The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-26
Z Atithe saptInt Church.

.a5 AT the PS3at1ne Baptist cnurcn,,
where the church people ofsthes East
Side congregated for the Thanksgiving
service an excellent sermon was
preached by Rev. J. b. Workman. pas
tor OF the Diamond Street Methodist
Episcopal church.
Rev. Workman has only been resi-
dent Of this city for few weeks. and
this was the first opportunity many
have had to hear him preach. His ser
mon made most profound impression
on the large congregation assembled.
Splendid music was furnished for
the occasion by. the choir Of the Bap-
tist church. An interesting order OF
Rervice was observed, Rev. John
Brown. pastor OF the First ward Bap.
tist church and Rev. L. E. Oidaker.
pastor of the First NJ. P. church, as.
sisting.
Rev. Worknan's Sermon.
Rev. Workman spoke in part as fol-
lows:
At the call OF the President of the
United States, seconded by the proc
lamation of the Governor of West Wiz.
ginia, we, as loyal, Christian people.
have met together today to give
thanks to Almighty God for his bene-
fits SO richly and so freely bestowed
upon us as people and as individuals
during all our past-but particularly
during the past year.
Thanksgiving implies, as DR.. Bar.
row has said, "a right apprehension
of the benefits conferred; faithful
retention OF benefits in memory, and
frequent reflection upon them; due
esteem and valuation OF benefits; a
reception OF those benefits with a will.
ing mind. vehement affection; due
acknowledgment of our obligations;
endeavors Of real compensation, or, az
it respects the Divine Being, will
ingness to serve and exalt Him; es'
TEEN, veneration and love OF the hene-
factor"
The blessings for which we should
give thanks might be grouped as FOL"
lows: Temporal. Spiritual and Eter'
raj; or. past, present and promised.
Our obligation to give thanks arises
n from the relation we sustain to
God; (2) the divine command; (3) the
promises God has made; "a the eX'
ample of all good men; co. our I'M
orthiuess Of the blessings we re-
ceive; (6) the prospect Of eternal
glory. =
DR.. Chalmers has said, Whoever
possesses any good without giving
thanks for It, deprives him who be-
slows that good of his glory. sets
had example before others and pre-
pares recollection painful for him
self when he comes in his turn to eN'
perience ingratitude."
shall not trespass upon your time
today by narrating the various stages
by which we have come from that
first American Thanksgiving day in
1921, followed by periodic and irregu'
lar observances until in 1864. since
which time we have as a nation been
called upon each year, on the last
Thursday in the month of November
to assemble in our places OF worship
and give thanks to Almighty God for
his benefits to us as a people.
AS foundation for what may fur
Their say, | call attention to this text
of scripture, found in Hebrews 1915:
"By him (Jesus) therefore let us Of
fer the sacrifice of praise to God con-
tinually. that is. the fruit OF our lips
giving thanks to His name.
Christ Jesus had now fulfilled all
vision and prophecy, had offered, in
himself, the last bleeding sacrifice
which God would ever require or &C.
cept. he being the gift OF Gods love
Ia the world The thought of the writ
er of the text is, let us through him
offer the sacrifice of praise to God con-
tinually. this being the substitute for
all Levittcal sacrifices.
The teaching of the Jews was. that
in the time Of the Messiah, all sacri-
fices except the sacrifice of praise
should cease. Paul virtually declares.
this is the time of the Messiah; Jesus
Christ is Messiah; all sacrifice Is.
abolished, except the sacrifice OF
praise for the gift of his Son.
When his usual clearness in the put
ting of things, Paul here declares. t)
all praise is due unto God; (2) should
be given through and because OF
Christ Jesus; (S) should come from
or be given by men.
While our text enjoins continual or
constant praise, am sure that God
our Father Is well pleased to have US
come thus together for this special
praise and thanksgiving.
Let us inquire first:
Why should our praise be given
unto God?
I answer: /. He is not only tho
author of our beinig and the preserver
OF our lives, but it was the gift Of his
love in the person of His Son Jesus
Christ, by which we were redeemed
from sin and death, and brought again
into favor and covenant relationship
with Him, so that 1t becomes doubly
our duty to give praise unto God our
gracious benefactor.
2. God is the source of all power!
The power to feel-the power to love