Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-28
have ample occasion this morning for
devout thanksgiving.
Wonder of Nature.


Watching the waters of the Niagara
where they throw themselves over
the great cataract and lie smothered
and confused below. it may be difficult
with, the cross currents, eddies and
whirlpools to determine which way
the current bears. But going mile
of two below the fall you come to
where it bursts in passionate ANNA
ton and bears swiftly and furiously
to the lake beyond. Beneath these
whirling eddies there had been
strong undercnrrent that was unmis-
talon in its direction.
$50 we believe that there are deep
undercurrents of American life that
still make towards the higher ideal of
character and though we may be de-
pressed by the back currents On the
surface we must not be mislead by
their indications. To ascertain the
worthiness of vessel and the skill of
its seamanship aboard you must not
only take into consideration the dis
lance it has made but also the head
winds that it has been compelled to
meet and overcome Record must
be made of the lacking necessary for
the progress.
Many Adverse Conditions.
ut is one thing to sail with the
wind and another to go against it.
So in our national progress we must
take into account the constant influx
of forces and elements Indifferent or
hostile to our cherished ideals and
then take our reckonings according y.
My contention is that in the face of
these obstacles we have made wonder
full progress aid there is reason for
the most hopeful anticipations for the
future. Let US look one by one at
a few of these institutions that we
deem peculiarly American and ascer-
tain how they stand today compared
with the past believing in the compari-
son we will find much occasion for
rejoicing.
Need of Activity.
"The first institution I suggest is
that of the church. Many good people
are tempted to turn their faces toward
the halcyon days of the past and
make unfavorable comparisons be-
tween those great days of spiritual
power and these degenerate days of
spiritual decline. Far be it from me
to condone our present day worldli-
ness which is all too fragrant.
Far be it from me to encourage any
SNUG complacency on the part OF
Gods militant, host in the face of so
much h'rd fighting to be done to
possess this land for Emanuel. But
when any seems to sink down into
hapless inaction under the conviction
th"t the case is hopeless then ! feel
like blowing the bugle blast of Chris.
tian optimism and proclaiming that
tie church was never SO numerous,
never so intelligent, never so deyot-
ed IS it is at this day. 1t is true
the enrly Pilgrims were devout, re-
gious, the foundation of several of
colonies were laid in religious en-
n.i7sm. Bit let use realize that
sc rare spirits were not the onlv
t,ors who sought homes in the will
ess nor must we think that the
ne high standard Of religion and
erals always pra~ails.
In Early Days.
Turn back to the early days of our
aational life, we find matters vastly
different. French infidelity had
swept over the land, the leading states
men and generals were open and pro-
nounced in their atheism, the col
leges were hot beds of infidelity.
"Only one in fourteen were found
affiliated as members of the Protestant
churches. How did TIE century march
out? Instead of showing one in four
mt in, nbilrnhnc ~
showed one in less than five. A mar
velous increase. This too was main
tanned in the face of the fact that a
large influx of Europeans were con
stantly flooding our shores, bringing
their hostile ideas with them.
Thankful for the Present.
81 am thankful this morning when
review the glorious history of the
church of the past. / am inspired
when contemplate this magnificent
prospect for the future. America
stands to the church for opportunity
as the sage Of Concord suggests. Do
we realize that the Christian religion
has had new and unexampled oppor.
tunity in free America to reveal what
its power may be to the world when
untrammeled by the hindrances that
have hedged it's way in the old world?
There it is still bound by many OF
the cerements of ancient tradition
Here it is a part from the domination
of those ancient influences. There 1t
is hindered by a state connection, a
state domination. Here it is free to
direct and regulate its own course
without secular interferences. 1t is
suggestive that those sects that put
the chief emphasis upon the spiritual
side of religion rather than on its
ritualistic features were the ones
which put the chief impress on the
early life of this nation. For in.
stance the Independent in New Eng
land. the Baptist in Rhode Island, the
Presbyterian and the Quaker in the
central part of the seaboard, eventu
ally the Methodist everywhere, espe
cailly in the expanding west All these
denominations stood for regeneration
the new life, personal experience OF
saving power in the individuals. There
is no question but that the religious
temper of this country is higher, free
er, more rational than that of any 9th
er section of the Christian world.
Catch Free Atmosphere.