Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-11-28
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL NEWS
UNION THANKSGIVING SERVICES
The Annual Sermon Preached by Rev.
Mr.. Mathison.

Contrary to custom, the annual union
Thanksgiving service by the Brattleboro
churches was held on Wednesday even
ing instead of Thursday morning, the ex-
perience of past years having shown that
II was not convenient for large number
to attend the service on Thursday morn
ing. The audience was twice the usual
size, although the weather was far from
good, which may be taken as an indica-
ton that the innovation will become
custom The service was held In the
CONGREGATIONAL church. Miss Helen
Crosby ofilciated as organist in the alb
sence of Mr. Leitsinger, and the regular
church quartet sang. Gov. j. q. McCul-
lough's Thanksgiving proclamation was
read by Rev. Mr.. Miles followed by
responsive reading of the 10Srd Psalm.
led by Rev. f. w. Lewis of the Methodist
church. A collection was taken as is
customary. for charitable work done by
the Associated Charities. Scripture read
ing by Rev. u. T. Mathlson of the Epis-
copal church was followed by prayer by
the new Baptist minister, Rev. G. b.
Lawson. The annual sermon was preach
ed by Rev. Mr.. Mathison.
Rev Mr. Mathison spoke from the text
Psalms xiii 4: IT went with them to
the house of God with the voice of JOY
and praise with a multitude that kept
holy day" After speaking of the pur-
| poses for which the Psalms were writ
Thanksgiving is the most perfect form Of
worship. Man Is apt to think of God as
under similar limitations as himself We
! find II hard to realize what Gods power
to know all things implies. And this
failure OF realization nowhere displays
| itself more strkingly than in our con-
| scious purposes as we draw near to wor-
ship. failure to accurately estimate
| Gods power results in a correspondingly
| low character OF worship and perhaps
! disappointment as to the expected an
swer And in the first place prayer Is not
for the purpose of informing God as to
| our needs. He knows In the truest and
| completest sense all human needs. Cap
able of seeing all things and knowing the
| influences working in every form He can
even foreknow what is about to be and
| pre-determine what our cares, our sor-
| rows and our needs will be. Hence al
any given moment God knows more than
| any one of us what are the individuals
| burdens griefs and longings. We do not
need to go to Him with our prayers for
the purpose of informing Him of things
of which we stand in need.
And second, prayer does not compel
God Prayer is not Gods master. The
prayer that finds full answer is that
which is uttered in the spirit of the Mas
ter when in direst agony he prayed, moi
my will. but thine be done" And the
prayer fails not OF its purpose when the
request contained lS never granted. II
you, with these two thoughts in mind
consider the purpose OF divine worship
you find that prayer resolves itself into
something very different from what We
had been wont to suppose. IL is a com
munion, an association with God Himself
a contemplating the Most High in tbs
light of His own power and our OWL
needs, a prayer setting forth need anC
the implication of the power on Gods
part of supplying that need. All prayer
whether petition or thanksgiving, becomes
an ascription of power and Low
Ing kindness in Almighty God. The hab
of prayer enlarges ones conception Of
what the power and kindly disposition o.
God is He commends prayer not for Hi
own information, but to make concrete
and real our sense of what God can do
and is disposed to do for us.
And the result of this communion or as
ISOLATION Is to raise mems thoughts L
higher things in and through contac
with higher life The fixed and eterna
transform man in his mobile and incon
slant character. Mind meets mind ant
the stronger comes off victor. The hu
man life is stamped with the image o
the Divine. He sees more clearly wha
his real needs are. He comprehend
more fully what his obligations to Coz
are for His many blessings of the past
His character becomes beautiful to con
template. Men recognize that he ha
been with God. His prayer has beef
! even knew TO desire. He has become fit
! ted for no other place than heaven ant
for the companionship OF God Himself