The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-27
THE HARVEST HOME
BEAUTIFUL gERvICEs AT ST
 JOHNS CHURCH.
Edifice Was Appropriately Decorated and Hearts of Poor Made Glad Eloquent Sermon by
 Mr. 0obbs.

I | MT. 0obbs.
 The special Harvest Home service as St. Johns Episcopal Church yesterday morning was attended by large oonsre- sation.
 l It was a Thanksgiving service in the ! broadest and best sense of the word The very atmosphere of the sacred edihca' was redolent with the pungent perfumes of the cedars. vinas and autumn veseta- ton, used in it's decoration. every detail of which was in thorough touch and ao- cord with the sentiment of the occasion.
 The deep window sills were piled high with seasonabie edibles among which pumpkins, carrots, turnips, radishes, | potatoes apples and oranges played an Important part. The gas jets and chan deliers were adorned with wreathes of | smilax, the green of which was rendered even glossler and more beautiful by a mingled touch of yellow-red and white in golden carrots, ropes of red poppies and strings of pop corn. The pulpit was arranged in 9 placing of cotton stalks, !, from every bowl of which hung masses of the feecy white staple.
 Smilax. pampas grasses, ears Of corn, apples, oranges and grapes formed the effective decoration of the altar rail, while the altar itself was attraotively decorated with wheat and grapes. sym bolie of the bread and wine, the broken body and split blood of the Saviour. l One specially attractive feature was the decorations of one window, in which was large anchor, the hack ground of eet- ton, studded with golden ears of corn and great pods of red peppers,
 The music was 8 special feature of the service, the opening hymn being "The Song of Harvest Home" and in every word and note in touch and keeping with the spirit of the occasion.
 The soloists were Mrs. Stuart Wash burn and Master Frank Perry. The mornings offering was for the benefit of the Settlement Home or Neigh borhood House at West End. which home Is now practically completed, lacking only the plumbing work and painting when it will be ready for occupancy, and which the mornings offering is hoped to be sufficient to enable the Home to be opened in about two weeks.
 The establishment of the home was be- gun between two and three years ago and St. Johns Church has now property in 1t worth about $l, TOO.
 | The sermon of the Rector. Rev. E. E, Cohbs. which was earnest and impressive contained thoughts suggested by the first and second verses of the Epistle to St. James; DO not err, my brethren, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,''
 Mir. Cobbs said:
 Thanksgiving day Is primarily a national festival; it is national rather than individual and we are to dwell more especially upon the nations welfare and prosperity than upon the individuals hles- sing and good fortune.
 'srhe day very closely resembles that old Jewish festival holiday, the feast of TabeFnaeles. the annual festival of praise and thanksgiving. Whatever may be the motive or however .perflnotory the observance of this day, the very ex- istenee of Thanksgiving day ia sign of healthy life and a silent, though power full witness to the all momentous truth that above this world Great Creator and a Good God and a Loving Father is working and watching.
 '"The years have come between and separated us from the circumstances that lprompted our forefathers to set aside 8 special day for giving thanks to Almighty God The observance of this day for the mass of perple carries with 1t but little or no connection with the central Idea which lies at the foundation of it's institution, it is simply a holiday. day of rest and recFettion and has for them no religious significance.
 And yet the existence of such day is an urgent protest against the increas- ing materialism of our times and a con- stant reminder that all things temporal come from God and that to God they belong.
 ''The offerings that we have brought here within the walls of His sanctuary are here to remind us that all the har- vest, whatever 1t may have been. has come from God, and that to God at the last 1t belongs and shall return.
 For the nation, as well as for the in. dividual, the truth is the same; we are but stewards of the manifold gifts oi God.
 for rejoicing are of endless variety, and the progress of the nation is estimated from so many standpoints, it would be futile and impossible, to attempt to enumerate these blessings.
 "'But' said the late Bishop Westcott a great inheritance. a unique history splendid opportunities are not an occa- sion or an excuse for self-gratulation, They are a challenge to worthy endeav- ors'
 Tn the tremendous issues before Us ai a people, there can be no peace until 6 spiritual element animates our whole ac- tivlty. until religion Is not treated as an appendage. but is felt to be the inspira- tion of life; until the believer sets forth the faith in every relation of the family the city and the State.
 My brethren; in the national issues before us to-day, about which mems minds are so disturbed and distressed and divided, this one truth must be kept clearly in sight. that great opportunities and blessings demand and insure solemn responsibilities. On this day the natiol is called back to this principle, and t, it's corralery, that every good gift anC every perfect gift comes from above. ant cometh down from the Father of Lights.
 Giving thanks is a sign of health, life no less for the individual than for tn, nation, and you, each one, are bidder to-day to enter into the spirit of thank fitness. Your own personal blessing, are many, but are known only to your, selves. But do not err, my beloved breth ren for every good gift and every perfec gift is from above
 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father Is this( to visit the father. less and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world
 ''The last verse of the last Psalm forms a most beautiful and appropriate close to that great book. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord If Is the