Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-11-29
THANKSGIVING SERVICES.
Rev F E. Marble breaches a Sermon in
Spirit of the Day at The Baptist Church
His Subject The Giving of Thanks

Union Thanksgiving services were
held yesterday morning in the Baptist
church, Rev. F. L. Marble preaching
the sermon. The attendance was light.
After an opening service consisting of
responsive reading and singing Mr.
Marble announced his subject as THE
Giving of Thanks. - His texts were
I'm everything give thanks for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus, and
"Giving thanks always for all things
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
to God even the Father" "
He said in part: We are met at the
call of the civil government. The
president and governor have issued
proclamations. According to time
hallowed customs" and ''in obedience
to long established usage" calling at
tention to ''seed time and harvest and
the reward of labor to "peace,
plenty and prosperity, national, intel
lectual and spiritual' SO that "in
spite of national disaster we as peo-
pie have an abundant reason for
Thanksgiving.
Both these proclamations are good
the sincere expression of Christian
men, but they fall very far short of the
scriptural idea, in that they make the
giving of thanks a matter of the cal
ender and find the motive of thanks
giving in the increase of possessions.
In the Bible neither time nor season
nor the increase of possessions, are
sole reasons for the giving of thanks,
but this is enjoyed on the same
ground in prayer and other Chris
tian graces. a casual reader of these
texts will afford answer to several
questions which we asked ourselves
again and again.
First-When shall We give thanks?
The apostle answers Always"
Then Thanksgiving is not so much an
act as an attitude. Life's blessings
come in a steady stream and this re-
quires a steady flow of thanks And,
moreover, the hearts life requires
constant expression-the act of thanks
giving must be intermittent the
spirit of thanksgiving should be in
1essant.
Second For what shall we give
thanks? The apostles answer, lin all
things, for all things" for what we
,all blessings of seed time and har-
vest, peace and prosperity, health
and happiness Besides these common
blessings the year has been signalized
abroad by the protocol in China, the
great awakening in Japan and the es-
of civil government in
New York city. the growing apprecia
ion in this land of wealth that "to
lie rich is to die disgraced" and the
of the American standard
'evised Bible: and locally by the
Thompson estate for sewing girls, the
cord bequest for state missions, the
of the liquor law and the
greater unity in all the churches in
III that makes for the kingdom. Yes
or all these, thanks, but there are
osses and disasters. How about these?
n all these also thanks. We thank
iod not for the death of President Nc
iinley. but that in his death he gained
he victory. So with personal losses
nd disappointments. We give thanks,
ometimes for these but always,
hanks For life's training and disci-
line we are thankful for we know
hat all thinks work together for good
D those that love God.
Third Why should we give thanks?
This is the will of Cod. The Civ
lg of thanks glorifies God and right
' disposes heart toward the giver as
ell as the gift.
Fourth-How shall we give thanks?
n the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
D whom alone God wills everything
nd does everything for US. As we
ray in the name of Christ so should
e thank God in the name of Christ
n all the good received.