The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-29
THE DAY OF THANKS.
The Quiet OF the Sabbath in the Pho
neer City-Religious Observance Of
the Day-sermon by Rev. Dr.
Whalen at Union Services.

The nations day of thanks was eX-
teedngy quiet in Carbonate. Tile
town had on The air of the Sabbath; in
fact it was more Subbath-like than
most Sundays. for the chill blasts of
he winter day gave the warm tireside
Of the home more of q charm than
ever and the members of the family
fingered there instead of facing the
freezing cold that they would have to
endure if they went a-visiting or for ii
stroll. Everything in an industrial
way was quiet. The mines and the
shops were quiet and all who We're at
work We're railroad men.
In the afternoon and evening there
were various amusements. The per-
ornlances of barbara Frietcl,ie" We're
thanked by crowded houses. In the
afternoon We're hundreds Of cnthu-
siasts at the football game between
The swift winds and the Market street
Stars of Pittston. In the evening the
Recherche dance proved quite an at
traction for young people. The foot
ball game at Scranton and the festi-
val at Archibald took a number from
The city.
The Religious Observance.
The religious observance of the day
was most edifying. In all the churches
the congregations gathered in great
numbers TO unite in the prayers and
songs of THANKSGIVING that went up
from grateful hearts the country over.
The principal service was at the First
Presbyterian church. where the con-
grcgatiuns of the Baptist. Methodist.
and Presbyterian churches united III
their thankssivngs.
The response of the people WAS eui-
flying. the auditorium being almost
,iled. Rev. Charles T. Lee, pastor of
The Presbyterian church, presided.
The prayer was by Rev. \. f. Chatfee.
Rev. w. B. Grow Isled the blessing
and the scriptural reading was by Rev.
Dr. Whalen.
The singing WAS exceptionally good.
IL was under the direction of William
NJ. clark, who proved that besides be-
ing Il soloist. he can Very capably di-
rect Il chorus OF singers. The singing
rf Miss Nina Frank was conspicuous
among the efforts of the solOists.
The sermon which was II splendid
effort WAS delivered by DR.. Whalen
II was "a nlasterly presentation ut the
reasons why this country should send
mp felvent thanksgivings. and at the
same time il contained warning lessons
that the rarieW of facts brought be-
fore the speakers notice.
The services in the First presbyte-
lian church yesterday drew the larg-
est crowd ever yet in the church. The
Baptist. Presbyterian and Methodist
congregations attended The pro-
sramme as given in yesterdays Tri-
bunc WAS carried out in full and Civ
on in 4 faultIess manner. Rev. II. j.
Whalen delivered the sermon, taking
his teNt from the words. He hal In not
deult 80 with any naton;" Psalm li7
%. Alter dwelling at length upon the
t@Nt in an introductory way the speak
g. then spoke upon the significance of
The day they mad all gathered 10 ccic-
b"0!e. Taking sections of Dir. Whaiens
sermon in part, h" said: Presiuenr
Roosevelt is only following the GUS
toms OF his predecessors in issuing his
proclamation and we are only true to
the example of our ancestors in COM
ing together for THANKSGIVING and
praise, He then tol0 or the origin of
ThankssiVing day by the first COVER
.noT of Massachusetts in 1921 and oG the
appointinG of December 10 by the
Massachusetts court in 1853 He then
traced the day up to the present time.
The speaker in the following language
told Of the various liberties preachers
took With their sermons Oh Thankssiv-
ing. I'm harmony With the purpose
of this day ms outlined in the pres-
dents message ! am going to surreu-
der what seems 10 be the peculiar per-
ogauNe oi the preachers to deal with
all the legislative and other problems
that confront US and denouncc and Ia
nient the political degeneracy and cor.
ruption of our times and will seek to
treat the day as the president suggests
as Il special occasion for praise ana
thanksgiving to God. Rev Whalen
then divided his lecture under the fol-
lowing heads: our national resources.
our achievements. religious and edu-
futional our international relations.
the general health of The nation our
local industries, The industrial Cundi-
tions OF our valley. He also spoke ON
the death OF Presiden, Mckinley, as a
national calamity ANA the ruins Of the
Methodist church rs II community loss
Under the head of industrial conditions
nf our valley he said in part: For The
most part we have had contented
workmen and satisfied employees In
some quarters labor has overestimated
its strength and exaggerated it's de-
lnands, and capital has been unpise
and extensively domineering. The rela-