East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-11-30
Baptist Pastor HuIing Tells
People Things They Have to
be Thankful for in Message.
JOINT SERVICE HELD AT
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Be Thankful to Live in United
States Pastors Warning;
for Gods Daily Mercy.

Pendleton churchgoers united today
in services in observance of Thanks
giving. prefacing the days feasting
and rejoicing with religious services.
Union services were held at the Pres
byterian church, by Presbyterians,
Baptists, Episcopalians. Methodists
and Christians. Other local churches
held services also.
In an address at the union service.
Rev. Franklin Huling, pastor of the
Baptist church, urged the people OF
Pendleton to give thanks to God for
the daily mercies of life. The full text
| of his talk is as follows:
One of the interesting stories that
has come down to us about the origin
of the Thanksgiving service of the
Plymouth colonists. tells now their
privations and distIesses caused them
to frequently observe days of fasting
and prayer Brooding on such topics
made them all the more gloomy and
disposed to return to Holland or Eng
land. When it was again proposed to
appoint day OF fasting, a common
sense colonist arose in meeting and
said that they had melitated enough
about their misfortunes and it was
high time they consider their mercies
colony growing stronger. fields in
creasing In harvest, rivers full of fish.
woods full of game, and above all.
their freedom to worship God. Thers..
fore he would propose q day of
Thanksgiving and Prayer. And thus
arose in America the devotional festi.
val-Thanksgiving, which we com.
memorate today.
THE inspired psahnlst of Israel
said of his people, as recorded in
Psalm 147;2O, HE (God) hath not
dealt so with any nation" Is this nor
true of our own United States? J.
believe that every American will agree
that 1t Is. AS we look around the
world today and note the distress Of
the nations, the perplexity, and mems
hearts failing them for fear of what
things may come upon the world. and
then consider the tranquility and pros
perity which Almighty God has grant.
ed to us, we well may say. HE hath
not dealt so with any nation"
During the world war an American
arrived in New York from Europe. He
k,
ed and yelled his way up Broadway
and shouted at the top of his voice In
the middle of Longacre Square. He
was taken In charge by the police who
asked for an explanation. This was
not easy for him to make, for. try as
he would, he could not keep from
Iumbling into laughter and chuckles
every other moment. He finally man
aged to make them understand that
ne was an American who had lived in
Europe ever since the war began. III.
was so glad to get to America once
nore-big, peaceful America, that he
simply had to give way to his emo
lions. When he became n little more
used to the freedom and the absence
OF sorrowing anxiety that lay like a.
lead weight on all the peoples of Eu-
rope, he expected to be able to 20
tDout without n guardian. and that no
matter if rheumatism doubled him up.
or If he had to beg his bread from
door to door, so long as he was allow
ed to live and breathe In the United
States he expected to be happy.
we have indeed been most signalfy
blessed OF God, but, let me ask Is ali
well In America and therefore with
America" No thoughtful lover of our
land would give us unqualified Yes
Tor the answer to this question, And
many would register n solemn but not
pessimistic No" The second clause
In verse 20 of Psalm i47 reads. And
rs for His judgments. they have not
known them" Can Il be that while
He hath not dealt so with any ma
tion," that We pay such small mea-
sure Of heed to His Word. that IL can
be said Of us. And as for His judg,
ments, they have not known them7"
one careful observer OF the conditions
Of our time and people SAYS:
"Our teachers were telling US during
the war OF the golden day that was
sure TO break once peace was restored.
but instead. We find ourselves amid a
welter of evil. Our young
people are almost delirious from pleas
ure and sport. with a corresponding
weakening of the restraints Of home
and parental control The picture
houses are amongst the most popular
resorts. while the House Of the Lord IL
forsaken. Sin in its multifarious forms
has flung its alluring mantle around
the masses and the classes alike. Peo-
ple are finding Il much easier to sin
than formerly. for certain recognized
moral barriers have h-en broken down
and ethical standards lowered. TIE