The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-11-27
THANKS IN GREAT THINGS
DIR. SMYTHVIEWS WORLD PROF.
LENS IN SERMON

Hay-Good Deeds of Local Corpora
lions.
The union service at the Center
church was largely attended and DR..
smyth, who preached the Thanksgiving
sermon. was assisted in the service by
Rev. DR.. Watson L. Phillips Of the
Church of the Redeemer. DR.. Smyth
touched on the race question and said
that its ultimate peaceful solution is
cause of thanks in the prospective.
His text was as follows:
Third Timothy, /, 8: 1 thank God,
whom / serve from my forefathers with
a pure conscience.
The following are some of the points
taken from DR.. Smyth's sermon, which
was delivered without written manu-
script: tr..
This text, he said, was chosen because
it connects our Thanksgiving service
with our forefathers, and according to
their best traditions and customs on
this day I shall draw no line of separa-
tion between the secular and religious
all matters of human concern are of
religious interest And also it inculcates
honesty in thanksgiving.
I propose, therefore, to distinguish be-
tween some things for which we cannot
be thankful and some things for which
we may give thanks in several domains
of human activity and interest.
IN NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
we do not give thanks for any signs
which may appear of a: race war. Any
political ambition which would incite it
raises the battle cry Of hell. A moral
fanaticism is dangerous which would
foment it. The organic laws of this
land wrought out in blood and sacrifice
is the law of liberty. The constitutional
amendments in which it is embodied
shall stand untouched by partisan con-
troyersy, irnmutable. But we may give
thanks for signs of larger wisdom in
the south, of greater patience in the
north, OF happier harmonizing forces,
which may help work out the solution
Of the problem of races on this CONT
nent. g,~*...... .
OUR INTERNATIONAL POLICY.
1t should not rest on the shifting
sands of party politics, subject to sud-
den change from every wind of political
passion that may blow; it should be
continuous, consistent, worthy Of our
noblest aims as a, nation. Whether we
are pleased with it or not, we have been
drawn into the great stream of world
politics; it is for us to keep our own
high aims and character, to fill out Mil
toms conception of the nation as zone
huge moral parsonage" Among our OBJ
jects has been a determination, persist
emily pursued. to unite the two oceans
by canal. This is one Of the things
to be done on the earth. In the ordinary
course of diplomacy we should be ready
to give thanks in our churches for
action which might put this work in the
way of speedy accomplishment. But the
sudden transformation scene in Panama
leaves large body Of our citizens be-
wildered and confused in their judg-
ments. 1t cannot be denied that with
many Of us this whole Panama bust
ness, as we are at present advised, in
such fragmentary knowledge as we
have of it, is matter more for
MISGIVINGS THAN FOR THANKS
GIvINGS.
DR.. Smyth pronounced eulogy upon
the long and splendid diplomatic SER
vices of our secretary of state, and said
that our confidence in him prevents
words OF hasty criticism, and forbids
what might prove to be ill-informed an6
ill-judged condemnation of the action
Of our government. But this nation has
a conscience, and any appeal to the con.
science Of this nation must be listened
to. however it may finally be judged.
We should demand of our congress
thorough discussion and full light upor
this whole matter. We are not to BIZ
satisfied whit hypocritical explanations
or pretences, or with any such easy jus.
tification Of it, superficial in reasoning
and with large spaces in it vacant o.
facts, as has appeared in papers repre-
renting the relig' GUS sense of the com
munity, like the Outlook. The justifica
tion of our national conduct, if it is tt
be worthy Of our nation. must be ont
that will give us a good case, should {
weaker people present claim of dam
ages for the disDossession of its terri
tory and the loss Of its property, to b.
argued and adjudged before court 81
august as The Hague tribunal. Befor'
we conclude new treaties, and hastel
and make or reject new guarantees
congress should see to it that we have
case which will stand before the high
est Judicial judgment in fuIfilment O
the obligations os old treaties and for
mer guarantees-with no justification
less than this will the conscience of tfi
nation be satisfied. Reserving judg
nent while insisting upon the necessity
that our national action shall not b
completed until case justifiabIe in Law
and honorable in morals. shall hav,
been made out, worthy of us as nation
I postpone giving thanks for the Pana
ma canal until another Thanksgiving
day.
IN INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS.
DR.. Snnyth referred with gratitude tt
the facts that in our local civic affair.
the corporate business which directly
concerns the welfare of the people hat
been in the hands OF men who have
the confidence of the community, ant
the friends of good government herr
have not had to fight that as in some
large cities that unholy alliance of somt
public corporations with the lusts ant
vice of the city-that covenant of greco
and lust which is the enemy of us all
Our industrial peace, too, has been kept
with mutual reasonableness and agree
f..