The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1901-12-10
THANKSGIVING SERMON
At The FIRST Presbyterian Church
by Rev. W. j. Bolin, of the
Baptist Church.
NIGHT OR MORNING? 4.
lis. xxi l2.)

Our is great country. Great
from every point OF view. Why
there ara no autumn leaves like
ours, no waterfalls, no rivers, no
lakes like ours; no people like our
people. No other country has
service like this. While we may
be heterogeneous enough in many
things there are three times every
year in America when we are truly
one--touched by common sorrow
or exulting in a common hope. In
the springtime while the roses
bloom and the for-get-m me. nots re-
mind us of the "loved and lost
ones," we go out with common
impulse to the silent cities"
where our dear ones await glori-
GUS and blessed resurrection, and
cover the green mounds with sweet
scented flowers. Decoration Day
is American believe in it. In
midsummer when fruits ripen and
golden harvests wave, we luxuriate
in our sense of freedom, shooting fire
crackers and sending up many
hued sky rockets, keeping verdant
the memory of our forefathers who
secured us this land of the free
and home of the brave The
Fourth of July is American. l be-
lieve in it. Once more, in autumn
time when the sheaves are garner
ed and the fruits are gathered, till
the barns and cellars are nigh un-
to bursting with fullness, we turn
aside from this strenuous life's ac-
tivities for a quiet hour to count
up our mercies and pour out our
hearts in grateful Thanksgiving to
the Author of all our joys. Thanks
giving Day is purely American. ]
believe in it.
But this hour should not be given
to self-gloritication. 1t ought to
lead us to better appreciation of
our blessings and furnish warning
for our future guidance. Hence it
occurs to me that the old prophets
question, Watchman, what of the
night?' may help us find our bear
ings. And the watchman's re
sponse, "The morning cometh, and
also the night" may furnish
warning.
l. This is pertinent inquiry
concerning our Homes. The i'm
portance of home life cannot be ex-
aggerated. For as is the home so
is the church and the nation.
Home influence is immortal. Eng
lands gracious Queen declared not
long ago that she always thinks in
Danish-the language of her child
hood home. The old NEUROLOGICAL
story of Theseus and Ariadne beau
tifully sets forth the true sympathy
that should exist between husband
and wife. AS our homes are kept
pure and happy and home life is
exalted so the morning cometh."
But if they degenerate into mere
establishments" the darkness of
night settles upon Us.
2. This question should be asked
concerning the condition of our
Workingmea. How the world has
advanced x: :ts treatment of wage
earners! In the time of Chas. III.
42c was the price of II hours work.
In the 18th century $500 year
was large salary for a laborer.
America, the paradise of the work
ingman, has changed all that The
American tramp fares better than
that. True we have our "labor
problems" our strikes and clock
OUTS" but the American out of a
job is better off than old-world men
on full pay. As our workmen and
their organizations shall become
more considerate following the Rule
which is indeed Golden the ''morn-
ing cometh." We bless God for