Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-27

that shattered the old testament insti-
tuition OF religion.
SaeritcisI Element.
That no Thanksgiving is complete
unless IT carries with it the sacrificaI
element and that God requires this
self sacrifice in order that finer char
acter will result were points touched
upon. The speaker in referring to the
situation In Europe said:
We have enjoyed peace In our ma
ton during a year OF severe trials. We
have been able to keep from resorting
to the murderous weapon when other
nations are bathed in blood. We
ought to be thankful for such an I'M
measurable blessing. Let US thank
God that we have had a God fearing
and peace loving man in the presiden.
tial chair diring these testing times.
and let US be thankful that the nation
as a whole has so generously sur
mounted party differences and has co
nobly supported the administrations
peace policies.
But imagine, If you will. that we
today were in the grip of the war king
as IS the blood-bathed continent be-
yond the Atlantic. What kind of
Thanksgiving service would we have IL
all you able bodied men were in line
Of battle this day. and this place were
filed with widows and orphans and
anxious mothers and wives and sweet
hearts growing pale at the reception
Of every bit of news from the front:
What kind Of Thanksgiving would we
observe this day IL our city lay in
ashes at our feet and we faced the en-
emy's bayonets? Imagine that situa-
ton for a moment, and then try to
realize that the truth of the terror OF
the suffering Of war-stricken Europe
surpasses the fiction of the fight OF
your Imagination. And the suffering
of these is the suffering OF the Christ.
Can you stand before Christ's bleed
ing wound and say thank you, while
you refuse to apply the healing balm
that you hold in your hand? tell
you, this day we need to offer up unto
God the sacrifices of Thanksgiving"
"Feasting and GIadness."
Rev. ]. L. Vance of the United Pres
byterian church was the speaker at
the union service of the South Park
Presbyterian and Fifteenth Avenue
SAI CAuICh6cs at lLl6
yesterday morning. His theme was
''Feasting and Gladness," and his text,
Go your way and drink the sweet and
send portions unto him for whom moth
ing is prepared, for this day is holy
unto our Lord; neither be We grieved
for the Joy of Jehovah is our strength"
The action of Nehemiah, captive
patriot in Babylon. who had great sor-
row in his heart for the Jews in their
effort to restore Jerusalem, in having
the city wall rebuilt and establishing
good government was applied to pre-
sent day conditions. In closing the
speaker said:
I'VE have many blessings today in
common with the ancient people of
God. save that these are in enlarged
measure. His word abides with us,
and he has given us secure religious
We have peace and plenty and
health and safety. Our nation has
been piloted deity through many
a crisis. and We have been kept out of
entangling alliances and complfca- |
tons. Great moral victories have |
been recently recorded, and these |
presage still more wonderful triumphs |
to follow, as the kingdom OF God
makes Roadway in the world. In our |
own community the people of God are |
more united than ever, and are filing |