The Alaska daily empire., 1916-11-30
.REV. J. I. MQJEEN
 GIVES SERMON AT
 UNION SERVICES
Citizens Attend Giving Thanks for Counties Bestowed Upon Them
 During the Year.
GIVES REVIEW OF TIMES

1 GIVES REVIEW OF TIMES
 The Union thanksgiving Services were held this morning at n o'clock in the Presbyterian Church. with the Rev. J. II. Condlt and Rev. J. IT.. Mcqueen conducting the services. The program was simple one and was attended by hundreds of the Ju- neau citizens who gathered to give thanks for the bouuuul things be- slowed upon them during the past year and also 10 pray for the blood ! soaked aud war torn lands of Europe.
 The prayer and benediction were pronounced by Rev Condit and the sermon of the dcy w2s delivered by Rev Mcqueen. who is the youngest preacher in point Of Juneau service. in the city. The choir of the Pres byterian Church sang several anth- ems during the services.
 In his sermon for the day Rev. Mcqueen saia in part, taking his topic from First Thess. 5:1S.
 'In everything give Thanks for this is the will of God concerning you"
 "our English word Thankful is derived from the Anglo Saxon, and means 'Thlnkful' To be thankful is to be thoughtful. or to be mindful of the blessings Of the Almighty God. Thanksgiving was first obsery- ed in 162l as a harvest feast. It was observed during the Revolution; land in the year 1869. }; was pro. claimed by President Lincoln to be observed as a national holiday
 thanksgiving is Christian characterization and Is an acknowl- cdgment of our dependence upon ! the Almighty for His goodness and mercies. Therefore, it is fitting and ! fright that we should gather together at this time and publicly give thanks l Co Him in remembrance of all his i bounues, remembering that every gcod and perfect gitt is from the Father of Lights.
 "There are many reasons why we should give thanks Co God. First of all because he is our Heavenl! Father: This revelation was madc ! known 10 us by our Lord and Say ious. Jesus Christ. He came into the world to make us His chil- dren and 10 establish the most sac. red relationship between God and ! His creatures. As Father, He knows our needs and He is abund. antly able to satisfy those needs from his fullness in glory. Plate First, that God had created him a man and not a beast; dt is worth something to be a man. if one is the right kind of a man) secondly he was thankful to God that he was born Grecian and not barbar ian Gone ought 10 De proud and thankful for their nationality and country). Third, he was thankful that he was born a philosopher. Every man should be thankful for place among the many activities of life; whether philosopher oi ! farmer. mechanic or teacher, phys ician. preacher or merchant. But Plato did not touch upon the high CT reasons for giving thanks. He made no mention of the great Spir- ltual blessings; Salvation and the gift 3C the Holy Spirit.
 "Tbe Text says. lin every thing give thanka That is. in every condition and circumstance give . thanks to God for some things; We must remember that blessings do not always come to us clothed in sunshine and bedecked with roses Many of us have profound reasons Co be thankful to Almighty God for some of the disappomtments in liie for the storms as well as the sun shine. for some of the heart ashes as well as its joys. for some of the failures as well as for some of its 1 successes.
 "This day will not mean very much to some people. because they have contributed SO little to fife in the past year They have lived for what they could get out of life in- stead of trying to put something into life Thanksgiving Day to them will mean nothing more than roast turkey and cranberry sauce; they have all the faculties of a sponge they are good at absorbing but if they give anything back you have to squeeze. It has taken us a long time to learn that it is more bless el to give than to receive.
 "We are thankful 10 God for the Church-The Church has always been the pioneer of civilization; IL is the worlds great highway build CT: wherever the Church goes cul 1 .f,.fff-.tt., ...f1r ro1T,,,r