The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-29
VICTORY IN VAR CAUSE
FOR THANKSGIVING
Rev. B. G. Lipsky Outlined the Reasons
Why the American People Should
Give Thanks at This
Time I


was held at the Presbyterian church on
Wednesday evening. The sermon Of the
occasion was given by Rev. b. G. Lipsky
Of the Methodist church, other pastors
taking part being DR.. f. l.. Goodspeed,
who read the scripture and led in prayer,
Rev. ]. b. Reardon, who read the Thanks
giving proclamation of President Wilson,
and Rev Edgar Grassland, who presided
at the meeting A large choir led the
singing and William Steward sang Keep
the Home Fires Burning" John G. Nor
rison, jr., playiag violin obligato. The
offering for the evening was for the bene
fit of the City hospital and amounted to
$l464.
Mr.. Lipsky's sermon was thoroughly
enjoyed and is reprinted below:
Text, Psalm S0:l5-l6, Blessed is the
people that know the joyful sound; they
walk, 0 Lord, in the light Of thy counte
nance. In Thy name do they rejoice all
the day long and in Thy righteousness
are they exalted
This is, indeed, day for rejoicing.
The nation has never had greater occa
sion for thanksgiving. The abundance in
our storehouse was never more fully real
lied than when we were able to save our
allies from great material deprivation, if
not military defeat, by the most super
fetal sacrifices of food. 1t is profound
reason for gratitude that with wonderful
unity of spirit the whole nation submit
ted to every demand for conservation.
The sweeping of all classes of women
into Red Cross work, the almost univer-
sal support Of the nation in It's money
raising, the unfailing response to the
call TO support the Y M. G.. A., the X. Of
G. and the Salvation Army are clear dem.
onstrations of perfect civilian morale, for
which we have profound reasons for
gratitude.
But a still more profound reason for
rejoicing is the enthusiasm and abandon
with which our young men have given
themselves to their country in the time
of its need The flower of our youth has
gone forth, with heroic courage to en-
dure the horrors of hell more terrible
than Dante ever pictured. As Christian
crusaders they went with smiles on their
faces and songs on their lips. As the
protectors of women and innocent chill
dren, as the defenders Of humanity they
swarmed across the perilous sea and over
the top to drive the demon Hun back
whence he came.
IF we had any fear that democracy
and peace had bred towards, that fear
has been forever dispeled The enthu-
siasm, the initiative and the determine
tion of our inexperienced troops have
been perfect marvel to our allies. We
know their coming thrilled the exhausted
forces of Britain and France and sent
them forth again as in the beginning of
the war to strike the smashing blows
that crumbled the Hindenburg line, and
sent the Huns to inevitable and complete
surrender.
Moreover, our hearts 20 out to God in
praise and thanksgiving that such lead
ers, both civil and military, have been
given u.s.
Wilson has proven himself q world
leader by his lofty idealism, by his clear
cut presentation of the causes Of the war,
and by his decisive demand that the prin-
ciples, necessary to just and righteous
peace, shall be Incorporated into the
peace treaty.
Lloyd George, who came up from the
common walks, answers to the aspira-
tions Of the oppressed peoples, not only
of Britain, but Of the other nations of
the earth.
"Clemenceau, the loved hero of the
whole French nation, a man Of action
and not of words, from youth actively
engaged in every effort to uplift the
French people, has certainly proved to be
man for the hour. II was he who de-
clared at the Versailles conference, when
the occasion would have suggested an ex-
tended speech, Here we are for work;
let us work
"These leaders give us confidence that
righteous and Just peace shall reward
the terrible sacrifice of our beloved sol;
diers.
"And have we not been gracioiisly fa-
vored in the type of allied military lead
ership2 No larger comfort has come to
the mothers of our boys than that from
the sense of moral security for our sol
diers that General Pershing has fostered.
How grateful we are that Marshal Foch
has so largely fulfilled the hopes anchored
in him. His whole record warrants it..
We all remember those terrible days at
the beginning of the war when the Huns
were making their mad rush for the Eng
lish channel. At the battle of Ypres the
British were being pressed so sorely that
they were considering the necessity for
retreat But at o'clock in the morning
of Nov. |, when General Foch met with
the British commander and heard the
suggestion for British retirement, then
and there the character of the marshal
was splendidly revealed and in machine
gun sentences he poured forth his remon-
strance The Germans have l6 corps
We have only 10 with yours. If you re-
tire | shall remain. Remain. The Brit
ish army never drew back in all its his
tory. As for myself, give you my word
as soldier that | will die rather than
retreat Give me yours' General
French stepped forward and gave his
hand. pledging that the British army
would stand also, and the doom of the
Germans at Ypres was sealed in that
hour. ut was also Foch who said, "A
battle won is 4 battle in which one will
not admit oneself vanquished A battle
lost is a battle which one believes to be
lost for battles are not lost materially
NV friends, it is therefore true that bat
Ties are won morally
"It is this fundamental reliance upon
moral forces that has achieved our vic
tory for human freedom.
Moreover, we have profound reason
for gratitude that the issue was so clear
cut between autocracy and democracy
The kaiser staked his all on this world
war and because he scorned the world of
democracy he doomed himself and his
military class to utter defeat We re-
ioice that the spiritual issue has been so
clear. At the beginning of the war, not
only Germany, but many in the allied
countries cried, Where now is thy Cod
Christianity is failure And the world