Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-27
IF THANKFUL WE SHOULD SAY so Sood to Eat, Clothing to Wear and
 Homes of Comfort Are Blessings h.
 deed.

There was large attendance at
 the First Baptist church Sunday morning when it's pastor, Rev. Georse e H. Stronse,. delivered an excellent ser mon filled with the spirit of Thanks giving. Rev. MT. Strouse first read the gov ernor's Thanks3iving proclamation Taking his text from Deut 26;I1
 And thou shalt rejoice in every good
 thing which the Lord thy God hath
 gwen unto thee and into thy house, ,
 he said in part:
 For the children of Israel the prom
 tsed land was soon to be a reality. God
 Is going to make his promise good
 when the Promised Land is reached,
 they are to rejoice, giving conf 3ss.on and expression of the-r joy and srati-
 tGde. Have we not reached the prom
 ised land so far as this earth is con-
 celned. Is there "a more desirab'e
 place anywhere on this earth than
 this fair land? It isn't perfect but if
 we wait until conditions are perfect
 we'll never strike the thanksgiving note, unless it be when .Fesus comes and q new heaven and earth are u5h- cred in. We know there is political corruption and ingratitude and little or mo room for God on the part of .man5,. but with Habakuk, the prophet. we can eXolaim: Yet we will rejoice in. the Lord and joy in the God of our saliva tion.
 Contemplation of the past should stir, our hearts to gratitude and oIir lips to praise. We thank God for the courageous men and women who cano to, these shores and laid the founda- tlons of this republic. History tells us the Spaniard came for treasure, the trencnman for commercial purposes and the propagation of his religion the Pilgrims came seeking a home and land where they might worship according to the. dictates of their own conscience. 1n this country before their coming were the moundbuiIders, the cave-dwellers and the Indians. Of these we have no authentic history. The Pilgrims came inspired with the most lofty ideals We wonder at the aduacity of their faith and courage. The story of the Mayflower is old but mighty important. The Pilgrims with their institutions of religious liberty and civil government were a determin- ing force in moulding the character of our country which stretches across the continent with fine harbors on both oceans. The Pilgrims were domi- mated by lofty ideals and for their realization they were willing to suffer and die. We have entered into a kind of promised land because of their mo- ble ideals and lofty heroism. It is common theory that great extent of territory and vast natural resources constitute real national greatness. It's time we see such theories exploded. Egypt. Baby1an and Persia stand for empires whose ruling passions were stand for any precious ideals which we desire to conserve How different when we speak of Athens. Rome and Jerusalem. These cities stand for en- chanting ideals and eternal systems. Poetry, art, science law and religoin. True they have seen their day but their ideals have taken root in other nations. In Athens we realize our dream of beauty. in Rome of justice and in Jerusalem of religion and God. Who can measure the influence of Pal-- estine on the world today. An express less than three hours and the width of 1t in about an hour. If Athens stands for beauty, Rome for law and Jerusa- lem for religion, shall not our land the world the beauty of holiness and how a nation can live only as it metes out justice and that nation can only be happy and prosperous when God is recognized and worshipped.
 The Present Crisis.
 Is it possible to thank God for the present crisis through which we are PaSsdng the It lspt of pGssbs f1b if y1 possible if you can't see the majestic of Christ through history and down the avenues of time. No, it isn't possible unless we keep fellow ship with Jesus and hear him say: Tn the world we shall have tribula- tion, but be of good cheer, I have over come the world"
 There isn't any doubt in our minds as to the tribulations, their tragic realization is being experienced by the whole race at one time or another. But neither should there be any doubt in regard to the last of the verse which reads: "Be of good cheer, have overcome the world" It makes a wosld of difference how we look at this world crisis. One sees the thorns on a bush while another sees roses They are both there. Can we see in