The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-07-26
SPEECH BY HENRY wISSNER.
Delivered at Thanksgiving Service Of the
First Baptist Church (cOlored) at Guineys.
Caroline County.


first Baptist Church (colored) at Guineys
Caroline Co., Va. Sunday, July both
1902, by Mr.. Henry Missner OF Frederick
sburg. Va.
Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving
and into his courts with praise BE
thankful unto Him and bless His name.
We have a great deal to be thankful for
to our Heavenly Father, and you nv
friends have special cause to be thankful
YOU who have been permitted by the
help OF God and by your own hard strug-
gle and the friends to erect this church
for Gods glory and we trust for your
own souls good; yea our whole nation
should give praise and glory to God
America a land so large in territory that
the sun never sets on our possessions. The
glorious Star Spangled Banner is ever
floating 20 the breeze. there is no night
now on American possessions 4 land so
mighty in strength and power the whole
wOrldstands infear of a land liberty "a land
OF freedom "a land rich in minerals a land
OF wealth. a land where q man can wor-
ship God according TO the dictates of his
own conscience / love to think about
our grand and glorious Country. love
the word liberty. il is inspiring to nay
soul. A little over three years ago we
we were at war with a foreign nation.
Many mother heart was burdened with
sorrow Us her darling son marched of to
the seat OF war. Today we are at peace
with the whole world. Our country =
greatness is not yet completed. our gates
are opened to the whole world from the
North. East. South. and West. are they
pressing IN on our shores. Our soil Is
being dug up. it's material resources are
being developed. Its wealth hidden in
the deep recess of its soil is being dug out
and is bringing wealth and comfort TO
It's inhabitants. Mother and fathers are
thinking with sigh for their children.
Its sons and daughters are being educat-
ed, some years back only those of wealth
could give their children education. now
the poor as well as the millionaire have
that privilege. Thanks be To God that
the poor have thSt advantage.
Education brOadens the mind Of man.
Tell the not il is waste of money to
educate the colOred man, why do we send
missionaries 10 the land of superstition?
(1hina)
We not only teach true religion but
we educate them as well The sooner
the colored man gets n FIRST class aduca-
ton the better citizen will he make
Material interest demands it. spiritual
interest demands il far more every in
terest OF humanity demands it,
Now let us consider for a little while
the 18th century. What u glorious re-
cord the 18th century has left behind
Wonderful yes wonderful has been the
past. grand and magnificent is the pre-
sent. the future will be glorious What
was the population of our country at
che beginning of the 18th century ? Why
II was only five million. today we num-
Der seventy five million and il we take
the census then at the beginning of the
next century the population of this grand
and glorious country of ours will mum.
Der three hundred million. Just think
my friends what n grand opportunity
there Is before US. These lands touching
on this popular railroad or any of our
highways will not be as they are now
barren waste. No no. These lands will
be teaming with population. villages and
towns springing up along your highway
My friends 1t Is bound TO come Just the
same as IL came in Europe. Now let US
see what America has done in the cen
fury Just passed, America has fought in
the century Just passed three great foreign
wars, and the greatest Civil war the
the world has ever seen. 1t has eman
cipated a population of nearly four
million OF people.
War. my friends seems cruel vet God per
mits it to go on, and have we not the
proof of 1t III his holy word? Did he not
fight the battles of lsreal of old2 Wedon't
know why and how it is, some how God
seems TO love good and great warrior
War generally makes a uation greater.
it is almost impossible for us TO compre
bend greatness in defeat. we all know to
day that defeat of our Southern Coined
eracy meant greatness TO our glorious
Southland. Today the whole world looks
with amazement at the progress our
Southern Country has made Who of us
does not know that the naval battle
fought between the Merrimac and Mon
ltor at Hampton Roads in our own
state reVOlutiOniZed the naVies of the
Whole world. The money expended bv
the Nations OF the world on their nayies
since that battle was fought amounts
TO more than one lundred billion. YES
my friends, it amounts TO more than the
debt OF the whole world. just think what
1t has been to the working man and their
families, so my friends God at all times
opens way for his children to earn a
living. America sent Commodore Perry
to the empire of Japan in the year OF
1871 to open that empire to our com
merce, today that empire is open TO com
merce 10 the whole world. Japan has
HHA1i.tb anu tftCttu u monument
TO Commodore Perry at Cobe on the very
spot where Perry first landed his mari
mes from our men OF war.
America has sent explorers to the
heart of the dark continent and to the
lands of eternal frost. Its triumphant
fleets have swept every sea. and the
trend OF its armies have shaken the
world. It's commerce, industry. Iitera-
ture, art, scientific achievements have
outrivaled those of every other land
It's Monroe doctrine has dictated law 10
the whole world. Today we possess an
empire Graded in the waves OF every sea
upon which the sun never sets. Such has
been witnessed by most OF MS and we'll
might we rejoice and thank God that we
have lived in such century.
Airica.-The African continent at the
beginning of the 10th century was prac-
ticaiiy unknown, today every recess has
been explored. Railroads are being built
from one end TO the other. The wonder
full experience of Livingstone and Stan
ley, the foundation of the Congo Free
State, and the great and terrible conflict |
between the English and that no,,la to.,.l I