Fundamentally, all laxity lies near
atheism. Lofty faith in God alone purges
the world or gives a satisfactory basis for
morality"
METHODIST CONGREGATIONS.
The Meridian-stree and Roberts Park
Methodist congregations held union services
in the former church. The Rev. Joshua
Stansfield delivered the address. He said:
Because we are a Christian nation, at
the call of the President of these United
States, Endorsed by the action of the Gov
errors of every State in the Union, we
gather to-day according to historic custom
to render thanks unto God, the author of
all good, for the manifold blessings of our
life, individual, as families, as churches and
as a nation. At perhaps no period in our
history has a more marked material pros
perity attended us as a people than in the
year just closing.
But to-day we gather under the pail Of
a great sorrow for one Of the most justly
honored and universally loved of our PreSl-
dents. William Mckinley has been taken
from us by the hand of an assassin. But
through our sorrow and signing and tears,
on this Thanksgiving day, there shall arise.
sung or sobbed into the ear OF the Lord
God of Sabbath, a paeon of praise for the
light and the leading which made so true
a patriot, so kind a husband so great a
statesman, so noble a Christian man and
President as was William Mckinley. We
shall also thank God for the stability of
our national government. which can stand
such a shock almost unperturbed, and can
induct another into office with a facility
born Of conscious strength; and again are
we thankful for the national poise and
not by an impulsive, vindictive lawlessness,
but by due and decisive process of law and
Justice"
Al CHUhCH.
The Mayhower and North congregational
Churches held their services in the formers
church, the address being delivered by the
Rev. Oscar c. Helming, who based bis
remarks on I'm nothing be anxious, but in
everything by prayer and supplication let
your request be made known to Cod He
said: "A Christian is a man who is not
sorry that he is alive. He knows that the
II -
to make it better, and chiefly by making
himself good and useful. He knows that
life is not meant to be easy; that virtue
must come through struggle. and that the
best achievement is through conflict, en-
deavor, self-sacrihce. So he is not unduly
anxious, but Is ever ready to thank God
for what life brings him."
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
The union services of the Central Chris
ton Church and First Lutheran Church
were held in the latter church. The Rev.
Allan B. Philputt used for his subject,
Public sentiment and law enforcement"
He said:
In the midst of the prosperity which
has blest the year and the encouraging
strides that have been made in certain
quarters for better government we have
still TO lament the tardy march OF pub
lie sentiment in the direction Of law en-
forcement, especially with reference to
certain classes Of crimes. The machinery
OF our courts Is 6AleISlNt ait COSlly. OuI
constabulary is supposed to be adequate,
but hundreds of offenSes go unpublished.
The laws which are executed are the only
laws under which we live and are gov
erned. How can upright, manly citizens
have a good opinion of magistrates that
90 not execute the law, or of grand juries
that do not execute the law, or of petit
juries that do not punish the guilty, or OF
judges that do not condemn the breakers
of laws? 1t has been our boast that We
live under a government of law and not
of men, and a great American statesman
once warned us that If a government of
law failed il would call back a government
of men. When the laws are not enforced
a condition of things is brought about
where justice is sought without law and
against law"
AT SEVENTH PRESBYTERIAN.
The Rev. r. v. Hunter, of the Seventh
Presbyterian Church, delivered the address
at the union services of his congregation
and Fletcher-place NJ. e. Church. He
said Thanksgiving day is a picture of
American life and character, and that it is
an old idea. He said the Jews, Greeks and
Romans had celebrated similar days, but
the Puritans were the first to introduce
the Thanksgiving OF to-day. The festival
was at first celebrated in New England
only, but gradually became a custom in
other parts of the country until the time of
President Lincoln, who made it a national
holiday.
SEVERAL CONGREGATIONS UNITE.
HOyt-dNe1ue BaptlSl CnuTcn yesterday
entertained the congregations of the Second
German NJ. E, Emmanuel Baptist, Edwin
Ray and Trinity Congregational churches,
the Rev. j. r. Henry preaching the sermon.
He said history records instances of ma
tional thanksgiving. He said: TIE Deums
have been sung in cathedrals at the birth
of princes, coronation of kings or tri-
umphal returns of great generals, but it
remained for America TO appoint a day
when the people should be called together
in their places of worship to render unto
God praise for all his benefits, civil and
religious. national and domestic"
THE MORAVIAN CHURCH.
The Moravian, Fourth Presbyterian,
Broadway NJ. E. First United Brethren
and the United Presbyterian churches yes
terday held their Thanksgiving services
in the Moravian Church. The address
was given by the Rev. Worth Tippy. of
Broadway Church. He began his sermon
with a sketch of the life of the Pilgrims.
eliminating in the Thanksgiving service
held in the fall of 1921. He said much
of the richness of the first festival has
passed into our national holiday. IN con-
clusion he said: Il do not know but that.
deepest OF all. we should thank God that
for the most part the administrators o. our
new possessions have been high-minded
lied, and that at home the tide that makes
for a purer government of the Nation and
of its great cities steadily rises"
AT OTHER CHURCHES.
The churches of North Indianapolis-the