Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-30
AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
Rev. Perkins on Meaning of Day to
American People.

That the proper way to celebrate
Thanksgiving day, according TO the
fashion OF the times, Is TO sit quietly at
home and stun ourselves with the good
things wherewith the turkey is stuffed,
was the observation of Rev. Chas. T..
Perkins at st. Paul's Episcopal church
this morning,
Rev. Perkins conducted a holy COM
munion service at o'clock and a
Thanksgiving service at 10 o'clock, at
which he spoke of the meaning Of the
day to the American people. He based
his address on the proclamation OF
President Roosevelt, analy2ing is as a
document expressing the personality Of
the president, and the temper of the
American people.
The proclamation, he said, command,
ed us TO celebrate the day with praise
and thanksgiving for the blessings OF
the past and prayer for the future. II
our forefathers saw 1T, when they were
surrounded by every difficulty and peril
10 ser apart day for national thanks
giving, how much more fitting was Il
that today when we are surrounded
with every blessing and benefit, to give
forth our thanks. 1--WE ought" he con-
tinued, TO be most thankful when we
receive most. and therefore today
should be day Of most universal
Thanksgiving. Every man who viii
work has enough and to spare of the
worlds good things, and the nation Is
free from enemies abroad. and only
threatened by personal enemies al
home--the enemies of pride, and sin,
with which the nation should always
be at war;"
The fact that the word God" Is no.
where mentioned In the proclamation
was commented upon. "The omission
OF this word" said the speaker, Il con-
slider wise, for the proclamation is to
the whole American people, and
must be acceptable to everyone.
il uses the words Most High"
Oliver " All Good" and Almighty"
but the word God" is omitted except
IN the date line at the bottom where the
legal expression I'm the year OF our
Lord" appears. The general proclama-
ton leaves 1t possible for all people liv-
ing In America to gather together at
their fresides or in houses Of worship
and render their thanks in a fitting
manner.
Rev. Perkins then sketched the prog
ress OF America, noting the great
sloNln IN Jne last ueGaue ana pointing
out how prosperous is rne future i'm
mediately before the nation.
The president Is man of war" he
declared land II Is hard for him to get
entirely away from his natural incllnl-
tons Therefore after speaking OF tho
freedom OF American institutions from
threatened war without he speaks Of
the passions of man, which are the foes
with whom we should ever be at war
The president himself sets an admir-
able example Of the kind OF life his peo-
pie should lead"
Commenting on the fact that so few
people now devote Thanksgiving day TO
the giving OF spiritual thanks. the
speaker remarked on the empty benches
IN the church. and expressed the hope
that those not there were at home Of
iering thanks around the family fire.
side This afternoon" he said they
VIII be eating turkey and stutiing them'
selves with the good things wherewith
the turkey Is stuffed. And In this con-
neotlon let us remember that we should
not forget in the midst Of the feast to
render thanks for the past and pray for
the future"
Following the sermon the ST. An
drews day service was conducted, AMI
an Offering Of charity for the poor was
collected