Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-26
DELIvERANCE AND DANGER.
Thanksgiving Sermon at Grace Metho-
dict Church.


National Deliverances and Dangers was
the subject of the Thanksgiving sermon de-
livered this morning by Rev. Joseph Sd
mund Smith. pastor of the Grace Methodist
Episcopal Church, corner of 9th and 3
st. >ets. Rev. H. R. Naylor, the presiding
elder Of the derOminat ion occupied seat
on the platform during the service.
The preacher took his text from the Epis-
ties of st. Paul to the Romans, xii:12: RE-
joicing in hope, patience; in tribulation,
continuing instant in prayer" He spoke
of the general prosperity of the country
that had prevailed during the past year.
and saw In 1t an evidence of the goodness
and favor Of God, who had made the har-
vests fruitful.
individual, social, political. religious
goodness and mercy have followed us. Love
has directed the hand Of God in all His deal
ings with US. Even the clouds have had
silver lining"
to deal with political questions when they
study them from the religious point of
view. Until then they would not be able to
understand them. He regarded this coun-
try as the child of Providence He review
ed the history of the nation to show how it
has continuously prospered. In it's settle
ment 1t had been fortunate in being popu-
lated from Maine to Florida by people from
England and Holland who had brought
with them the idea Of religious and indi-
vidual liberty.
Theirs" he said. referring to the re-
ligon of the English and Dutch colonists.
was the only one under which liberty
could have been established. This does not
mean that their religion, as these men con-
Ceived 1t, was perfect. but still it was the
only one under which liberty could have
grown.
Nations Independence.
A third cause for thanksgiving was found
in the independence of the nation. The
Declaration of Independence. he said, was
the most daring act recorded in history.
That a people Of three millions of souls,
scattered along the Atlantic coast, should
throw down the gauntlet to the strongest
nation on earth was daring unprecedented.
There could be found but one explanation
for the successes of the country In the days
of its weakness and later in its strength.
and that was the will of God.
The development and the settlement OF
the question of state rights was reviewed.
We had shown, the preacher said that
republic can be unselfish. 1t had waged
war with Spain for the liberation OF an
oppressed people.
In the settlement of the strike in the
anthracite coal regions last fall he saw
the hand of God and a reason for thank
fulneSS Among the dangers that threaten
the country he regarded those of capital
and labor as among the first in impor-
lance. Capital and labor bring prosperity,
but the greed of capital or the acts of la
try. In the great strikes that had oc-
Cured in the country he saw a protest
against conditions running far back in
the history of labor.
Capital" he declared, has not recog
nized the dignity of labor. 1t has forgot
ten that the men who toll are the broth
ers of those who dominate capital.
The excuses of labor might also be-
come a menace to the prosperity of the
country.
immigration he regarded as a menace
to the country and the negro question as
dangerous to the peace of the country.
He believed. however, that with educa-
ton and fair treatment the negro will
become q desirable element in the coun-
try and the danger of II race war will be
averted. Some time, he declared the
negro will demand his rights at the bal
lot box. and the wise course is to elevate
him by the influences of schools and
churches.
The trusts were one of the dangers he
saw ahead of the country. not because of
the amount of the capital they employ,
but because of the greed that is apt to
influence them.
The preacher concluded his remarks by
reminding his congregation that Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty"