Evening Star Newspaper, November 26, 1896, Page 11

OFFERED UP THANKS (Continued from First Page.) ——— whose proclamation was not an atheistic paper, but one in which he expresses his belief tn God. The last proclamation is destined to become historic among state papers. The country that fs born of God has a God-like heritage, and we should re- doice that in the midst of our joys we have as a nation the robustness of Christian vir- tues . I want you to be spiritually fed today, and so I would not speak to you my own words, but those of the Bible that are most appropriate to the day. St. Paul has told us of the Lord’s saying ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ‘This saying bears within itself the evidence of its Divine origin. Man might have said that it is Blessed to give and not to receive, but Christ gave expression to the whole truth, it is more blessed to give than to receive. “It is blessed to receive, for this is the only way our lives can be spared from day to day. We are like children, dependent upon the beneficence of a Heavenly Father. ‘ven in our relations to one another it is equally true that no man liveth to himself or dieth to himself. Nothing in this world can take the place of direct personal con- tact with God. The man who doubts God ought to turn about and begin to doubt himself. By his doubts he does not un- seat God from His throne; he simply does not se does not know. The more we come ize our dependence upon God, and the fact that we are only recipients, the more thankful we will be to our Heavenly arate the giver of every good and perfect Something More Blessed. “But there is something more blessed than to receive. It is to give. Again, the Voice of nature is the voice of God. We Bhould be only tod glad of the opportunity to give back something of the blessings with which we are so richly endowed. The pnly bitterness we should know is that we hre so unworthy. Oh, the pity of it, as we gather about the board today to enjoy the delights of our own fireside, that wo a irradiate the same joy among the iomes of the poor and the distressed. If We would strike the full chord and realize he perfect harmony of the song of harvest ome we must know and fully understand that it is more blessed to give than to re- teive. Give not stintedly, but as God has given to you. He has given you not only fruitful seasons, but his only, begotten Son, Himself. Find out some one inio whose up you can pour some happiness and then, nd not till the: will you know what hanksgiving really means.” THE POOR AND NEEDY. Rev. Frank Sewall’s Sermon on the Virtue of Charity. There was a ged attendance at the Thanksgiving services at the New Church, corner of 16th and Corcoran streets, this morning. Rev. Frank Sewall, the pastor, delivered an interesting discourse on the lesson of the day, and the regular choir Sang an appropriate musical program. The choir is composed cf Miss Edie Meem, Mrs. Ralph Barnard, Miss Bessie Smith, Miss Nannie Sigsbee, Mr. Ralph Barnard, Mr. Albert Prentice and Mr. George Bentley, with Miss Maud G. Sewall as organist and director. “Who are the pecr and needy and what are the obligations owing them?” was the subject of Dr.Sewall’s sermon, and the bur- den of his remarks was in advocacy of a Wise and true nevolence as against in- discriminate and extravagant almsgiving. He extolled President Cleveland for re- minding them in his Thanksgiving procla- mation to remember the poor and needy and urged upon all the Christian duty of assisting their less fortunate neighbors. A Christian Sentiment. Charity, he said, was distinctly a Chris- tian sentiment or policy. In the ancient days of the pagans the poor received scarcely any consideration whatever. Be- ing regarded as unprofitable and unpro- ductive, they were practically treated as enemies of society instead of being looked upon as proger objects of charity and pro- tection, as is the case in these more en- Eghtened days. One trouble about charity, he said, is that it has become so common- Place that we do not give it the considera- ton it deserves, and the consequence is that it is frequently misdirected and mis- Placeé The result is that people give charity indiscriminately, which course fre- quently results in abuse and extravagance and leads to habits of indolence and trick- ery on the part of the recipients. Indis- criminate charity, though well meant, in- stead cf preventing poverty, really en- ecurages it and frequently results in vice ard fraud. Hence the necessity for or- ganized charity for the prevention of such @ state of affairs and to insure a proper and economical distribution of benevolent centributiors. Associated Charities Praised. On this point Dr. Sewall took occasion to call attention to the good work of the Asso- elated Charities in assisting the poor and needy as being in the line of true Chris- tian charity and benevolence, especially as that organization looks to the cultivation of the good and the true in our needy neighbors instead of developing the bad that may be in them. According to the speaker, we develop the good in a man when we help him to help himself, rather than by encouraging him to depend upon the charity of others. There are other cases of poverty than those marked by external conditions, and these may be found alike in palace and hovel. He meant the morally and spiritually poor and needy, whose cases, he said, call for con- stant help from those blessed with the consolation and happiness that comes with @ true religious belief and Iffe, without which we are not abie to give a true, rational thanksgiving to the Lord. In the courre of his remarks Dr. Sewall said that the sacred cause of charity had been frequently used by despotic and even republican governments for the improper exercise of power. Public charity dis- tributed in this way was not true benevo- lence, but merely a shrewd form of selfish- hess, as such should be discountenanced and discouraged by all true Christians and lovers of good government. TRIUMPH OF AMERICANISM. ts on the Re- sult of the Election. A large American flag this morning draned the front of the organ that occupies the recess in the rear of the pulpit platform in the Church of the Covenant, and the reading desk was coftered with the national colors, these decorations indicating the national character of Thanksgiving day, in observance of which special religious ser- vices were held in that church. Rev. Dr. Hamlin, the pastor of the church, officiated, and after reading the President's procla- mation, which was followed -vith attention by the large audience, the usual form or public worship as observed in the Presby- terian Church was carried cut. Two solos were sung by Mrs. Dr. Gardner, whose fine- ly trained voice was heard to great sdvan- tage. A collection was taken for the bene- fit of the poor of Peck Chapel, a mission connected with the church. Dr. Hamlin’s Rev. T. S. Hamlin. sermon was based-on the seventh verse of the fourth Psalm. He spoke of the recog- nition given in the Bible to the fact that good harvests are a gift of God, and the general acknow! it that God is be- hind every law of nature. He said that it was a special cause of thankfulness that cere Soa teeapoesaete in the = country, since industries had been slack. ‘There bei ey gene of peeetaees eck as the hope of returning prosperity, the recent demonstration of the integrity and wisdom of the people of this country and their decision in favor of maint the commercial credit of the country. It was evident that the zentiment of the people was in favor of plain, every-day honesty, and the result of the late election showed that the United States was a nation fit to be trusted. It was, he sajd, a triumph of genuine Americanism. The preacher said he believed the sentiment of liberty ‘was never more generally cherished in this country than it is at the present time. It was also manifest; said the preacher, from the result of the election that the fear ex- pressed that immigration had been carried to excess in this country was not well founded, and it was evident from the vote cast in New York and Chicago, the prin- cipal centers of immigrant life, that the power of transforming foreigners into good American citizens had not been lost. As additional causes of thankfulness, the preacher referred to the peaceful aspect of our foreign relations and that the crime of international war had been averted. WEATHERING THE STORM. Rev. Dr. Radcliffe Applies St. Paul’s Words to Recent Even “The ship that is scuttled in the steerage canrot be comfortable in the cabin. “The pot that botls too much boils over. The porridge is wasted and the fire put out, so that he that seeks warmth and nour- ishment finds none.” Taose striking warnings were spoken by Dr. Radcliffe, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in his sermon of good cheer today. Dr. Radcliffe took his text from the “Acts,” chapter 27, verse 22: “And now I exhort ye be thou of good cheer.” He said that storms might come, dark waves might rise, but the exhortation of St. Paul shuuld be heeded. He found abundant rea- son for faith and good cheer. In our past history and in that more recent it had been Rev. Wallace Radcliffe, D.D. shown that we should be of good cheer and have faith in the all powerful and all mer- ciful God. God, he said, was a god of the community; that he cared for the destinies of nations as he did those of men. We had hai abundent proof of His love of our re- putiie. Looking back only during the past year we found that for which to be thankful to God and to make us be of good cheer. The Mouroe doctrine had been triumph- ant and perpetvity had more surely been se- cured for this land of liberty and religious freedom. Some had thought that they saw signs of trouble; some even feared riot and bloodshed in the recent political struggle. Those people were but dreaming, and their dreams were nightmares. The election had passed and the law had received no resist- ance, peace no shock. The victor and the vanquished stood alike in obedience to the taw. The vanquished bowed in obedience and there was peace and brotherhood. The spirit of brotherhood prevailed in the land, and it should prevail. There could be no division of the classes and masses. We were all the masses, interwoven among and composing the classes. If some were especially favored and were forgetful of their duties and of the rights of those less favored, they might be re- minded by the grumbling voice of the mul- titude; but there was no violence against the law; no breaking of the bands of brotherhood. In taking the lesson from St. Paul he said they should consider what St. Paul had done to weather the storm. Those who are favored should remember “that the ship scuttled in the steerage could not be comfortable in the cabin.” Next St. Paul had taken in sail. We must take in sail if we hope to weather the storm. He said that men sometimes felt too strong; that they thought they could reach With their strong arm from the Atlantic to the Paritic, and that they could be what they wanted to be by merely seeming so. “If I ride in a millionatre’s carriage, I am not a millionaire. If I owe fifty thous- and dollars, that don’t make me worth fifty thousand dollars. If I cut up agricultural acres into unsalable town lots it does not improve my fortune.” He said that he was told that even here in Washington there were men who pos- sessed more than they had the ability to pay taxes on. These he wanted to remind that the pot that beiled too fast boiled over. He spoke of the great blessings that had been bestowed upon the country, but sald that like St. Paul we must lighten cargo in the storm. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES UNITE. Rev. Mr. Reoch Delivers a Patriotic Sermon—Excelient Music. At the First Congregational Church, 10th and G streets, there was a union service, participated in by the pastors and congre- gations of that church, the Mt. Pleasant and the Fifth Congregational churches. The devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. 5. M. Newman, pastor of the First Church, and by the Rev. M. Ross Fishburn, pestor of the Mt. Pleasant Church, the Rev. Adam Reoch, pastor of the Fifth Church, ~ delivering the sermon. Prof. Bischoff presided at the organ; Mrs. Hattie Mead Smith and the splendid chorus choir of the First Church gave excellent music. The services were largely attended, and the puipit platform was generously decorated with plants, palms, fruits, vegetables and grains, a great sheaf of wheat being a prominent feature of the decorations. The musical part of the services was rticu- larly fine. The chorus choir sang a “‘Halle- lujah” chorus by Beethoven, rendering the magnificent music with excellent effect, and at the offertcry Mrs. Hattie Meade- Smith sang “I Will Extol Thee,” from the cratorio of “Eli,” by Causten. An eloquent | Satbed was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Fish- urn. A Good Thing to Give Thanks. Mr. Reoch took for his text the opening words of the 924 Psalm: “It is @ good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” He por- trayed the conception of the goodness of God that distinguished the aneient He- brews in all they did, which transfigured their songs and pervaded all their actions. The American nation had passed through perils similar to those suffered by the He- brews, and it would be only proper if the same realization of God's infinite mercy skould characterize its people also. Thanks should not be crowded into Thanksgiving day, but should be offered every day, but it was good that one day in the year should be set aside for the purpose to stimulate our gratefulness to the giver of all good for His omnipotent generosity. = Alluding to Presijent Cleveland’s Thanks- giving proclamation, Mr. said it :ncere and was, he thought, similar to that of Lincoln’s in 1863. It asked for the for- giveness of our sins as a nation as Lincoln did for the national sin of slavery in 1863. It was well for us to look closely at our national life and closely guard our national aspirations. Independence that would lead to independence of other nations might also lead to ind and if we are to have any and to have it thrive, there must prehension on the part of our their reaponsibility to God. National and national self dependence car- ried too far. If national authority merely came from the ~-people i the source of all authority and all-power rests inf God. ~ THE e | ‘| f ie BI § F i Ege age aa, ili af Fi i i ard the nat! clally thankful should the people wonderful vindication of their principles at the last election. There many who still thought that our govern- ment and its institutions were merely an experiment, but it had been proven they were lasting. The election had shown, too, that the classes have been able to look up and recognize in capital and in intelligence powers as kindly as those of muscle or steel. had been brought to an end and sectionalism no longer held but the country was a unit, and God’s hand could be seen all the way through. In municipal as well as national affairs there had been a wonderful quicken- ing of conscience, and in many cities true reform had been inaugurated and carried nobly forward. The spirit of Christianity was prevailing, too, in international affairs, and he instanced the Venezuelan settlement as an illustration of this. Mr. Reoch then proceeded to consider the causes for thank- fulness among the religious, and closed with an eloquent appeal for a constant and grateful realization of the mercies and goodness of the Almighty. A substantial offering was taken up dur- ing the services, the proceeds of which will be divided between the Woman's Christian Association and the Florence Crittenton Home and Help Mission. CAUSES FOR THANKSGIVING. ave 28 BF i Brown's Sermon at the ary Church. At the Foundry Church Dr. Oliver A. Brown preached a sermon on the causes for thanksgiving and the indications of divine blessing. At the outset he spoke of President Cleveland's Thanksgiving procla- mation as one of the noblest that ever is- sued from the White House, and said it evidently came from the heart, as well as frem the head and the hand. In a rapid resume of the blessings to be remembered today by the American people, the freedom of our institutions, the splendid opportunt- ties for education and our extensive com- mercial advantages were enumerated. The progress of religion, science, literature, the power and conscience of the press as a teacher and leader of the times were also dwelt upon. The strength and character of the judiciary, and Cot of the Su- preme Court of the United States, were made the subject of extended _considera- tion. Of the Supreme Court Dr. Brown safad t is one of the chief glories of the republic, and one of the r8ightiest bulwarks of our safety.” Blessings Now Enjoyed. In the latter half of the sermon consid- eration was given to the indications pres- ent in modern society of the blessings we now enjoy, and for which gratitude should be felt. Chief of these was named the increasing disposition of the nations of the earth to come together in the relations of a common great family of peoples. The different nations are steadily putting aside their prejudices and coming into touch and feeling with each other. Thus there has come the strong and abiding desire to set- tle international controversies by arbitra- tion, as has recently been shown in the avoidance of war by the two great nations of the earth. A second indication of an increase of blessing, Dr. Brown said, was apparent in the rebuke of those who have talked of “the classes and the masses” und the gulf between the different social conditions. Now, he said, more than at any time in the history of mankind this separation of the toflers and the favored ones of earth was fading away. The Chasm Bridged. The chasm has been bridged by such sympathy and philanthropy as were never before known. In ages past the oppressed toiled in silence. Their hardships and woes had no hearing. Now their equal chance had come under the free institu- tions of our great land. The third indica- tion of blessing was taken to be the great religious awakening and activity of the times. Never before had trreligion and un- belief so litié ground to stand upon. The earnest and thoughtful minds of every land were in this day of light and progress bent on helping upward and forward the re- ligious side of man’s nature. Christianity was now recognized as the foundation of social and moral wellbeing. All right liv- ing, social order and good government rest upon it. “There is one thing certain in the future of the world, and that is not the duration of any nation, or of any great and splendid city or of any civil institution, but it is the conversion of the world to God.” Rev. 0. MILLIONS WASTED. Rev. Dr. Johnston’s Sermon at Metro- politan M. E. Church. At the Metropolitan M. E. Church, 4% and C streets, a large congregation paid close attention to a acholarly sermon de- livered this morning by the pastor, Rev. Hugh Johnston. Rev. Dr. Johnston chose his text from the second verse of the ninety-fifth Psalm—“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving.” The Thanksgiving proclamation, he said, is a call to all things in creation, both animate and inanimate, to praise God. “The day keeps us mindful of our obliga- tions to Him,” the pastor went on to say. “It is set epart for a grand service because the nation believes in God. We recognize the government of God in the physical world; we recognize a perfect, divine pres- Rev. Hugh Johnston, D.D. ence, and we come into that presence with Behind thanksgiving. all the events of peruse is the Soverelgn of all—the Crea- for.”* Rev. Dr. Johnston, continuing, declared that the people should come before the Divine pened with thanksgiving for in- dividual blessings, for domestic blessings, for church blessings and for national bless- ings. Under the head of the latter topic, referring to the peace that has prevailed, the pastor stated that no dispute betwoen the United States and Great tain could possibly arise that could not be settled by international arbitration. The financial situation of the country was reviewed, the speaker saying that the money question is not a question of politics, but of ec: a “The pone of the United States are a wasteful people,” Rev. Dr. Johnston took occasion to state. “The saloon must go; it is a pit of destruction. lars are also anni thelr lusts when a countless ane fellow-men are on the verge. "OF star & vation.” A special program of music was furnts! aS cone the service by the chal of the e PATRIOTISM ABOVE PARTY, Rev. Dr. Butler Emumerates some - Reasons for Thanksgi ftweetr the Woman's Christian Association oo the pet oat Gar eave vinnks e prayer Dr. Bui ve for @ day of national thagksgiving; for the chief executive who appointed a day to be observed; for the fat&irs who instituted the custom and planted the seeds of a great Christian nation; for every church, every~school and every Christian home. Divine blessing was invoked upon the Pres- ident and his cabinet, the two houses of Congress soon to assenfhle, the governors of the commonwealths, tte people and the land itself, and fervid petition was offered to prosper the forces whi are attempting to put a stop to intempérance and Sabbath desecration. F No special text was sélérted for the ser- mon, though several appropriate passages were quoted. The occasian Itself, as Butler explained, would:be his text. It ts the day, he sald, on whtch we annually as- semble in our houses of worship, by official proclamation, to retfrn thanks for divine favor and mercy. While it ought to ba a day of recreation and enjoyment and of family reunion, its pivétal point {s the worship-of God in His house. Dr. Butler enumerated several causes for Thanksgiving, the first being that of the official setting apart of the day itself by the authority of the President. It was only in a Christian nation, he declared, that such a recognition of a divine rrovi- dence was made, and Christian people should rejoice that such a recognition is made in this country. He sketched rapidly the history of the nation from the time cf the Pilgrim Fathers to the present, as showing abundant cause-on the part of the people for gratitude for divine favor. One of the latest notable causes for thankful- ness, he said, was the result of ihe lute elections, which, in his opinion, was. not party triumph, bué an occasion when p: triotism rose superior to party. It was a verdict for natfonal integrity and national honor. “You and I,” he declared with em- phasts, “‘sell our integrity, our honor, our manhood too cheaply, if we put them on the market at any price.” As it was with the individual, he believed it would be with the nation, and he hailed-the verdict of the polls as indicating that American hoaor and uprightness was dear to the hearts of the people. One feature of the President’s proclama- tion, he sald, stood out in bold relief and ought to be received by all Christians with gratification. It was the recognition of Jesus Christ as the God of nations. He recalled an occasion when with a delega- tion of ministers he had made a request of a former President to embody such a recognition in his Thanksgiving proclama- tion, and the request had been refused. The wording of the proclamation by Presi- dent Cleveland, he said, marked a distinct advarce toward that time to which the church is looking when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of Christ. The speaker devoted some time to a dis- cussion of the forces with which the coun- try was threatened, and denounced heartily the evils of intemperance and Sabbath desercration. He rejoiced in the growing spirit of liberalism which permitted a Christian man and a minister of the gos- pel to discuss without criticism moral and political questions affecting the welfare of the people. Time was, he asserted, when a minister could not speak on political questions or take active part as a citizen in the politics of his community. ‘The country was growing, he thought, in intel- ligence and in moral and religious senti- ment, and good citizenship had a recog- nized position in the minds of the people. In concli sion he reviewed the moral and religious trend of today and defined his position as an advocate of interdenomt- national fellowship as against denomina- tional reserve and as in favor of Chris- tian unity. THE PRESIDENT’S PROCLAMATION. Dr. Talmage Calls It. the Most Chris- tian Document Ever Issued. There was a scent of Hew-mown hay per- vading the First Presbyterian Church this morning as a great thfong made its way into the edifice. About the altar the deco- rations were agricultural and in keeping with the day, as a time, of. thanksgiving to Dr. Talmage. God for the plentifulness of the harvest. Great stacks of wheat were placed about the altar lights, stalks of corn, heavily laden with the grain were placed in a row in the rear, while a basket of fruit occu- pied a table before the reading desk. The homely cabbage and turnip, the potato and carrot were not left out of this array of rural delights. At the entrance of the church the space was filled with these not so fortunate as to possess tickets from holders of pews, and they stood there until the hand of the clock had centered on the hour of 11. Then all were told to take the seats that re- mained unoccupied, which the more ener- getic and strong of them succeeded in do- ing in a very short space of time, those left behind in the race either contenting themselves with taking a standing place in the rear of the edifice during the service oe seeking a place of thanksgiving else- where. The President and Mrs. Cleveland occu- pied their pew, having reached the church before the greater part of the congregation arrived. This fact was early made known to many, who craned their necks to cast their glances on that section of the church. . Dr. Talmage’s Sermon, Rev. Byron Sunderland opened the ser- vice with prayer and the reading of the President's Thanksgiving day proclama- tion. Rev. Dr. Talmage offered a Thanks- giving day prayer. “America” was sung with a zest by the congregation. The Tl ving text was given by Dr. Tal- mage, who preached a t, sermon, abounding in dry humor, tures of old- time ikegiving- contradictory statements about the, gpndition of the ig Dr. farmer in this country,’ said Talmage, “that I went to the’ tural Devart- ment to find out what>thgtr real condition I find, on the best’ thority, that sev- enty-two ‘out of. eve: + hundred farms in this country are any incum- brance. The harvests,’ :) said, “have been so great that the human can- not realize the magnit ‘of the figures necessary to fi .” His sermon was concluded a. tion that if EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1896~12 PAGES. B. Church, were present and took part in the services. Revie BUS = ercises, only was every pew main auditorium and almost every seat in the jertes but ber of ph ee Rev. Mr. ided. Luccock, from the text: “Thanks be God for His urispeakable gift.” In part, he said: “A man gives thanks as he prays. If his supplications are narrow and terminate on himself, then also will his gifts be small and fitful. There is al- ways something to be jubilant for at the Thanksgiving season, no matter how much sorrow he may have had during the year. “We are glad because we have a good country. We call curzelves the elect na- tion. e laud our civilization and thank God for it. We thank God for our good harvests, and at the same time we are not altogether free from being glad that there s been a famine in Russia. I fear such nkagiving is not very acceptable to God. “In one eity there has been an exceed- ingly low death rate, and another is full of weeping Rachels for the loss of their children which are not. Shall all these cities come together under the same presi- dential Proclamation and give thanks? ‘Let us today hail with thanksgiving the recognition by President Cleveland in his Thanksgiving proclamation of the name of im who is the Son of God. Thanks be ‘0 God for His unspeakable gift. Our tl ving goes back to Christ, fag from Him started all good. In Christ all things cChrist ts that power { “Chri a er in the world which is breaking the chains of oppreesion and raising the fallen; is causing all the evolu- tons out of a lower state into a higher and making things better in which men may live. “When we give thanks to Christ it is only giving grace for the progress of the world. When we see the great reforms that have been produced we see but the hint of the time when the entire world will be converted to God. “We have harvests from the soil, but God gives: His blessings to men in other ways than through the soil. “What triumphs of arbitration have been Produced in the last year. A few years ago it would have been impossible to have secured the solving of the Venezuelan ques- tion, as has been the case. Note the other reforms in progress—temperance reforms, anti-gambling r@orms, sweat-shop reforms and many other reforms (not, of course, as yet accomplished), but all are the result of Christ’s teaching and its influence on the world. id “There has been going on for many years a movement to narrow the breach between the masses and the classes, and there has been a gradual advance to the demands of the former, not because they have grown so much stronger as that the latter have come to believe that justice demands that they recede in some degree from the posi- tion they formerly occupied in this mat- ter.” Dr. Luceock closed his sermon by an ap- peal to his hearers to believe that all the good in the world comes through the kind- ness of God. GURLEY MEMORIAL. Thanksgiving Services Commenced at That Church Last Night. At the Gurley Memorial Presbyterian Church the Thanksgiving services began last night, when a large number of the members of the church gathered at a pleas- ant musical and literary service. They brought with them a liberal quantity of Provisions to be distributed today to any who might be in need. This morning, at 7, there was a spirited and well-attended sunrise prayer meeting. At 9 o'clock a large bicycle party met at the church, who took a two hours’ run ending at the church door in time for the regular preaching service. The sermon was by the pastor, Rev. J. R. Verbrycke, from the 100th Psalm, and was given with a full musical service by the choir and con- gregation. The remainder of the day was thus left for family reunions. RABBI STERN’S SERMON. ‘The Danger of a Secti Amend- : ment to the Constitution. ‘There was a large attendance at tH synagogue of the Washingtcn Congrega- tion on 8th street, where Thanksgiving services were held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Rev. Rabbi Louis Stern preached a sermon which was significant, and was listened to with the closest at- tention by the congregation. In his opsn- ing words he dwelt mainly upon the happy results of the recent election and the pros- pects of returning prosperity as good things to be particularly thankful for, and then proceeded as follows: “But while we rejoice with truly thankful hearts that threatening dangers have been happily averted, it would be unwise and unpatriotic not to heed the lessons they have taught us. “It requires no stretch of imagination to understand what would be the fate of our tepublic should the seeds of unrest and discontent be permitted to spread and thrive, and the vicious notions of sectiongl- ism and class distinction become further strengthened. “It becomes the plain duty of all lovers of what, as American citizens we prize most highly, to unite their efforts for the preservation of the strength and dignity of our well-tried republican institutions,and to vigorously oppose any and every scheme aiming at the erection of barriers, socially or religiously, that would tend in the least to justify the cry of sectionalism. “The tendency of our age 1s to bring peo- ple closer together, to level all distinctions irreconcilable with the noble truth of the Rev. Louis Stern. Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. That tendency has nowhere found § foothold and larger than in the men are created and endowed by their Creator with inaten: able rights.’ A Pile of Stones, “That gigantic shaft piercing the clouds at the banks of the Potomac, dedicated to the memory of the father of our country, has been slightingly styled ‘a pile of stones.’ Let us accept the epithet in the Sevcereeent as i | i E ward, heavenward; upward to Him whose loving providence has watched over our re- public these hundred years and more, fa- vored us in abundant measure, and led us safely through trials and difficulties even to this day. Against Tampering With Religions Freedom. “But again I behold in that pointed shaft the outstretched warning, threatening fin- ger. Beware of tampering with our great- est boon, religious freedom, freedom of cerscience! Beware of any attempt in the ¢irection of a union of church and state, of yoking together polities and religious dogma. History teaches that from the field thus plowed springs up a harvest of strife and discord, tears and blood, and misery untold. Beware of the very first attempts in that direction, however seemingly harm- less. They may jeopardize the splendid achievements of a century. “Had the good brethren who advocate the introduction of a sectarian amendment into the Constitution beheld that threaten- ing finger, and wisely pondered the con- Sequences of an adoption of their propo- sition, they would, in all likelihood, never have presumed to improve upon the wis- dcm of the framers of our Constitution. “Had President Cleveland, when writing his Thanksgiving proclamation, with the Washington monument towering high in full view before him. beheld in it that cau- tioning finger, he—heretofore peculiarly Lroad and liberal in his public utterances —would never have penned the words which virtually exclude one million of loyal citi- zens from those to whom the document is directed. “Surely, to rejoice at this departure is as selfish as it is narrow and unpatriotic. As Jewish Americans we feel justly ag- grieved. Our religious convictions do not permit us to subscribe to the sentiment: ‘And let us, through the mediation of Him who taught us how to pray, implore the forgiveness of our sins.’ “We recognize no mediator between man and God. And many centuries before the rise of Christianity we were taught how to pray as good citizens, by the mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah, saying to the Jew- ish exiles at Babylon: ‘Seek ye the welfare of the city whither I have caused you to be led captive, and pray unto the Lord for it, for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace!” “True to this principle, the Jew has proved loyal to the country of his birth or adoption, amidst the dark ages of pers2cu- tion as well as in the light of the nine- teenth century, whether smarting under the lash of Russia’s barbarism, or bask- ing in the sun of religious freedom in cur own beloved land. May God's choicest blessings rest upon it, upon its people and government in the future as in the past! “Firmly as the ‘heap of witness’ that has served us for illustration is planted upon its basis may our republic stand upon those fundamental principles that are the secret of its strength and durability. Stone upon stone, among them memorial siones of each and every state of the Union, clcse- ly and safely cemented and rivei2d, and carried to its dizzy height, a modern ‘Muz- pah,’ or watch’ tower, may it be emblem- atic of a union that firmly binds together the confederatiog of states into one great nation, keeping™ faithful vigil over our precious heritage, strong and invincible through righteousness and internal peace, foreyer a fair land of promise, a hope and an inspiration to the nations of the earta. PRESIDENT WHITMAN'S SERMON. Baptists Unite in One Service at Calvary. The union services of Baptists at Calvary Baptist Church were attended by a congre- gation which filled every seat In the room and necessitated the bringing out of extra seats. The pastors of the different Baptist churthes in the District occupied seats on the platform, and conducted the introdue- tory devotional exercises. Invocation was offered by Rev. Dr. J. J. Muir, which was followed by Scriptural reading by Rev. E. H. Swem. Rev. Chas. A. Stakely, offered prayer, calling for God's blessings upon the rulers and the people of the land, asking for confidence and frater- nalism and invoking against sectionalism. The President's proclamation was read by Rev. A. F. Anderson. The eloquent ser- mon of President B. L. Whitman of Co- lumbian University held the big congrega- tion intently and closely. It was character- istic of the learned minister, full of deep thought and original ideas. The text was from Romans, 8th chapter and 17th verse, and the subject was “Tae True Way to Glory.” The great thought put forward by Dr. Whitman was that “the way to glory promises anything but glory,” as the world is full of pain and sorrow. ‘The ideas of the sermon were contained in the foliowing: 1, The natural elements are destructive; 2, savagery of the brute creation; 3, cost of human developments; 4, evil elements in society; 5, cycle of Ife romising death to all things; but, D. itman said, there is a rational element in suffering, and progress is through suf- fering, sufficient aid is promised in the co- operation of the Holy Ghost; there is an overruling providence which brings every- thing to pass for good. Dr. Whitman said it was no hard thing to be a pessimist. He enumerated some of disorders, The Waters of and are medicines prepared by nature. than Carlsbad, and the medical fra- ternity of Europe and America rec- ommend, for such troubles as yours, the genuine Carisbas the Waters of Carlsbad. Write for pamphlets. 152 Franklin Street, - MEN WHO SIT DOWN MUCH wr ther fio , lazy fiver, const ipation, etc. Carlsbad Sprudel Satts cure! Your druggist is nearer d Sprudel Salt and Eisner & MENDELSON Co., Sole Agents, New York, the vicissitudes of life, and spoke of the destructive elements which have wrecked life and property. He touched upon the passion for Cestruction found in enimal life. He mentioned the evil conditions in social life, saying that one hundred years of free schools in this country leaves the preblem unsettled. Vice everywhere reared its head, and pauperism nd suffering walked hand in hand with it. The minister alluded to the increasing number of sui- cides. oo <= death of Christ were re- as showing the way to glory, and Dr. Whitman said: “We, too, must ‘walk the way of humiliation’ and’ pain e whole history of the world has been a his- tory of effort under suffering. From the suffering comes a better type of men and women, and the moral fiber is toughened. . Out of the pressure of sorrow sympathy is bern. Instead of death being man’s enemy, it ts his friend. The crowning thought was that, back of all the pain and suffering, back of all the vicissitudes, is a personal God, and there was the consolation that everything would work out for the best in the end. At the conclusion of the sermon prayer was offered by Dr. Muir. Then Rev. Dr. Meade? made an appeal for tiberal contri- butions for the Baptist Home for the Aged. He told what was being attempted at this home. His appeal resuited in a large and senerous contribution. Benediction was pro- nounced by Rev. G. 8. Williams. Among the ministers on the platform were Rev. Theren Outwater and Rev. G. E. T. Stev ‘en- son, The special program of music prepared by Musical Director Frank G much enjoyed. This inc? ing of Mrs. T. C. iy listened for. Noyes, which was cager- The following was the musical program: Organ Sixth Concerto, Hand Gloria Janka, choir; anthem, “Great is the Lord Bruce Steane, choir; Not, Israel,” Dudiey Buck, Mrs. T. C. Noyes? offertoire, ‘Lord, Lea@ the Way the Savior Went,” Danks, Mrs. T. C. Noyes and choir; organ pcstiude, Rinck. “I do know this much, I would have been in m ve to- taken Dr. Pierce’s Medicines,’’ writes Mrs. N.'B, Discoy- ery is because it megs polyps Seces weeny Lod og Sepa a the iv es wil organ and pull ns, and for imparting strength and earn to prospective mothers. Mrs. Umphries’ letter continues: “I have taken two bottles of Dr. Pierce's Gold- en Medical Discovery. ment last summer, and I have the healthiest and finest as well as the prettiest baby I ever had” Dr. Pleasant Pellets are the most rational cure known. They are mild but thoz- How do you like the way your linen is laundered? If it isn't as good >| as it might be try the Yale. "Phone 1092. Drop a postal. 514 roth st. Cigarettes AN OPPORTUNITY TO