The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-25
THANKSGIVING
SERVICES WERE At
TENDED BY MANY
Rev. r. o. Hokerk Delivered Message
to Large Audience Yes
terday.

PRAYER and Thanksgiving were the
themes at the union service OF the
churches Yesterday forenoon at the
Congregational church. This joining OF
the Congregational, Baptist. Method
| ist. JIniversalist and Presbyterian adj
herents brought out one of the larg-
est Joint church meetings to be held IN
Barre and, despite the inclemency OF
the weather the church was well filled.
The services were conducted by three
Of the ministers, the other two, Rev.
| b. j. Lehigh and Rev. William Kit
fridge. not being able to be present.
/ The latter. who was to give the prln-
cipal sermon of the morning, said in a
note written to Rev. X. L. Goodspeed
of the Congregational church that ne
was stricken with such cold as to be
unable to speak aloud. At the late
hour Of o'clock yesterday morning
Rev. II. O. Hokerk of the univernllst
church consented to give the message
which Rev. Mr. kittridge was unable
to give them.
Rev. B. G. Lipsky gave as the scrip
ture reading the 7th Psalm. after
which he prayed that the men con-
vened at Washington would take ac-
ton for the preservation of peace NOT
for mere politics, but for statesman
ship
Rev. Mr.. Goodspeed then read the
proclamation Of President Harding
wherein he declared that the day of
Thanksgiving should be celebrated
from one coast to the other as ma
tional holiday.
Rev. Frank o. Hokerk began his
message with short and convincing
history of the origin of Thanksgiving.
A small colony of Puritans, IN the
year 1921. who had come to this coun-
try to be free in their religious views,
had waited for some time for the ar
rival OF the food-and supply ship from
England. and when it did not appear
they became frightened. A day, Feb.
-. was set aside by the community as
dav of fasting, but before that day
arrived, the ship from England pulled
into sight, and the day was set aside
as one Of Thanksgiving Following this
there were several more instances in
the growth Of the country where the
fan OF The year had been the time for
Thanksgiving. until the custom was so
firmly established as to lead TO the
presidents proclamation stating that
THANKSGIVING was a national holiday.
These colonies, who had feared so
much. and had trusted so much in the
love of God. were only another set Of
Israelites. who, when going through a
foreign land. heard Of the ravages OF
certain monster. and were in perpetual
fear of him; but Moses, their leader,
had faith in the Ruler, and that faith
enabled him 10 overcome the prodigy
single handed when at length he made
an appearance.
And so 1t has been with our peo-
pie. Rev. Hokerk stated. The colonies
feared starvation. but their faith was
never shaken; the people of the whole
country we're thrown into tumultuous
fear at the sight Of the Red Coats ON
Boston common. the War of 1872, the
bToodshed of the Civil war, the last
war. Each had brought a monster of
fear. but the ever-present trust that
mans Creator was at hand 'had made
the weakest a tower Of strength and
purpose"
The same it wag with the giant OF
our national debt and II the race ques-
tion. I'VE are prosperous. even IN this
great depression we are prosperous.
and il Is for this we can be thank
full Even now We could with ono
stroke Of the pen wipe out our whole
national debt. And yet there Is fear in
The land. SO often have / heard people
sav. III God can only be on our side =
But let us take the words Of Lincoln
and say instead, Il want 10 be on tho
side Of Cod
-Institutions by man for man are
under the guidance Of Cod" Rev. Ho-
kerk asserted That Is why intcmpcr-
ance. formerly our greatest enemy.
and By no means conquered yet, had
been the theme for more moral mp
lift. And in closing he said. The con-
vcntion that i being held in Wash
inrton il but an expression Of that
conviction that peace must y
established I believe that the death Of
the giant of war Is in sight. and the
dream Of peace is not the dream of a
few Isrseii.ies. but Of the whole peo-
pie
Singing was furnished By the choir
Of fhc Congregational church. The col-
lection i 70 o. given 20 the City hospi-
tai fer the aid 81 the poor.