Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-11-29
THANKSGIVING:
SERVICES AT
L0CALCHURCH
BROWNSVILLE PEOPLE GATHER IN
A UNION SERVICE TO GIVE
THANKS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH PROCLAMATION.

Onion services were hold az the First
Methodist church this morning beginning
at III o'clock, in observance Of T~hanksgiv-
ing day. The various protestant churches
in the city were represented ut the serv-
ices, DIR. ;. X IIallam preaching the SER
mon.
At the beginning Of the services "Amer-
lea" was sung by the choir and congrega-
ton.
The invocation was BY Rev. a. McNair.
President Wilson's Thanksgiving procla-
nation was read BY Rev. j. A. Ruffncr.
pastor of the Methodist church. The
president in his proclamation Of November
Z, setting aside November % a. Thanks
giving day, made a strong appeal for men
and women to lay aside their various daily
occupations and gather ut the several
churches on tiis day and render thanks to
God for the many blessing that lie in his
goodness had bestowed upon IL. The chief
executive stressed the fact that during
these monientous times when d great peril
was confronting this great nation, this
Thanksgiving day was a most fitting ocra-
zion for every one to render prayer and
thanks for the liberty and freedom that we
had thus far enjoyed.
a hymn, sung by the choir and congrega-
tion, was followed BY a scripture reading
by Rev. Ruffner.
a prayer was given by Rev. II. " Hern-
don, pastor of the Baptist church, in which
he gave thanks that the man who j. ut the
head Of this great nation j. Il religious and
fearing man. lie brought out the fact
that the reason some Of the nations had
been engaged in a terrible struggle for the
past three years was that they had ceased
to be God-fcaring men. He stated that il
was unqucstionably against Gods wishes
for men TO be engaged in producing blood
shed here upon earth.
"Great j. the Lord anthem, was Il
by the choir, composed Of Ms. ". a. Rut-
ledge, Mrs. George Stcll, Mr.. and Mrs. Il. j.
Tucker and Rev. A. McNair.
A Thanksgiving offering was taken, DIR.
Hallam stating that it wouId be taken AZ
this time rather than At the end Of the
lseEvices, at hi suggestion, because those
PC bile contributing would then have some
thing to be thankful for
A solo, ''IIcar Yc ~Isrcal,- was rendered
by Mr.. Alberta Kirby, accompanied By
MR.. W. A. Rutledge.
In his sermon, DIR. IIaIlam made clear
the exact meaning of thankfulnesS. He
said that 10 be thankful was not merely IN
expression from the lips Of q person, but
rather an expression Of service in doing
good unto your fellow man.
"The awful, terrible conflict in which We
are now engaged he said, Is merely an
expression Of thankfulness to God for the
liberty and freedom that we have for -
many years enjoyed
DIR. llallam spoke of this country a. be-
ing the champions of liberty and freedom:
how some hundred and forty years ago We
founded our government and our ~institu-
tons on liberty and freedom: how we had
shown the light to France, and how in this
Terrible conflict we would show the light IL
Russia and other nations engaged in the
war.
lie spoke Of France A. 4 nation that had
grown into one Of the most powerful in
Europe out of chaos and darkness. How.
after civilization had been established in
this country, France began to zee the light.
and not long after established Il republic
how that was overthrow and monarchy
.rcigned for some years; how then France
became a republic and had now dcveIoped
into the nation she j..
DIR. lIallam said that we ought To bc
thankful that VIZ are able 10 help hold back
the central powers. and that IN helping IL
win battles we are expressing our thank.
to God for the liberty AMI freedom that he
has 20 gratiously bestowed upon ".
The services closed with Il HYMN Nv The
congregation.