The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-30
Services Are Held at the
Churches This Morning.
Four Union Meetings Presided
Over by Local Preachers.
DIR. ESTEY'S SERMON.
Why People Have Reason to Be
Thankful.
Mr.. Tanner and Mr.. Raymond
Deliver Interesting Sermons.

Four union meetings served this morn
ing to celebrate Thanksgiving in Tope-
ka, at the First Baptist church where
DR.. S. S. Estey Of the First Presbyterian
church preached; in North Topeka at
the Second Presbyterian church where
Rev. W. Z. Tanner of the North Topeka
Baptist church preached; at the Third
Christian church where the Rev. o. e.
Raymond of the Parkdale Methodist
church occupied the pulpit: and at the
Second United Presbyterian church
where Rev. Ralph Ward of the West
minister Presbyterian church preached
the thanks sermon.
The meetings were the arrangement of
the Ministerial union and are echoes of
the recent evangeIistie movement held
here by DR.. Chapman and his corps of
used, central, north, east and south
west
The service in the central district con-
tanned this program: Invocation, Rev.
W. W. Wilson; Scripture Lesson, Rev.
c. A. Finch; Prayer, Rev. F. L. Hayes;
Proclamation, Rev. J. A. Renwick;
Sermon, Rev. S. S. Estey; Prayer. Rev.
H. A OFT; Benediction, Rev. T. S.
Young.
Dr. Estey's Sermon.
DR.. Estey's sermon follows in part:
All the world despises the ungrateful
man. Every one contemns ingratttude
Even the brute shows gratitude. 1ngrat-
itude is base because. it evidences a
coarse, blunt moral nature. It bespeaks
an obtuseness relative to moral values
that Is both revolving and appalling
Gratitude roots itself deep in the finer
moral traits. It is born of erect moral
strength and clear eyed vision Of sight.
I'm oTe nf fifnHP
to a benesactor is tainted with falsity
as certainly as he who refuses to pay his
honest debts.
The command to give thanks is an in
junction looking primarily not TO the
Lords ACKNOWLEDGMENT in honor but 10
the souls culture in all things sweet and
proper. It is good for the soul itself to
give thanks.
on this Thanksgiving day believe we
shall find it a good thing to count over
Some of our blessings and render unto
God our tribute of gratitude.
As a nation we have many things
for which to be thankful. Our fields
have brought forth abundantly, and
our barns are overfowlpg. Beyohd
the realm of the material our nation
has cause for thanksgiving A higher
type of craftsmanship than We h9%e
/ ever known before is developing IN
onr midst Leaders standing for
Righteousness are arising and under
their guidance the masses are de-
rnanding higher standards of govern
meut A revival of civic righteous
ness is in our midst. Our land Is f1lled
with charities and philanthropies.
| There is more humane love in the
world today than ever before.
As churches we have many things
for which to be thankful. We have
had showers of blessing, spiritual
blessing. God by His spirit has been
! in our midst and 1t makes US humble
| before Him today, as all great bless
Z think that we all feel that in our
! individual lives the blessings have
been like the sands of the sea, IN
| Vulnerable. There are the thousand
almost unnoticed blessings which yet
make the still sunshine of our lives
almost as little noticed as the daylight
until the night comes to remove it
| The roof that protects from the rain
/ the fire that makes the winter glow
| with comfort, abund dance of food, lux
| uries of bed, rocking chair, the book
| the magazine, the picture
But shall we give thanks for bless
| ings only? Is Thanksgiving day, then
only for the prosperous and happy
/ Shall the wounded and the bruised
heart have no part in the service OF
/ the sanctuary on that day. The Chris
| tan, at least, can thank God for the
/ discipline of life. His thanksgiving is
at its root not praise for a particular
( blessing, but deep, wellspring of JOY
| in the trust that Father God guides
| and blesses ali. Whatever comes he
/ still gives thanks in the cons@Sce
that God is ever the God. Though
He slay me, yet win I trust Him -
and that trust Is in its essence the
| peace and the confidence of thanks
| giving.
On the North Side.
At the service on the North side at
I the Eno1T7d GhVfaTfan church a
tette composed of Miss Grace Page,
/ Mrs. Elmer Olinger, Mr.. J. D. Pratt and
Mr.. M. c. Holman sang.
Rev. Mr.. Tanner, who preached the
/ sermon said in part:
/ With the many other things for which
/ we should be thankful and praise God,
is progress. Our nation has reason to
| be grateful for the many ways in which
1 we have developed.
/ Commerce has increased 40 per cent
/ since 1896. Trade relations between
/ Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines
/ have increased our export business won
derfully. Notwithstandir~ the discrimi-
! nation against American products, oul
| export trade with Europe has Increased
10 per cent. At home new factories and
business establishments have trebled
Business is upon a firmer basis than {
few years ago. New business methods
| save time, expense ana accomplish
( definite results. The steam roads, in
terurban trolley, telephones and rura
/ mail delivery, bring the country intS
close business touch with the city. We
are a prosperous people. In this pros
perity Kansas stands out prominently
+. D. Coburn, state secretary of agri
culture, says it is the most prosperous
year for the farmers. In 1904 there wa:
raised 64,79S,399 bushels of winter
/ wheat in Kansas and Mr. Coburn say.
the figures this year viii go beyond 75
OO0.O 600 bushels. The farm products O.
Kansas in 1904 were valued at $20S, 406
365.6f and Mr.. COburn eavs 1905 will sur
pass those figures. Our coal, zinc. oil
natural gas and salt is sufficient f. sup
ply the entire Missouri valley.
Sociology has become practical il
business and religion. The employee
and employe are recognizing its princf
pies. Strikes are falling into disfavor
The home life is emphasized. The homo