The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1914-11-29
CI5QrQcfer al7d Mission ]
Of American Republic
BROUGHT ForcibIy TO Attention
Of The Public in An Able
Thanksgiving Sermon.


D., pastor Of the First Methodist
Episcopal church, at the harrisburg
union Thanksgiving services: $500
Blessed Is the nation whose God
is the Lord Ps. 80.
We have reached The day set for
Thank giying. We welcome the re-
turn Of this national holiday. Born
( in brave, deyout hearts, disciplined
BY priyRtions we know not OF, until
they were thankful for anything, 1t
grew to be national custom. 1t is
beautiful idea 1t is fitting that we
should Cad her here today in the quiet
=. n This little temple to sing and pray
s,Ne. give thanks When we think
liz. ~ toler our land today in every
s.ss, n9wn Village and hamlet CON
sesauona tErong the churches as we
70 70 give, devout thanks to God, it
slyes Inspiration to our own service
ana we arg Reminded that we are not
~ and tpf o,ireslves, but Il part of a
wloie nation OF worsh.ppers whose
GOO Is our Lord.
American Ileu.
Gay OF EThank1giving Is an Amer
a@n idea qltis, highly fitting that a
laripn thatTbas been SO strongly led
w tne hands0f God should observe
such dayootIt seems that God re-
served America for special purpose.
ne concealed 1t for centuries, and
Wlsn II was discovered He paced up
ana down the continent warding off
tne nations flor hundred years, I'M
III he siftedi them, that He might find
people who would build for Him
ibis ultimate 4ation on earth.
America is the last continent that
can pc founded In our planet. The
poles have been reached. and prac-
ideally every foot of our globe has
been explored, and there now re.
mains no continent to be discovered.
America was Gods last chance to
dognd model nation on earth. We
would expect Him to guard well His
opportunity.
God has not reserved America as a
paradise for pleasure seekers; nor a
camping ground for gold hunters.
This was to be q wide domain where
merit and manhood should have a
chance, and conviction and con-
science should have no restraint, and
when Roger Williams, Lord Balti-
more, 0gIethorpe and William Penn
come together with the Puritan, the
Heugenot and the Hollander, God
threw open vide the gates Of the con-
tinent and said. well let them in 10
build 9 nation on g new plan, that
shall Stand as pattern for all the
earth1 Old empires had settled in
such grooves OF tyranny and oppres-
sion that fair degree of liberty was
not to- be dreamed of. Never could
humanity under those ageworn sys-
tens throw of their shackles and be
free. 1t was to America that the
world must look. Here old questions
swersstDrbe reopened and have new
hearing; here was to be the ultimate
adjustment Of all the finer principles
that concern our race; here the bur-
dened and oppressed were to come
and ind a sure retreat; here God IS
model nation was to be built whose
torch Of liberty should dazzle the
world.
Rights Of Man.
The foremost nations. of history
have left upon the world the impress
of a special idea. There is Judah
with her religion; Egypt with her
monuments; Greece with her sculp.
ture and art; Rome with her milf
tary power; but when we turn from
these to America we find her glory
rests not in her monuments, though
they almost reach the clouds; not in
her military genius, though she has
given the world Grant and Jackson
andfLee; but in that which will live
on when her monuments shall have
crtiinbled and when military genius
shall no longer have field for action.
For she has demonstrated the great
question OF the ages in this, that the
inalienahle rights of man. And as
life. liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness are best secured in govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for the. people" That's the one great
achievement thus far. But
aTime makes. ancient good uncouth
They must upward still and on
ward who would keep abreast
with truth"
what's the next step in the forward
movement? What shall be our next
great achievement for humanity's
sake! Our Declaration of In
dependence says, I'VE sold as
q self-evident truth that all
men are created. equal" Perhaps
human equality is the next great
achievement. Equality of opportun-
ity. Defending the weak against the
strong; guarding the individual
against corporate wealth ard power
Some think this contamination is
drawing nigh. May be SO. Surely
it is not long to be delayed. But
mention at least two great achieve
meIts that will probably precede this
one: First, that we will now do for
world peace what we did for world
liberty. The nations Of Europe are
but foamtng waves in the whirlpool
Of war. Who shall speak the peace
be stir to the troubled waters? Who
shall loosen the grip OF war? If God
is to depend on human agencies,
again, America is His last chance,
There is no other left to whom He
can turn.
Milltarism vs.. Peace.
The minister is Gods prophet. He
must stand on the. watch towers and
intafpret Gods providences and the
striking events OF his time. confess
that i never have had as hard time
to i've a hopeful Interpretation as in
the last few months. ! have been
preaching optimism for-twenty years
hutgnow IN the midday light of the