Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-11-28
Union thanksgiving Service.

union Thanksgiving service was held
at the Presbyterian church on Thursday.
The sermon was by Rev. j. T. Knuckey.
based on the text, blessed is the Nation
Whose God is the Lord. 55-l2:
Truth is eternal. Time. place or con-
dition does not change il. Certain effects
follow certain causes Is an established
fact. A seed cast into tho ground pro-
duces after its kind. Blessings come to
the individual whose God is tho Lord: they
are as sure as that day follows night.
What is true in regard to tho individual is
true in regard to tho many. The aiiirma-
ton OF the truths OF this text carries with
IL the truthfulness OF the contrary.
God spoke those words for the nations
OF the earth because they arc tho words
OF truth and people ought TO know them.
We do not take Il that a thing is true be-
cause found in the Bible. but being truth
Il is brought forth into the ligh; Of reyela-
ton. To tho israeli;e nation he said here
is tho pathway OF prosperity and national
life. this other Of ruin and national death
because Il could not be otherwise.
Tho relation Of sin TO national life and
prosperity can DO seen down tho path
way Of tho worlds history. Looking back
a. tho civilizations OF antiquity they ap-
pear colossal and bright In their desert
like surroundings. Learned. wealthy and
powerful. but these things did no, save
thom. Porpetuity OF state 10 possible only
when there Is woven into tho national
fiber certain principles. having their orr
gin In tho skies. that have to do with tho
brotherhood Of man.
This text. with its underlying truth.
arches tho pathway OF our own national
life. Wo have passed down the roadway
Of prosperity and stand today ont no o;ni-
noneo Of eali lighicnment. no: beesu5e Of our
free institutions. but because Righteousness
has been found within our gates. Tho
foundations Of this vas, republic woro laid
with prayer. Tho Gnc in whom our fore
fathers trusted wo trust In today. Tho
proclamation for this Thanksgiving service
Is another recognition OF this fact. As wo
look back over tho year. whilc Il has no,
boon as cvontful as some. yot there 10
much 10 DO thankful for. Peace a; home
and peace abroad: our relations with all
foreign nations reasonably satisfactory.
We are thankful because Il has been .
heal,hful year: no wasteful pos;ilonco has
invaded our shores and swept over tho
land: fewer destructive storms within tho
bounds Of our country than for some
years. This is an occasion for national
thanksgiving. because moro OF tho unom-
ployed have employment. We are CRATE
full as well for tho triumph OF Christian
principles at home and in all parts Of tho
A.. IL 80 l.
mighty God for his having. in tho midst
Of our national sins. been ncrciful to US.
As individuals wo have much TO be
thankful for. Each ono has come down
tho year by a different pathway. With
some nothing unusual has happened: with
others II has been the way Of disappoint-
ments, diseouragoments. struggles. sor-
rows. losses or bereaveuent Yet withal.
nothing was quite so bad but that It might
have been worse. The darkest clouds
were rifted sometimes. Do you know
that we are apt to be unmindful Of the
little and common things Of life? We for
get to thank God for tho usual things.
There is nothing small or trifling with
God or that enters into the life Of an i'm
mortal being. Take time to make invon-
tory Of all the blessings Of the year then
be thankful for the same.
At the close of the sermon Rev. Wilson
Mills made stirring appeal for a liberal
collection for charitable purposes. The
collection amounted to S26.6o. The fol-
lowing comittee was appointed to expend
the money as occasion should require:
Warren Blinn of the Baptist church. J. n.
Burr Of the NJ. E. church, j. W. Seogn Of
the Christian church and j. F. Roth Of
the Presbyterian church. The relief
treasury held a surplus Of SO from las,
year; hence there is S2s.6o on hand for
charitable uses.