Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-25

Giving thanks always fOF all things. Bph. 520, was the text of the sermon de- livered by Rev. Robert L. Roberts, Ph. D., pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal c2urch, at the union service held Thurs day evening at the United Congrega ational church. The churches combining in the union service were the United church. Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. Church of the Good Shepherd. Universa- list, Central Baptist church and the First Baptist church. There vas a geed RiBsd attendance in a3ite of the pnfaverable weather eonditieaa;
 The service opened at F.4d e'eiee:E. Rev. A. H. Abbott. past6F sf the United church, offered prayer and sa aF tile anthem hs read the text of Geve+r-eV Lakes Thanks giving Day preeiamgtiaa. The offering taken up will pe given to the United Workers
 In his sermon Rev. pr. Roberts said in part:
 "It is fitting at serv.ee like this te discuss national 61d world conditions as 8 basis for Thanksgiving and many of these might be named but most of them have been ably set ferth in proclamation by president and governor and need not be moro than mentio..cd here. Tins church has reason to ba thankful that sile has cCme through the war un5cathed though cheEtez.ed and !aore determined to face her werid task ti,an ever before. Men ha~a g.aawa egn..-c..e5 Ii her :nia@t9n by pouring 7.:e*a Fseaay ia i:ef tfeasi=i-s in the last five years tns= ia any decade before, She aims ta make 8 cooperative, we rid-eiPeiing crusade to make right esuEasaz supreme in eat.ntry. city, aenti- Reat and eesH4es Fer all af which our thanks sFs 6ue.
 We are thankful that God hid this land away for centuries. keeping it frea from the shackies that bind the nations of the old worid, that He unveiled 1t when | democracy and religion were looking for home where they might live and. rear their families under favorable conditions :: that we live in land of plenty and peace. of privilege and opportunity that world leadership is with US still, and power to put our ideals into the life of the world. We might speak of. world easons for thanksgiving. The white flag of peace waves ever world. Every breeze that blows brings tidings of new victories won not in war The Temple of Janus is
 shut. May the bolts rust in their sockets. Never SO many agencies If uplitt d work as today, never was the banner of the cross carried by more determined bearers
 than today, never was the world more | awakened to it's need of Christ than today. l never were signs of his coming kingdom
 more significant than on this 24th day of l November, 1921.
 l The speaker then passed to more person.
 al reasons for thanksgiving. The com
 mon things as health, personal and fam fly, for food in a hungry world. clothing in a half naked world, fuel in a half fire
 less world-whoever has these good e Is of God in these lean days should be gra,e
 ful abov@ many.
 Looking back over the year how ofte:
 you find your deliverance from spiritua
 peril, from financial ruin, from accident
 danger or death. Besides Gods angels CT
 mercy and love have been steadily on ouI
 track, following hard after sin seeking tt
 destroy, and when sin CT our own pas
 sions and fouies left us for dead by tn
 wayside these angels nursed us back tt
 life. Yes, for Providence, protection, an prosperity Father Almighty we thanl . thee!
 Easy to be thankful for prosoerit! , but what about adversity?" How abou life's losses? Did Paul mean that W . were. to be thankful for them? Are the.
 included in the "all things?" Yes, mos
 certainly. Paul knew value of diversity ' He prayer to have fellowship with suf , ferings of Christ. He knew that thing of most value come as suffered expert ence. He knew that the highest citizen
 in eternity came out of great tribulaticr 2 AdversitY is also part of Providence c God-works together for our good wh - love Him. Adversity is the hero's opportu1 ity. Difficulties are pIaythings of tn
 strong. Life is a school of character an trial-stern, relentless-is a major pa T of the curriculum. They are designed . purify life from dross, to detach the peal
 of character from the noiscme shell
 which concealed. To train athletic sain - Tit to be overcomers. Let us aim to | 5. honor pupils. Welcome the difficultie I- as necessary to development of bette -' powers and be grateful to God for coun y ing us equal to a sturdy task. He wan
 to make heroes of us.
 T. The hardihood of the EorId-war vetera = who faced the terrors of the trenches
 France is not the result of the gay, hal # py side of army life. but of the san
 titled sternness of the life and deat
 struggle with the foe when righteousne :. and liberty must not fail. Let us ke, ,s steadily before us that those who co s quer may be worse-looking for the battI ,. A victorious fleet Is a battered fleet tn ii craWls into port. A victorious army is ,B SlldllGIGO, DlOOQ-Sldln6Q, QItly, muQ-Ca,
 eded army. The boys who came out
 the Argonne victory were vastly differe ie from the crack, spic and span compani ~. ~ that went in. They were battered, brui .5 ed bleeding, maimed men with torn al ~ muddy uniforms, but they were glorih |, with conquest-the costly victory ma ,- heroes of them. Their appearance mig :. bring tears to the eyes of those who h: seen them on parade, but it would al yA '. bring sense of the splender of manho ,s , beneath those ragged uniforms, tn .. words are too weak to express. The C <. deal was stern, but there is no other w; ,5 to become a victorious army.
 1e If this be true, and life after all of 8 school in which character is develope
 why shall we not be as thankful for a he versity as for prosperity, for sorrow ye for joy, for pain as fer pleasure, for lo d. as for gain, since they all have their ps ht in the making of a worthy characte D. Ii some sweet life went away from yo m hsrne and took the sun out of the wor Id with us for the Joy Of their presence f. ,ir life with you so long to draw out af'
 ton and deepsM experience. They wait
 meet us when the golden bowl of our l a. IS crushed and it's silver cord Is loosen, en We aro better men and women for havi