The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-12-01
Thanksgiving Service.


the Fir-t Baptist ehnrch Tnnrsd " even.
lag last. X Y. George Merriam read
Scripture selections, R-v. Daniel Olstott
offered prayer aid Rev. II. r. Huse con
Quoted responsive reading. Music was
furnished by the choir Of the First Bap.
tit Church and a mlle quartet, with h
solo by Mr.. Wilke.
Rev. b. b. Merrill, pastor Of the Cor
gregational Church, preached Tie ser.
mon of the occasion, Of which the fol-
lowing is an epitome:
Text, Psalm Io7; p, "And 1t them offer
the sacrifices Of thanksgiving am declare his
works with singing"
The past, present and future combine t.
inspire US with gratitude We are proud and
thankful for our Puritan ancestry. MANY
people like to be merry and gay WHO are glal
that their fathers were sober and reliable.
and although we did not choose our ancestors
or our native land, we are we'll content With
the selection OF Providence
Nearly three hundred years haye passed.
since New England history began, ami in
that period mighty wilderness ha, been
transformed into vast garden. We hase
grown very great and rich and happy, ami
have past AMI present Ahi1h call for devout
rejoicing, but low about the future The
highest thanksgiving is that which, with d
rational faith, anticipates greater blessings in
the future from the great things ii the past
Such nation as ours has grave perls to be-
ware Of, but We have also strong reasons for
hopeful forecast.
In the intelligent love Of liberty. This
has been the chief buwafk Of the republics
Of the past. Through It's inspiration the
handfuls Of Greece could withstand the num-
berless hosts of Persian invaders and the
little bands of Swiss patriots stood like their
mountain walls against The legions of Austria
Our people know the value OF their liberties
and prize them well.
z. The ample means of education insure
the permanence OF this spirit. No nation can
be enslaved or conquered with such a system
OF public instruction and such institutions Of
higher education as we possess. As our
coasts are defended with the best modern
Notifications, SO our nation is protected by
the latest and most important knowledge.
3 We have the highest hope in our Christian
religion. 1t is a faith for difficulties. 1t was
born on cross in face Of death that it might
conquer death, and we can see no greater
tasks ahead than it has successfully encoun-
tered. II we believe what we profess, we
may be thankful for the anticipated future.
All worshippng nations have had their
thanksgiving services. The earliest religious
festivals described in Greece were at the har
vest time. Ceres, the goddess of the fields,
and Bacchus, the god of the vineyards, were
the divinities of the day.
Mulutudes gathered around their affairs,
and in their presence the priests led forth
their victims for sacrifice. Fruits Of the earth
were offered and hbations Of wine poured
forth, and the people sang and shouted with
great JOY. There were urations and poems
IN which the most gifted men competed for
prizes IN their productions in honor of Ceres
and Bacchus. On day set apart for Apollo,
we might have seen a vast procession march
ing to his temple. There would be first the
magistrates and venerable old men bearing
olive branches; then the strong men in mid
die life with laurels and bucklers; then a
great chorus Of youths and madens, singing
hymns oil praise; next a company of beauti-
full boys in simple TUNES; then the fairest
young girls from the best families, bearing
on their heads choice offerings concealed by
veils; then appeared musicians and armed
dancers "ho' by occasional seuiiles, repre-
St the contest oil Minerva with the 'litans;
then stately ship, borne by concealed ma.
chinery and seeming to be moved bv a sail
wliich was supposed 10 resemble Minerals
RODE rode embroidered with records OF her grea'
ieeas' mere were many such festivities
among the Greeks, and the Romans adopted
them, both for regular and special occasions
79f saxon fathers set apart whole week
IN Wnlch' IN their own rude way, they glori-
II ile' ine eoI' lhey "orsiIpPeds he heather
aaAe 9len oeet more dcVoui and ontwardly
luanNi9I IMAM hflstians' but Their thanks
GIVING ialIGd oil the nigh vision anil hopeful
: 9u''ooh' 1t was iof common things from
10" sources
9pt i"lntt' borrowed the day not from the
ii5ainel' festivals, nut the Jewish Pentccnst.
" "neh II Is saId million people sometimes
lnionsed tne streets OF Jerusalem, and COW
h. w NY VIZ" ''9!' pooths 81 p"oEh7.
festiyity of a modern fair with the most oar