The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-12-01
FOUND MANY REASONS
FOR GIVING THANKS
Rev. w. Men Kittredge Outlined
Them at Union Service in
Barre Yesterday.

The annual union Thanksgiving serv.
i ice of several Protestant churches was
held in the Baptist church yesterday
morning at IL o'clock. There was a
fair sized attendance present and q
thoughtful service enjoyed. Special
Thanksgiving music was given.
Rev. William Men. Kittredge Of the
First Presbyterian church delivered the
i sermon Of the day He chose his theme
Continual Thanksgiving, from Eph.
500, "Giying thanks always for all
i things unto God and the Father, in
the name Of our Lord Jesus Christ" He
said in part:
'sThe call to thanksgiving and praise
strikes hearts in different ways. To
some Thanksgiving is merely holi-
day minus the deeper significance. But
| to others it Is both holiday and a
holy day in the sense that God is rec
ognized and truly thanked. Let us think
of our many mercies this morning. For
what should we Americans be thank
| full? For the Christian character of our
nation founded by God dfearing men
who sought refuge on these shores that
they might worship God according to
the dictates of conscience.
"We thank our God for the Chris
tian church. In spite of her imperfcc-
tion we should support her with our
labors, prayers and offerings. The to-
tai church membership Of America
made an exceptionally large gain the
last year, the growth totalling mil
lion members. We are thankful for
our American institutions and homes.
They are still sound at the core in
spite of the scum and froth thrown to
the surface of our social and political
life. The American home stands at the
center of civilization and Thanksgiy-
ing is a family festival.
1--WE are thankful for growing con-
yiction of the necessity Of Christina
education; thankful that peace has
reigned within our borders and that
there il growing sentiment in the
United States against war. Thankful
for the persistent fight against tuber-
culosis, moral victories gained in behalf
of temperance, period of business ex
pansion commencing in the United
States in greater volume than since
1914.
1--WE are thankful for the role Amer
cans played as the good Samaritan to
so many millions of people; thankful
for the rising tide of sentiment against
Americas program of isolation in the
world affairs and hope that she may
assume greater responsibilities. Bump |
er crops appraised by the department |
of agriculture at many millions of dol |
lars are another cause for thanks.
''When should we give thanks? Paul |
says we should always give thanks. |
Real gratitude Is constant not spas
modic The spirit of thanksgiving |
through the whole texture Of kfe.
"To whom should we render thanks |
Psalmist says: Oh, that men would |
praise the Lord for his goodness 1t is |
right that we should recognize the |
hand of God in all our benefits that /
we enjoy individually, socially and ma
tionally. While there ia much to be
deplored in our national life. there
is more for which we should thank God
and take courage.
"How are we to give thanksg In
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
True praise must begin in the heart.
or richest music will be as sounding
brass or tinkling cymbal The key
note of Thanksgiving is major not mi
nor. We are not unmindful Of the de-
structive forces working in our midst !
but thankful America has resisted so
the many enemes of orr
American civilization. Selfishness, ma
terialism, paganism are at work in our
national life but America is awake to
these menaees and / believe there are
signs that she is creeping back on her
knees to God.
Let our prayer this morning be with
Nipling:
"Iord God Of hosts
BE with us yet
Lest we forget,
Lest we forget
The service was greatly appreciated
)y all who heard it.