Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-25
SERVICE TO HONOR
PRIVATE KARL GREGG
HELD YESTERDAY
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE HELD YES
TERDAY MORNING AT CHRIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH -OTHER
CHURCHES HOLD THANkSGiv-
ING SERVICES.

Large congregations were present
at all the city churches on Sunday
morning and again at the evening
services. Nine persons we're confirm
ed last evening at the Christ Episco.
pal church by Bishop Greswold of
the Chicago diocese, who delivered
very fine sermon.
The strain OF Thanksgiving ran
thru the services OF practically all the
churches in the city.
Baptist Church.
At the Baptist church yesterday
Rev. G. w. Chessman smoke on the
subject, Midnight Thanksgiving.
using for his text Ps. 1892, "At mid
night | will rise to give thanks to
Thee, because of Thy righteous judg-
ments."
There Is a thanksgiving spirit Of
unusual intensity. No ordinary spirit
of gratitude would compel the Psalm
list to rise at the midnight hour ard
convert his bedchamber into a sanctu.
AIRY OF praise to God His thanksgiy-
Ing was deeply genuine; there was a
commendable emotionalism about it;
1t lowered into enthusiastic yocaliza
ton, And is not this tho quality and
volume of Thanksgiving that should
Should 1t not be the very fires Of
Vesuyus for intensity and very Mag
ara for flow? Assuredly.
Let me name three great causes
for profound and intense gratitudl
this Thanksgivingtide
Il. God has given Us a great vic
tory. Make sure this is deep rooted in
our minds as vital conviction. The
victory is God-giyen. We praise the
heroic allies for the victory We extol
Foch, Haig and Pershing as deliver
ers from the German menace, but God
Is the deliyerer The real reason Ger.
many lost was because Germany was
fighting against God. Colonel Henry
Watterson said tho south lost in the
great rebellion because they fought
against God. Germany lost for the
same reason. And this is no detrac-
ton from the splendid soldiery of the
allies but something to rejoice over
God used the allies az inst rumentaii.
ties in the eifecting OF His belehCcnt
purposes for the world Gideon OF old
cried, The sword of the Lord and oi
Gideon Ii was a Economical blade. II
was so in this present war, the sword
OF the Lord and of the allies. Let US
recognize the fact that We won be
cause we fought on the side of jus
tice, Righteousness and human lib
erty and in so fighting we were or
Gods side. Then Thanks be unto
the God who giyeth us the victory
.. The God-giyen victory has I,
vitalized the ancient hope of universal
and perpetual peace. Micah cried O
old, God will Judge between peoples
and will decide concerning strong ma
tions afar off; and they shall bea
their swords into plowshares and thei
spears itno pruning hooks; nation
shall not lift up sword against Ma
ton, neither shall they learn war an,
more. Today that ancient hope il
gloriously revived; it is brought int
the sphere of practicability. German,
for years stood out against it. Ger
many blocked the intentionss of Tn,
Hague tribunal. Now the one grea
power that stood in the way of
United States Of the world, with
world supreme court, Is rendered i'm
potent Entering as we are, a ney
world, with the great constructive
leaders of nations like President Wi
son and Lloyd George ardently bC
lieving in the principle Of a league T.
enforce peace, we may confident
look for definite action at the peac
conference to do away with wars i
the life of the world from this tim
on. Thanks be unto God for thi
priceless boon to humanity. 1t is
blessing OF such magnitude as to con
pei us to rise at midnight and sin
praises to God.
y. The God-given victory calls u
to glorious task 1t is a task {
reconstruction in new world It Is
task Of partnership with God Tn
God who gave the victory in the wa
Will give the victory in the postwa
task of rebuilding civilization on Il,
shakable foundations. A man.mad
efficiency for world government
such boasted perfection as the &c
man empire has gone to the scra
heap Now is the time to put int
practice Gods plan. Fundamental
this divine plan is the redemption
men, New men are needed for a ne
world and there is one power alon
that can make men new. The hot
has struck for the Christian church
function earnestly in the winning
men to God. This gives the one Il
solute assurance Of making demo
racy safe for the world. What a co
trlbution toward the new righteot
social order will be coun less tho
sands of men won by the church