News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-12-06
THANKSGIVING
Sermon Preached on Thursday Evening
Nov. 3Oth in the Cong'i Church, MOrrisviI'e,
by Rev. Otto S. Raspe


ness TO pass before thee"
Every man, woman and child has
something to be thankful for. No HE
is destitute OF heaVen.sent blessings.
GODS goodness is constantly made
manifest to US in all walks OF itC-in
the nation and in the stat; in the
city and in the country; III the church
and in the home; in prosperity and in
adversely; in health ana in sickness
Ever with us Is the spirit OF the
Father, to bless and console; tOguard
and to guide; to reward and to for
Civ; to strengthen to invigorate and
to save from earth.sCOrn bondage;
TO rescue from the whirlWind OF sin;
to protect from the cold blast OF plej-
udice; to lead over the rough places
of life beset with the snares OF the
tpmpter; the pitfalls of carnally DIe0
thoughts, the sorrows heir 70 the
fl ssh, the doubts murderOus to faith.
Even so every child of God is blessed,
if he will but have faith IN the good
ness of the Father and live as near as
possible in imitation OF the pure life
of His beloved Son, Jesus the Christ
Let us then, not be blind to Gods
goodness and loving kindness, but
tet us like Moses of old seek to catch
a glimpse OF Gods face and be thank
ful Tor his manifold blessings to us
and to the children of men. THAT the
soul who longs tor clear sight OF
(Nn,Sjc fooN a. OF D. th,,t1n Inf
word, and deed to embOdy The Eter-
nal Christ in his life; who rDseidshIy
playo to Almighty God in glad appre-
citation of all the joys and blessings
of lie has Itself already fulfilled the
promise given unto the lsTaelitish
leader: Il will make all my goodness
to pass before thee" Such noble
soul knows the larger life and by
virtue of its knowledge will be led to
glorify God and be thankful.
And so the promise comes to US to-
day. Will We doubt Coos goodness
and the tultillment of his promise?
Or will we, perhaps, be so engrOssed
by the subtle materalism of the day,
that we have no time to mediate tor
a season upon the various gifts; felci-
ties, the joys, the successes the vast
funds of blessings that have enriched
and sanctifed our lives? Or, again,
will we so far mistake the spirit OF
Thanksgiving Day as to make it an
annual celebration of intemperance,
feast day for the bodily gratitic9-
lions, rather than a spiritual FEAST
a glad Thanksgiving for the soul?
Would it not be good for us, on this
haIlowed day, to try and see some of
the ways in which God has made His
goodness known to US, right here, in
our own town? His goodness is
manifested to us in the most out
ward aspects of our village Look ye
at our situation nestled among the
everlasting hills! What An inspi-
ration to the soul of man! AS the
mountain towers TO the sky crowned
with a cap of snow, so may our
spirits rise up out Of the darkness of
earthly things to heights before I'm
known, of sublimity and heavenly
light, bedecked with a glory too
wonderful for kings, yet well becom-
ing to that priceless gem, the soul of
man.
0 mountain, we would climb thy side,
For thou art mighty, strong and bold;
Let us rest where strength and peace abide,
And love thy tender fold.
Thou art our friend ever firm and true,
One law of truth, OF hope and love;
m ipG mir
For the Father above.
Thy path is upward aud onward,
Symbocal of life's story;
Man progressing toward his Lord,
And everlasting glory.
We are thankful for thy peace on earth,
A shield and fortress thou hast ever been;
witness to both death and truth,
mount, we would pray and sing
Rev. OTTo S. RAspE.
But, apart from the symbolical
and the sacred associations, there
are natural Offices filled by the noun
tains-they give flow to water, max.
ing our pictures que river possible;
they bring about fertile soil which
yields bOuntiful harvest; they purify
the air and with their vastness, their
beauty, their sublimity they inspire
the soul with energy that makes tor
progress, purity and protection. Let
us then, be thankful for the messages
read from our mountains. Truly has
God blessed us; may we open our
eyes and behold how nature has
beautifed our village.
Aside from beauty, Gods goodness
is passing before our eyes when we be-
hold the various external facilities
which add to the prosperity of our
town. Bu.iness, social, educational
and religious advantages, all serving
mankind. Comforts upon comforts,
pleasures following Pleasures the
goodness of God springing up in our
midst. Let us be thankful!
In the second place, do we not feel
also, that GODS goodness passed be-
fore us in generous provision for
education? The mental, moral and
spiritual training of the young. Has
not God done we'll by us, to give out
of his bountifuI store such education
al advantages as we ber9 enjoy. dis.