The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-01
SERMONS PREACHED ON THANKSGIVING
What Prominent Ministers Said-Their Sermons
 Boiled Down

!, Thanksgiving morning in Birming- ham yesterday was marked by the simultaneous giving of thanks at churches in all parts of the city, Re- gardless of creeds, men and women as- sembled in union meetings for their religious observance of the day. =
 The sermons delivered from the pull pits of the churches bore upon tho season and its attendant responsibili- ties with comments on the modern drift of humanity and its foibles.
 The following excerpts from Thanks giving sermons preached In Birming- ham affords a digest of the ideas brought out:
 Dr. W. E. Evans of the Church of the Advent: "There are many reasons why we should be thankful from na- tiona1, spiritualual and personal con- sideration. We possess the liberties of government, denominational worship and individual freedom that the origin ators of Thanksgiving Day came to the shores of America for and laid the foundations of the American revolu- tion with their liberty loving idea"
 pr. J. s. Foster, from the pulpit of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church to union congregation from the North side churches: ITO a Christian heart nothing Is so consonant with reason as this scene duplicated in many thous- ands of places to send new volume of praise to Him whom we adore, to honor the name of Him whom we love and to add strength to the interests which ad- vance His cause. It is an honoring of God in our national life. A preserva- tion of Gods favor toward this nation and affords an opportunity for an ex- pression of gratitude that should come from our hearts as grateful people"
 pr. U. D. Mooney of the Second Pres byterian church during the union meet ing at the South Highland Presbyterian church.: "The modern life is draining our bodily, mental and spiritual powers. The man and the nation that do not uniformly seek replenishment from physical depletion are lowering every phase of future capacity. Thousands oe spirits today are renewed by the habits of prayer. While feet may be busy, hands may be active and heads occupied by the matters of business all day long, prayer brings the heart into communication with the source of life"
 Dr. A. J. Bryan at the home coming of the Third Presbyterian church yes terday morning: We have much to be thankful for this year as it has been one of international and domestic peace and one of the great historic events of the year was the progress made toward permanent peace by the signing of arbitration treaties between England, France and America. Thanks giving Is help giving; Thanksgiving is thanks living. It is a day for self ex- animation. self conservation and self giving"
 Dr. W. M. Blackwelder at the West End union services held at the Vine Street Presbyterian church: Tt Is the souless and needless attitude which is thanl<less for the constancy of gifts makes us. lose sight of the Giver To think deeply and nob1y leads to thanks giving. If we think rightly we can see that God necessarily gives Himself, His life. His Help, His watchfulness to everything that has life and most of all to man, in whom the power to re- ceive is the greatest. So long as the people remain true to God so long will our republic live and flourish We give thanks today that the advance of our nation means freedom, manhood, in- tellgence, religion, better morals and the coming in of the worlds better veal"