The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-29

to those Of Mexico celebrated one OF it's
most distinctive national holidays,
Thanksgiving Day.
genuine spirit Of thanksgiving per-
vaded tne home and young and old en-
Joyed themselves 10 the utmost, the tur-
key with its "fXin's" as usual serving as
the centre OF attraction.
The day with it's accompanying good
young, TO whom the longed- for feast be-
came at last a. reality, but also To the
older people, who welcomed the day as
one OF quiet rest and much appreci-
ated holiday from work.
Everywhere. in public and private in
stitutions, the hand OF welcome was ex-
tended and In many families the day
was marked by Joyous reunion.
The weather was a heavy contributor
to the success OF the day, for although IL
was not such a crisp cold as Is usually
associated in the mind with Thanksgv-
ing, II was nevertheless a most enjoyable
one. the sun being in sight practically all
day and the thermometer, for the sea-
son. high.
AT THE STATE INSTITUTIONS.
At the state institutions. including the
Boys school at Sockanosset the inmates
partook or the good cheer OF the day. a
roast pig dinner being served. In both
the state prison and the Sockanosset
school a vaudeville entertainment was
given on Wednesday evening. while on
Thursday the Sockanosset boys partici-
and track events.
ST. JoSEPHS HOSPITAL.
Several hundred persons yesterday vis-
tied ST Joseph's hospital. and the usual
Thanksgiving Day custom of a public
donation was carried out. The hospital
W was open to the public from 10 o'clock a.
brought welcome gifts with them.
THE Y. NJ. c. A
Omen bo,Sa
afternoon at the V NJ. G. A. building at
jackson and Westminster streets Mu-
SIC was furnished by an orchestra and
light refreshments were served
In the evening "a gymnastic and fancy
dnncing exhibition was given i'm the gym
nasium under the direction of Prof, o.
l.. Hebbert.
The Young Womens Christian associa-
tion, block away also kept open house.
A turkey dinner was served here between
| and o'clock
CHURCH SERVICES.
Special services were held in many
churches in the city. and Thanksgiving
sermons preached.
Bishop Mcvickar conducted services in
All Saints Memorial church in the morn
ing
Rev. Clair f. Luther of the North
CONGREGATIONAL church in the afternoon
preached before the union meeting of the
Congregational churches OF the city at
tho Benefcent church on Broad street.
Rev. w. Moreton owen OF the Benencent
church Rev. Charles c. MacKay OF the
, Thornton church. and Rev. James Il.
Mcconnell of the Union Congregational
church, took part in the service. Rev.
Arthur Washburn, pastor of the Church
of the Saviour. Transit and Benefit
streets. preached at $3.50 o'clock. Holy
communion WAS celebrated afterward in
the same church. Many other churches
also held special services.
CHURCH OF THE SAVIOUR.
At the Episcopal Church of the Saviour
Rev Arthur Washburn preached a strong
and timely sermon.
The Congregationalists held union
service i'm the Beneficent Congregational
church in the forenoon. Rev. Clair T.
Luther OF the North congregational
church preached the sermon. which was
based on the words i'm jeremiah xiv 4:
20 the hope OF Israel the Saviour there
OF i'm time of trouble, why shouidst thou
be as a stranger i'm the land, and as a
wayfaring man that turneth away to tar
ry for a night?"
"In the last resort" said Rev. Mr..
Luther in the course OF his address "men
are thrown back upon God for help. In
extremity He is their only hope God
is on the side of the strongest battalions,
Napoleon's declaration is not forever true,
for men. arms and skill are not all in the
struggles Of this world.
OF God as absent. Even Jesus on Cal
vary in His agony expressed the thought
Of God forsaking Him. This cool. impas-
siVe theology denies, asserting instead
that God is always present. The heart
has its own theologies,' says Pascal ami
IL was not far for the imaginative East
ern ancient to go I'm time OF famine u
think of God as having gone away on a
journey.
Periods OF history seemingly have
been unmarked by signs OF divine power
The spiritual leanness- extending from -tAa
18th through the first half OF the 1str
century was such a time in our own land
Compared with that time, ours is a tims
of fair promise. when God Is not absent
I'VE ask. lis the day of revivals past.
Has God forgotten to be gracious? The
older among us remember the great re-
vival that precedented the Cival war w.
more easily remember the Moody anC
Sankey revival. Many have all but ceased
TO believe In the possibility of such sea
son OF refreshment The church In clos,
intimacy with God will have a continua
revival. IL is a sin IL we are at case H.
Zion.
I'm national affairs It is important Z,
see that God has led US In God W.
Trust Is stamped deep on tho conscienc,
OF the country, IL not on it's coinage ano
, that trust is an asset In time of pani,
and peril. Though God may not be ab
sent, this may become a Goddess worl,
and a prey TO greed and anarchy"
Baptist union service at the Grams
ton Street Baptist church was largely at
tended In the morning. Rev. Nathan Bal
ley Of the Jefferson street Baptist church
preached a Thanksgiving sermon In which
he said in part Thanksgiving day rep
resents a fundamental principle In our
American life. The old-time custom has
| a meaning. The plow and the reaper rath-
I or than the loom and the forge represent
! our American civilization. Though we are
OF the foremost OF manufacturing nations
we are yet a great agricultural people.
and the past decade and half have dem
onstratcd that our prosperity as n nation
leans back on the abundance of the har-
vest
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday.
II Is "A better confession OF the nations
faith I'm God than a constitutional amend
ment that should put God into the con-
stitution possibly could be
"rhe Joy OF this day Is peculiarly that
OF the family-the homecoming. It is a
home JOY. Notwithstanding the 1,130, ,eee r4t=