Norwich bulletin., 1910-11-25
THANKSGIVING IN. THE CHURCHES
Union Service at the Second Congregational and the
 Trinity Episcopal Churches with Sermons by Rev. ]. L.sR. WyckoH and Rev. Nelson Poe Carey.

At the union service of the Congre- gational churches and the Central Baptist church at the Second church Thursday morning, there was large number. present. the several ministers assisting Rev. H. J. Wyckof in the service, and the sermon was preached by Rev. J. l.. R. Wyckoff, of North Woodbury, Conn.,, father of the pas tor.
 He took his text from Psalms 100:4. and said, Thanksgiving day represents a fundamental principle and that is gratitude. To many it represents only a feast In the festivities of the day the element of gratitude, the religious element is forgotten. Among our so- called Christian people. there is la mentable disregard not only of the summons of God to the Thanksgiving service, but of that of the civil rulers who are ordained of God to this very thing. How many have come to the house of God with hearts melting with rays of gratitude! How many have come with their hearts in the letters of what we call hard luck? God is seeking by His mercies to lift us from depression and complaint to the realm Of gratitude and thanksgiving; and He bids us all to call upon our souls and all that is within us to bless His holy name.
 Thankful for Good World and Our Lot
 First, we ought to be thankful that We live in so good a world, and sec ondly, that God has cast our lot in the fairest portion of it. The world is not yet finished, but it is in the process. Through all the fluctuations the government still abides. The na- tion stands in unity, harmony and peace. as never before. The school houses ring with the .ehildren's eager notes, the church of Christ still lives and we should be thankful that we live in world where Christianity has found so secure an anchorage.
 Let us remember that we are living in a good world and be thankful for it. It is a good time today to go out of all our cares and fevers and fears and pessimism respecting the church, and the state, the reforms that finger, the times of the restitution of all things; and remember that God reigns. As we look down through the twenti- eth century we seen the new kingdom of righteousness and peace securely intrenched in every continent and gov ernment and in all the islands of the sea.
 The Hand of Providence.
 From the very beginning of discov- cry on this continent the hand of Providence can be traced in prepar- ing for and giving direction to the greatest republic the world has ever known. In the very Creation we might say, the foundation was laid for this worldinfluencing empire Not until this government was founded was there home for the downtrodden and liberty for the oppressed. Not until ou rinstitutions had been tried did a universal brotherhood dawn upon the race. All the signs of the times seem to indicate that God has raised us up as a special people, and that we are to do a special work for the hu- man family. The peculiar development of our national life. no doubt has re- suited from certain exceptional fea- lures of our inheritance, for each of which we should be gratefully. Think of the extent of our inheritance. MT. Gladstone truly said: The people of the United States have natural base for the greatest continuous empire ever stablished by man.
 Having every needed resource with in ourselves, of energy, inventive gen. jus and raw material, we have all ready won the first rank in manufac- turing.
 Guiding Hand of God.
 We are reminded today that we have a history of which no American citizen should be ashamed. The lead ing and guiding hand of God has The continent was unveiled just at the suspicious moment when a re- formed church was prepared to occu- py it. The God of battles fought on the side of the colonies The civil war obliterated slavery and cemented the union more firmly than ever. As we remember today the large and wealthy place in which God has cast our lot let praise swell on our lips, and thanksgiving fill our hearts and our prayers be that He may make us worthy of our rich inheritance. From these lofty heights of privilege may we catch the inspiring vision of the ideal human government, realized on our own shores, exalted by righteous ness, stainless in it's political purity, Christ-like in it's abundant charities, just and generous in its relations to all other governments secure and worthy to be perpetuated through its rever- ence, love and worship of God.
 Show Our Gratitude.
 As we gather at this shrine today, let us pour out our libatioT.s of grati tude to God, our heavenly Father, for our country, for what it is today. for and what we may help to make it; for our homes, their present joys, as sociations and comforts, and try to make them more sacred and dear by Christ's presence and love; for the sweet Gospel; whose echoes of saliva ton float among the hills and rever- berate through the valleys of the world: for the divine person of Jesus Christ, who. as God incarnate, is draw ing all the earth into the charmed cir cIe of His love: and for the doctrine of immortality. which brings us the glad assurance of the hour when Time shall be no more, and of fellow ships more endearinG thany any in the past: to all of which we are brought the nearer by the rapid flight of the years