Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-30
THANKS GIVEN
FOR BLESSINGS
DOWN TOWN CHURCHES HOLD
IMPRESSIVE THANKSGIVING
UNION SERVICES.
REV. 3. F. PATTI SPEAKS
Musical Program lnspirational; Vocal
and Instrumental Numbers Mag
nifty the Lord Hits Open
Saloon.

! From Fridays Daily.
The downtown churches held inn
pressive Thanksgiving services last
evening at the First Congregational
! church. A musical program, both vo-
cal and instrumental, preceded the
sermon which was delivered by Rev.
B. F. Patt, pastor of the First Bap-
, fist church. Mrs. j. C. Stevens was at
| the organ and gave an Introductory
group, which was followed by two an
thems by the choir, 90 Lord how
manifold are they works." by Barn
by, and 81 Will Magnify Thee" by
Rogers, under the dictatorship of
James Swirles. Mrs. John Hughes
! sang a beautiful solo, 1.-The Earth is
| the Lord's.'
The sermon of the evening was
| descriptive of the things that people
should be thankful for. Mr.. Patti ac'
knowledged the bounties Of the year,
! but emphasized the value of home
! ties and friendships. He also made
plea that the open saloon would not
be permitted to return to OttumWa-
Rev. 3. F. Pats Sermon.
Mr.. Patti said: 20 give thanks unto
the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy
endureth forever. Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving and into his courts
with praise. Be thankful unto him
and bless his name Praise the Lord,
O Jerusalem, praise thy God, O Zion,
for he hath strengthened the bars OF
thy gates, he hath blessed thy children
within thee, he maketh peace IN thy
borders, he filleth thee with the finest
Of the wheat. Let the people praise
thee, O God, let all the people praise
thee"
The permanent establishment of a
day of thanksgiving to our heavenly
father for the blessings OF the year, is
worthy of prosperous people, with
grateful hearts.
The record of the first Thanksgiving
| is found in a letter written at Ply
mouth, Mass, December II, 1921.
The harvest being gathered, Gov.
Bradford sent four men out hunting TO
procure fowls for Thanksgiving feast
that the people might rejoice together.
These few hunters procured enough
game to provide the large company TOR
week. Massasoit, the Indian chief,
with some ninety followers came to
the feast bringing five deer as his or
fering for the occasion, and the feast
ing continued for three days.
The first Thanksgiving day In Bos-
ton was In 1881. A day Of fasting and
PRAYER had been appointed to petition
the Lord for relief from the stern WIN
ter and the threatened famine that
was upon them.
But upon the arrival of ship from
England bringing relief. February ~,
the day was changed from day OF
fasting to a day Of thanksgiving.
For a period of 100 years, till 1883,
the day was irregularly observed,
when a resolution was passed by con-
sress to the effect that the president
anpoint a day of Thanksgiving, and
George Washington set apart Novem-
Der 26th, to be observed by prayer
and praise for "the signal dressings OF
Almighty God"
Since the year 1912 the day has been
observed by the northeastern, the
northern, and western states.
In 1853 eight states of the south
land had a day appointed by their re-
spective governors for public recogni-
ton Of Almighty God for the yearly
blessings" After the war OF the re.
bellion 1865, the whole nation observed
the same day. Today the United
States and Canada keep Thanksgiving:
There is nothing in the "old world OF
like character.
It Is indeed beautiful custom, and
should not be observed In a more
formal and heart1ess manner, but as
true expression of the gratitude OF a
free people whose "God Is the LORD.
| 7 am aware that it Is customary TO
dwell largely upon our national bles-
sings-onr great country-our magn1-
fcent and free institutions-our flag
o1r national prosperity and greatness
and our peaceful relations WIN all tne
nations of the earth. =,
You will pardon me If 40 not dweil
upon these material things, or whlcn
we are Justly proud, nor upon our ran.
roads and steamship lines, our great
Inventions and the statistics or the I'M
! precedented harvests OF 1917, our
Panama canal and our recent electlons'
With all these we are very 1amlllar:
permit me to follow another line OF
thought this evening.
Things to be Thankful ror:
This day is a reminder Of blessed
memories. With many Of us 1t is a
day of the past. 1t is no longer to us
day of home-going nor Of home-com'
ing. The old home has passed into
the hands of strangers who will never
know how it's halls resounded IN other
years with the sound Of happy voices
on each Thanksgiving day.
would say to all-keep up the Old
custom Of home and family gatherings
SO long as the good providence OF God
permits.
The things I would emphasize at
this time. for which we should cult
vate the thankful habit are:
The dav in which we live. 1t is the
! golden age of the worlds history. II
widely differs from all the past. In q
knowledge and mastery of phys1ca
! forces for the practical use and en-
| iovment of men In knowledge OF
ourselves, our fellow men. and the
whole world of humanity. Never be
fore were the peoples of the eartf
brought into such intimate and friend
L., rotations as tO6ay