Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-27
Protestant Congregations Join
to Offer Up Their
Thanks.
SERMON PREACHED
By Rev. H. w. Reed-Other Observ-
ances to Mark the
day.

IAN cnurcn was present Yesterday
morning at the union Thanksgiving
service, in which the parishioners of the
First Methodist, Spencer Memorial
Methodist, Christian Memorial, Ger
man Methodist, First Baptist, and
Central, United and Broadway Pres
byterian churches joined.
Special music was furnished by
choir composed of Mrs. j. X. Scott,
Mrs. Il. r. Reynolds. Mrs. Paul Ham
iltcn, Mrs. w. o. Talbot, Miss Halle
McCrory, Miss Amy Thompson. J. a.
johnson, f. L. Philbrook, Dr. \. II.
McCandless and DIR. H. G. Trent.
The services opened with an organ
prelude. after which Rev. d. L. Nc
Nary, of the United church, read the
presidents Thanksgiving proclama-
ton. The doXology was said by
Rev. McNary; the choir sang a
Thanksgiving anthem: there was re-
sponsive reading of Psalm evil, led
by Rev. r. b. Williams; scripture les
son, by Rev. William Torrance: song.
30. Thou That Tellest,'' Mrs. Reynolds
and choir; sermon, Rev. II. w. Reed;
prayer, Rev. j. b. Rutter. and bene-
diction by Rev. J. L. Litzrodt.
rev. RSeu'S sermon.
Rev. Reeds text was John 3: 16;
For God so loved the world that he
gave His only begotten son. that who
soever believed in Him, should not
perish, but have everlasting life
The speaker said:
1T is right to thank God for every
little recognized blessing This is in
keeping with the spirit of the eXhor-
tation of the apostle, that in every
thing we should give thanks. Nor
does he overstate this duty. 1t makes
a great difference whether one is
| looking upon the experiences of life
in an appreciative and thankful spirit,
or in a critical and eXacting spirit.
| The spirit of thankfulness reveals a
humble heart. loving and appreciative
of Gods constant mercies. The criti-
cal spirit uncovers Il sclf-important
heart, marked by selfish demands for
only the largest and best. The one is
in harmony with God: the other as
sumes an implied equality, and finds
fault if everything is not Immediately
to his liking.
Il was greatly impressed with the
scripture which was read in our hear
ing few minutes ago. Out. So l was
also impressed with the president $
proclamation, as that was read. The
writer in the Pentateuch could hardly
| have written a description that would
have better fitted the conditions pre-
vailing here in our land. And it would
seem difficult for any man to point
more pertinentlv TO the material
blessings that have been ours than was
done by our president. There have
been these blessings too numerous to
enumerate, and beneficial beyond
description.
I'VE are here today as the repre-
sentatives of the churches and chris
tians of the city. We are here to
give the formal thanks of this com
munity to God for all the material
blessings of the past year. as those
have come into our personal, our civic,
and our national life. Sometimes peo-
pie ask what they have for which
they should be especially thankful
They look about them and see
unexpected losses. disappointments
lack of Improvement. and 9th
err undesirable experiences. 1t is i'm
portant to us as individuals that these
things be as much as possible for our
prosperity. And yet, one must not al.
low the nearer misfortune to obscure
the sight. so as to prevent the per
ception of Gods many blessings on
all sides of us
Appreciation of Divine Gifts.
Thus gathered for Thanksgiving
it is our duty to voice TO God mems APP
probation of the divine gifts. 1t is al
so our duty to voice to men Gods
estimation of the value of His gifts
To show what are the most valuable
of those gifts becomes. then. a part
of the privilege of this hour.
''The text chosen has at least two
important thoughts. a. The love Oh
God; and (2) Gods gift. 1t is impos
sible to describe all that is involved
in Gods love. 1t is, unsearchable. in
comprehensive and ineXplicable
Why should God so love us? We are
unworthy of that love; and yet. moth
ing less than this can satisfy God
And we cannot grasp the value OF
Goods gifts to us. They are on every
side of us, walking and sleeping, and
have followed us all the years of ouI
lives. When we have not dared ash
for them, they have still been giver
us
But subordinate to these thoughts
yet so modifying them as really t.
govern them, comes anotitsr though5
brought to us by the little word so.
Its influence can hardly be measured
In fact, it is itself the measure by
which we learn the value of all else
that is said. God can give, and Goo
gives us many great benefits. But
these were not the measures of His
love. His love could go further thar
that, until it came to the point of Civ
ing His best. and that was His son
All other things have value, but this
has greater value than all else. AnC
when God saw the needs of men. His
love could satisfy itslf with nothing
less than this gift of His son. Nc
man has ever yet ascertained the value