The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-11-29
THE THANKSGIVING SERVICE.

day morning were unusually impress
i've. The church va, beautifully dec.
Grated with flowers, ferns, etc, and
the music wa, IN charge Of II special
choir. ! he sermon by Rev. c. l..
Ilickok was strong discourse, Fol-
lowing i, brief summary;
The sermon was from the text Ne.
hcminh Ana, Eight for your breth.
rcn, your sons, your daughters and
your houses, aud was based upon the
eutlrG history OF the return Of the Jews
from captivity, particularly Of that un.
der Nehemiah OF its head
The speaker emphasized three things
evidenced in that history:
1t was national movement, not
individual, that was based upon the
Word Of God.
1t was time of National thanks.
giviug-iOr the release from Babylon.
ian captivity; for the restoration of the
Holy City, Jerusalem; the rebuilding
OF its walls and temple.
1t was II time for active aud aggres-
siye work, that demanded the services
of each, from the highest to the lowest
among the Jews.
Thus our day of rhanksgiyIng-na.
tiuna in its character; public and
private reasons fur giving thanks and
duti, to be performed. In the nation,
thanksgiving for peace; f5r prosperity,
not outstanding the present furry /;
for advancement Of moral conscious.
mes, manifested in business, social aud
political life Events OF the day show
the people at heart are in sympathy
with movements tor righteousness A.
an illustration, the evil OF the liquor
traffic, which more aud more is com
ing to be regarded as iuscparabc from
evil
In private life, reasons for thanks as
diversified nS the character Of those re.
turning thanks. Above all other
things, for the old, old story, sung
through the centuries, Christ aud God,
love and salvation in HIM. While wc
give thanks, many problems are pre-.
sented aud many duties demand our
GpTXipp "a uapnrul uunru "a
that makes for righteousness com.
mands the services of the followers OF
Christ. As an illustration because q!
lis prominence Mt this time and that
now each must face it in local and
state issues, the question OF local op.
ton. Not that tnis is all of righteous.
ness, but one thing that makes right
eonsnes.
Many obstacles and much opposition
manifested itself in the DAYS Of Nche.
miah, and these find striking counter.
parts today in the opposition TO right,
eousness.
Some chose TO remain in Babylon, at
tracted by its life or their ambition. So
today there are those who choose the
opposition from personal motives, thcir
own gain or aggraudi2emcnt
Some actually opposed the work Of
Nehemiah by false charges, ridicule
sending false prophets and by active
warfare And so t0l1v
There was opposition from within.
jndah who said the Strength of bearers
of burdens decaycd, we cant do the
work. The mobiles put not neck to the
yoke" some who held fields and per
sons under mortgage. To-day, the cry
of the 81 can'ts" is heard. many of the
best equipped for service fail to answer
call; some who hold brethren in bon.
dage.
Notwithstanding opposition, the work
completed, walls restored and temple re.
built. Day of thanksgiving and praise
for completed work when the two pro-
ccssions cncircled the wall And so
our work for righteousness cannot fail,
because we too fight for the tcndcrest
interests Of life-our homes the boy,
the girl, the wife; for our brethren
Above all, our King is the King of right
eonsness and victoty must needs follow
His banner.
Here, to-day, our failings and short.
comings through human weakness; our
seeming by long striving, slow and
slight attainment. One day the com
pleted work when in purity and right
eousncss our King shall reign. Then
the glad, unending thanksgiving and
praise to God.
The call is to you for thanksgiving.
Ii is accompanied by the command that
you fight; fight for the things of God,
for righteousness. In this you fight for
your country, for your home. Fight for
your brethren your SONS, your dangh-
tiers, your wives, your houses"
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n.k