Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-12-05
INTERESTING SERVICES HELD
IN n. Z. CHURCH.
Rev. Fuller Bergstrssser breaches an
Able Sermon-Excsllsnt Music and
Beautiful Decorations Collection
for Charity.

NJ Il. church were well attended. Tn
church was handsomely decorate,
with chrysanthemums and the unite,
choirs of the city furnished music.
Rev. W. H. Cain of the Baptis
church read the presidents proclama
ton Rev. J. X. Young of the Evan
gelical church made the prayer. Rev
w. II. Brown OF Green, kas., read th,
scripture lesson and Rev. DR.. P, Berg
stresser gave the benediction.
The sermon, by Rev. Fuller Berg
stresser, OF the Lutheran church, was
one of much power and was closely
listened to by the large congregation.
Among other things he said:
"Annually our president, by no
authority of law, but by the authority
Of custom and common consent, calls
the people to public service of praise
and thanksgiving 70 God from whom
all blessings flow. The 2Sth of
November is the nations gratitude
day. But this day was never intend
ed to gather into itself a whole year
of thanks. Rather it is intended to
give the keynote of all the years life.
The thanksgiving feeling is good
feeling to cultivate all the year round.
"The past year has been one Of
wondrous blessing Industry has
prospered, the condition Of labor has
been improved, the rewards Of the
husbandman have been great, home
have been multiplied. A
tidal wave of prosperity and advanced
civilization has borne our ship Of
state high and grandly. Truly the
love OF God is Unreasonable, unwear.
led, ever fresh and equal to every oc-
casion.
1.-The past year has not been with
out its dark days and its withheld de-
,ires. Defeat and success have COM
mingled. God has spoken in mys-
terious ways. When the despicable
assassin struck down the honored
the nation, with eyes
,-sIreaming and heart sick with sad
less, saw him going up and taking
'qnk with the martyred Lincoln and
garfield. That was the saddest and
,laddest event OF the year. The sad.
lest event because we had to lose him,
nd because it revealed that most III
ongruous thing-tbo anarchist in
air, Tree America. A noble, limo
ent, godly man sacrifice to anarchy
hat strikes at the heart Of the state.
he home, the church and society to
verthrow and destroy all, AND make
be individual supreme, and law
nto himself-to follow the dictates
I the wicked human heart-that's
be saddeSt event ct the year. But
see how a Christian could die. and
} hear the warm ulteranees Of pa
'iotism from lip. of native and for.
ign born, to feel the great wave Of
Yep religious feeling that swept over
ie land, makes the passing Of William
lcKinley, martyr, The gladdest event
all the year. This sad calamity
aches US that we are too close to.
ether aud that life is too serious for |
TO desplse one another; that liberty
not license; that the truest liberty ,
'es its liberty least; that my liberty G
IDS where your liberty begins. We |
I'VE again learned these these truths q
an awful cost. But we know them !,
Nv for good and all. \
:" his day Of thanksgiving SEES up /
standard OF Thanksgiving. Our re. \
lion must be common and human
d natural like sunlight and air and
tier. The Sabbath ideas Of Justice =
d ameicy must overflow into the
'ek and percoate through all bust a,
SIS and society and amusemeuts. n
thanksgiving is good but ihanksgiv- =
Z is better, because it is day in
d layout Thanksgiving" :,
The collection, $500, will be de =
ted to local charity, Mrs. + T. =,
ison, Mrs. NJ. larger and Mrs. JOS -
angler being the committee in ;,
lrge. Those who wish to add TO W
sum may leave money at the abb 81
e National bank. Ia
)roup instantly relieved. Dr..