The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-25
UNIQUE SERVICES
 IN MONTGOMERY
GoN Cunningham Makes Ad- dress at Court Street Church
RODGERS CASE ARGUED
Lsws In the State Seem to Be In adequate to Give Any Relief to
 Those Behind Impeach-
 ment Proceedings. li !.

Montgomery, November 24.-(Special0- One of the most unique Thanksgiving services ever known in the state was held at Court Street Methodist church this morning, the acting governor of the state, Dr. R. M. Cunningham. making the principal address. It was a union meet ing participated in by several of the pas tors of the city, and was largely attended. A collection was taken for the City in- firmary.
 The congregation having assembled, Rev. Dr. Gregory pastor of the Second Baptist church, read the Thanksgiving proclamation issued by President Theo- dore Roosevelt on November l. after which Dr. Neal Anderson, pastor of the Central Presbyterian church. offered prayer. pr. Anderson prayed for the President of the United States, and that he might be the President of and ruler of every section of the country; for the acting governor and his work, and for the chief executive who Is away from his home and loved ones seeking health. The Lord was implored to hasten his recovery and send him back to his duties here his people had called him to.
 Several selections were rendered by the choir, including My Country, Iris of Thee" in which the congregation took part, and D. c. A. stakely, pastor of the First Baptist church, read the 103d Psalm.
 In introducing Governor Cunningham, Dr. Rice said that 1t was a wholesome doctrine that would keep church and state separate. but the idea was often perverted to the idea of keeping church and religion separate, which, if done, will mark the fall of any country. This being the case, he thought it peculiarly fitting that the principal address on occasions like this should be delivered by the chief executive.
 The Governors Speech.
 Governor Cunningham spoke as follows:
 A rich and powerful nation, a great state and splendid city in peace, pros- perity and praise. These happy condi- tionst demonstrate the triumphs of hu- manity, the reward of human effort and the providences of God.
 not aThe pea peace wi which l we enjoy today was martydom. It is the triumph of an oper- ation for freedom, the inspiration of en- lightenment and the love of humanity. These challenged the traditions and dog mas of centuries the divine right of kings, the infaliabiity of priests and the special privileges of casts which have shackled the race in slavery and submis- sion, and controlled them with despotism and tyranny through tbeir superstition and ignorance. As ignorance was super ceded by enlightenment truth was sub stituted for superstition, until man, ere ated in the image of God was made free and independent and declared and main- | 4ofr a1 T., ate r,.1 his freedom in religion. Thus departed the despotism of the king, the power of the priests of all religions. and in their stead came the majesty of law and the spirituality of religion with individual re- sponsibility to God and law.
 What matters it if Anaxagomas was tried because he declared that the sun was not the chariot of Apolo, or the Socrates was made to drink the hemlocl1 because he challenged the current Greek theology, If out of this martydom the dark cloud of ignorance was raised and superstition rent in twain, through which the truth shone with its glorious splen- dor.
 "What matters it if the Son of the Carpenter, the Boy of Nazareth, speak ing after the manner of men, the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, speak ing according to revelation, should die in martyrdom on the cross, if out of the divine sacrifice new l1fe' a new light, new hope, a new civilization and the final emancipation and redemption of mankind are created and accomplished. What matters it if men in all ages have sacrificed themselves to truth and prin- cipe if out of these have come free dom, liberty. hope and peace. They were but intsrumentaiites in the hands of God and agents in the economies of nature through which the present civilization 1has been taught The history of the con tentions of men in religion, civics, poli- tics and science upon the forum, in war and literature, Is largely the history of