Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-28
THE LARGER THANKSGIVING.
Fourth in Rev. M. Ross Fishburn's
Series Of "Talks on Timely Topics.

Series Of ''Talks on Timely Topics.
Rev. NJ. Ross Fishburn delivered a SER
mon Sunday evening appropriate to the
season, using as his text an abstract from
the Presidents Thanksgiving proclamation
In introducing his topic Mr.. Flshburn said:
I'm the epistle of Paul to the Romans
there is an excellent text for Thanksglv-
ing sermon. But ] have chosen my text
for this evenings sermon from the epistle
of Theodore to the Americans. President
Roosevelts epistle is better known a
proclamation his Thanksgiving proclama-
ton The words which 1 have selected are
from the opening paragraph, where the
President says:
When, nearly three centuries ago, the
first settlers came to the country which
has now become this great republic, they
fronted not only hardship and privation,
but terrible risk to their lives. We
live IN easier and more plentiful times than
our efathers and yet the dam
gers to national life are quite as great now
as at any previous time in our history
/ Most worthy are these words of the am
pifdcation they will doubtless receive next
Thursday in many public services. For the
Presidents optimistic affirmation that 1--WE
live In easier and more plentiful times than
did our forefathers'' we should all be
grateful. The words are emphatically true,
as an extended comparison of our times
with those of our ancestors will reveal.
Here Mr.. FiShburn made a careful re-
view of the industrial. social, political and
religious conditions which prevailed hum
dred years ago or more, in each instance
showing the advance that has been made
during the centuries.
AS Sunday was the worlds Temper
ance Sunday" the minister devoted some
time to discussion of the movement for
temperance reform, and reminded the au-
dience that in this respect We live in vastly
better days than our forefathers. He said:
I'm 1903 a temperance society was organ
lied in Saratoga county, N. Y, in which
forty-three members, all of them highly re-
spectacle farmers, pledged themselves not
to drink gin, whisky or rum, under pen
atty of % cents, and not to be drunken,
under penalty of 90 cents for each Of
Tense. A comparison of that document
with modern temperance pledge can give
only one impression. Mr.. Fishburn also
told how a member Of his church had put
into his hands the itemized account of the
expenses attending the installation of a
minister as pastor of the Congregational
Church in Woburn, Mass, in 1904, which
included $35 for liquor of different varie-
ties.
drunkenness was SO common In those
days. said the speaker. that a leading
Presbyterian minister in Phila delphia found
on reaching cemetery that the elders In
his church who were pallbearers at the
funeral were so drunk that they could not
handle the coffin, and one fell into the
grave
Turning to the second proposition of his
text, In which the President declares that
1.-The dangers to national life are quite as
great now as at any previous time In our
history" Mr.. Fishburn said:
cit is because the President loves his
people that he utters his warning note in
the hour when our nations present and
future seem most secure
Continuing, he said: TT has always been
a terrible law of life that when a nation
ACQUIRES a large measure of wealth and
re- cttizans begin 10 devote them
selves to luxurious living, and in so doing
jeopardize their highest interests. In the
days of hardship and privation we retain
by sort of stern necessity certain hardy
virtue.
prosperity is weapon that often kills
at both ends. And If we as a nation so far
forget ourselves as to devote our energies
chiefly to the securing and enjoying of
luxury, we shall fall into a danger from
which neither our army nor our navy can
save US. Down the old descent with Per-
STA and Carthage and Rome we will go, and
some future historian will chronicle the
shameful record of the decline and fall
of the American republic.
Concluding. Mr.. Fishburn said: Some
preachers will go into their pulpits next
Thursday with shout. They will gather
up all the records of bountiful crops and
business prosperity and material we'll
being and say: What great nation are
WEI
"Other ministers will go into their pull
pits next Thursday with a groan. They
will gather together all the h.deous stores
of crime and injustice, and will use these
proof that our nation is swiftly going to
the dogs.
LET US enter upon the privileges of our
THANKSGIVING day in the spirit of the man
whose proclamation calls us to assemble,
neither chattering about our smartness nor
moaning about our dangers, but in render
ing thanks unto the Most High for the
manifold blessings of the past year let US
'consecrate ourselves to life of cleanlt-
ness, honor and wisdom, SO that this ma
ton may do it's allotted work on the earth
in manner worthy of those who founded
it and of those who preserved it," !"