Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-11-27
Union Service at Temple Montefors. Able Ad.
dress By the Rev. Frank C. Ward
SPECIAL, APPROPRIATE MUSICAL PROGRAMS
Scholarly Sermon y the Rector At 81 Paus Our Gouns
Future

The fundamentally sacred charac
ter Of the Thanksgiving holiday was
not forgotten IN the city yesterday
AZ Temple Montefore the members
of the Jewish, Methodist, Baptist ant
PRESBYTERIAN congregations met fol
union Worship. Service was also held
at 81. Paul's Episcopal church.
At the temple the sermon was
preached BY the Rev. Frank G. Ward
OF the Babtist church. The Rev. A,
q. Geyer of the M E. church opened
the service with an impressive invo.
cation The Rev. Norman Skinner of
the Presbyterian church read the One
Hundred and Seventh Psalm iii such
manner as to bring new meaning and
beauty from the divine poem
Solos were acceptably rendered BY
Mrs. i. T. Laidley and L. r. AT.
len. America and other songs were
sung BY the choir and congregation
Mr.. Ward spoke on the spirit of
Thankfulness, his text being, Enter
into his gates with thanksgiving, and
into his courts with praise Psalm
100: 4. He said In part.
Why have we met here this morm-
ing in this union service? Because
the president and governor issued
proclamations requesting the people to
assemble in their respective places of
worship. Because II is tim s-honorcd
custom. It should be a religious ser.
vice Of profound thanksgiving. Lei
US try 70 find its true spirit this morn
ing. This will carry us back 10 the
birth Of our national thanksgiving
Our forefathers came, on account Of
religious persecution and faced every
danger Of new country. Even amid
their suiferings, they had true spirit
OF thanksgiving. One year there was
severe drought, and one Of their
number proposed a day Of fasting and
mourning; but Others said d day of
thanksgiving was more appropriate.
After the first harvest in the colony
the people went to offer their thanks
q God. Through these incidents We
may read single lesson. We are de-
pendent on God, and owe him our
profound thanks. Let that be the
spirit Of our service today. Let lis
feel that we are indeed In his pres.
ence. II there be one here who har-
bors a rebellious feeling toward God,
his fellowman. let Ii be made right
before this good day IS past. With an
open heart. ask God to show you
what you owe him.
But why should we thank God? /
There may be some here who feel
that there is nothing for which to be
thankful. As you look upon the
worlds history for the past year, you
remember that there have been fam
mes and wars. You remember that
The labor and race problems have con.
lr0nted us with a serious menace.
Some OF you have suffered individual
oss The gains you had hoped would
DC yours. have not been realized. riic
business projects you depended on
have not succeededThe store OF wealth
fou had wished TO lay BY has been
delayed and the golden circle Of some
il your firesides has been broken.
Ind will never be repaired 10 this
World. How sacred are our homes.
think Of scne Of the homegather.
ngs that have been planned for the
holidays; think Of the home reun.
ons and their festive joys But In
ome Of the circles. someone will be
Missing.
How can we come with thanksgiy-
ng with these reverses first upon
Isl?
II may be true that
There Il no flock. however watched
and tended 4,
But one dead Lamb Is there.
here IS no fireside howsoe'r de-
Tended.
But has one vacant chair"
But this deduction In also true.
Let us be patient. Those severe :
afllictiops