Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1898 — A NATION’S THANKS. [ARTICLE]

A NATION’S THANKS.

Offered to the Almighty for the Success of American Arms. PRESIDENT’S REQUEST IS OBSERVED. Thonkairtvlna; Service* in Recognition ot Divine Favor Are Held in Many American Churcliea on Sunday. Chicago, July 11. —Dispatches from numerous towns throughout the country show that the president’s proclamation of thanksgiving for victory and prayer for peace was generally observed. Many churches were decorated with the national colors and special music of a patriotic character was rendered. In Chicago, pastors preached special sermons filled with patriotism, choirs gave programmes of national music and congregations filled the churches and joined heartily in the prayers and songs of victory. In many cases pastors were away on their summer vacations and congregations were depleted by the exodus of their members to the mountain and lake resorts; consequently there were many union services in which two or three churches joined in the celebration. In Waiblngten. Washington, July 11.—Sunday was a day of thanksgiving and prayer in the national capital. The president’s recent proclamation was the basis of a concert of patriotic utterances from many pulpits. Thanks were offered for the glorious victories of American arms and prayers were offered for an early consummation of peace. In nearly every church where the proclamation had suggested the topic of the sermon special music of patriotic character was rendered, many of the services closing with the hymn “America.” President McKinley, as usual, attended the morning services at the Metropolitan M, E. church. He went alone to the church and was deeply impressed with the discourse delivered by the pastor, Rev. Frank Bristol. The church was crowded long before the services began. Scores of persons remained standing throughout and many more went away unable to gain admission. Dr. Bristol’s sermon held the attention of his auditors from the first sentence to the last. At times his hearers were so thoroughly aroused by his patriotic utterances that ripples of spontaneous applause swept over the congregation. In New York. New York, July 11. —Thanksgiving services were held in many of the churches here Sunday in accordance with the proclamation of President McKinley asking that thanks be returned for the victories of the American navy and army. The services at Old Trinity church were very impressive. At the conclusion of the sermon Rev. Dr. J. Nevitt Steele, vicar of Trinity, requested the congregation, while thanking God for the success of American arms, to pray for peace. At the Cathedral a prayer of thanks from the Roman missal was offered at all masses and De Profundis were said for the repose of the souls of those who have fallen in battle. In St. Paul. St. Paul, Minn., July 11. —The observance of the president’s proclamation of thanksgiving for victory and prayer for peace, which began in the Jewish synagogues in this city Saturday, was generally observed throughout the northwest Sunday, all denominations, Protestant and Catholic alike, giving heed to the request of the nation’s chief. Archbishop Ireland,whose intimate acquaintance with and friendship for the president, as well as the leading position filled by him a few weeks ago in the attempt of the pope to mediate between the belligerents, has given him great prominence in all things connected with the war, chose the war and this proclamation by the president m the theme for a sermon at the Cathedral. • In Nashville. Nashville, Tenn., July 11.—The request of President McKinley, ex- : pressed in his proclamation that the i people of the United States should as--1 sernble In their houses of worship and return thanks for the success attending the army and navy of the United States, was fully complied with in this city Sunday, and notably so be- | cause the pulpit of nearly every I church, both morning and evening, was occupied bj' a prominent Christian Endeavor minister. In Louisville. Louisville, Ky., July 11.—Nearly 1 every church in Louisville observed in | some way the proclamation of Presij deut McKinley urging the nation to ofi fer thanksgiving for the victories of our 1 soldiers and seamen. At a majority of 1 the places of worship the proclamation I was read, followed by devotional exer- | vises, in which the pastor gave thanks jin prayer. Patriotic songs, such as ! “America” and the “Star Spangled Bani tier,” were sung by the congregations. In Cinelnnnti, Cincinnati, July 11. —The president's ! proclamation for thanksgiving and 1 prayer was universally observed in the Hebrew s\ nagogues on the Jewish Sabbath and in the Christian churches here Sunday. The Roman Catholic church has also set opavfesiext Munday for special thanksgiving services. In Kanana City. Kansas City, Mo., July 11.—Special patriotic services were held in many churches here Sunday. It was the pres- . ident's proclamation. While the rell- ; gious aspect of the war was emphasized, a spirit of patriotism breathed in every ' utterance. The churches were in most ! instances beautifully decorated, and special musical programmes were rendered.