Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-30
NATION HAS MUCH
TO OFFER THANKS.
FORM WORLDWAR
Or. Samuel VanPelt In Thanksgiving
Address Points Out Blessings
OF the People.
CHURCHES UNITE IN SERVICES
Hill District, East End and individual
Congregations Meet to Give
Praise.
CHURCHES UNITE IN SERVICES

the subject, Giving Thanks in 1917"
at the union Thanksgiving services
participated in by all the churches IN
the central district of the city, held
In the United Presbyterian church.
A large congregation was present to
take part in the meeting. The open
ing organ number was played by Miss
Notovena Steck, Rev. ]. G. Granger |
Of the First Baptist church read the
presidents Thanksgiving proclama-
ton, Rev. David A. Johnson Of Cen
trail Presbyterian church read the !
scriptures and offered prayer and tho
choir rendered an anthem, the congre- |
CATION joining in the singing OF sew
eral hymns.
Rev. Mr.. vanPelt spoke as follows: !
THE anniversary is suggested in the
Jewish Feast OF the Tabernacle after
the ingathering of the harvest Later,
the old old English Harvest Home,
the Oldest holiday in England, carries
forward the Same spirit. In the fall Of
1921. after their first scant harvest,
the Pilgrims at Plymouth observed a
week of Thanksgiving, recording that
by the goodness of God they were far
from want In 1863 Mr.. Lincoln ap-
pointed Nov. 26 as day of thanksgiy-
ing. Then, and ever since it has been
q recognized national anniversary.
1.-THE return Of the day in 1917 finds
our country and the world In a state
OF war and suffering and unheayal
without parallel in history. Before the
war began. these autumn festivals not
only recited individual and national
blessings, but gave thanks for growing
civilization throughout The world, good
will among the nations, the full-orbed
day of brotherhood, the wider accept
ance Of the principles Of arbitration,
the extension Of commercial and polit-
zeal understanding, and treaties Of
peace.
suddenly the great war broke upon
Europe. The 20 greatest wars before
this one in 125 years cost % billions of
dollars. This war has already cost
nearly eighty billions of dollars. There
are now nearly forty millions of men
and boys under arms in Europe. -
"At last, within the present year, for
which We are called upon to give
thanks, our own nation entered the
war Millions Of our men are called
to the colors Many thousands are in
the trenches in France, other thou
sands in training behind the lines.
Hundreds of thousands are equipping
and training and moving toward the
sea boards and transports. Not to
speak of material waste and destruc-
ton of Europe, already billions OF
American money have gone into the
war and preparation for It,
THE present war map is not occas-
ion for exultatiou. Nor is the state OF
European capitals and war cabinets
wholly satisfactory Russian often
sive Is disintegrated. The Italian
army is barely holding the enemy al
the river Piave. 1t is not yet certain
that Haig can break the enemy's west
defenses. What may yet be the fate
of submarine and aircraft is not de-
termined. How far disloyal and
devisive elements In our own country
may yet affect our fighting efficiency
remains to be seen. But the present
war map of Europe is not the final dis
posal of forces. There are mighty evo-
lutlons in process. Our confidence il
in ultimate and inevitable victory.
"In the meantime, in the amazing
contradictions of circumstance, have
we thought through to a common
ground of thanksgiving? Out OF the
confusion and fear, find q common ant
lofty ground of gratitude?
"The only ground know Of Is In the
character of God. Not in events
changing and contradictory. Not II
possessions. Not in the wisdom o.
parliaments. But faith in God Give
thanks at the remembrance of His
holiness Unless a mans heart ar
rives at God. the day is without mean
ing.
"A few years ago one Of the govern
ors Of our states gave out a procla
nation in which the name Of God die
not occur. An atheistic people coulC
have no thanksgiving day Such
day without God would be an eye will
nothing to see, voice with nothing Il
hear, a heart with nothing TO love.
would be a road leading no whittier
and every walker on 1t would be al
aimless traveller without a destination
It Is the conception that He brood
over our lives that alone gave the da,
its historic beginning and continues
until now. II the time ever come
when the American people forget GOO
the day will pass from the calenda
and become the mere relic of a.
abandoned faith.
Gratitude necessitates God TIL
whole, oxhaustless, complete nature o
God IN the supreme ground OF our rev
erence and gratitude, His holiness
His Wilderness, completeness. sutficien
cy. His life keeps itself in infnit
balance Here is the ground of on
hope and rejoicing. Give thanks a
the remembrance of His holiness A
long as you keep holy God you kee
an infinite reason for thankfulnes"
The speaker then gave historic Il
lustrations of the hand Of God i
human affairs, and OF the unexpecte
element in the decisive battles of til
world. as Marathon. Gettysburg, til
Marine. God has given pledges {
himself to make righteousness victor
ious.' The stars in their courses figf
against wrong Milton said: We mus
make room for the interference {
God
'Dr Hills asked French office
How do you explain your victory O
the Marne?' Miracle! Miraclel Gu
line Of four men deep broke the lin
OF 16 men deep. The good God II
was right. The unexpected entranc
OF the divine figure into earthl
scenes, The reliableness of God!
Turn to President Wilson'S pro,
lamation: The giving of thanks
time OF war and disaster. He cal