ELDER GEORGE SIGLER.

      Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine: Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is it to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank Thee and praise Thy glorious name."--I Chron. 29: 11-13.

      This is the language of one whose soul was stirred to its very depths, because he saw the Divine hand moving his people to contribute so largely and freely of their means for the building of the house he so much desired to build for the Lord. The hand of God, though often unrecognized, is still at work among nations, communities and families, as well as individuals, giving shape and direction for His own ultimate glory, and the best interests of His creatures.

      No man can look upon God as He reveals Himself to the thoughtful mind, in providence, without his soul swelling with the emotion of gratitude, impelling him to break forth in expressions of thanksgiving. The emotions of the soul are involuntary, and arise in keeping with the character and condition of the object upon which the mind dwells.

      Fear of an enemy is measured by the ability seen in him to injure. Pity for an object depends largely [3] upon the condition in which it is found. Love is in proportion to the loveliness seen in its object.

      This day of our Centennial jubilee has been set apart by the Chief Executive of the nation and of our commonwealth, that Christians may assemble in their places of worship, and give expression to their gratitude to the Giver of all Good for the blessings of the year. In obedience to this call we are here in this union service. I will notice,

      I. THE NATURE OF GRATITUDE.

      Mr. Cogan, in his treatise on the passions, says it is "The powerful reaction of the well disposed mind of one upon whom benevolence has conferred some important good." Mr. Webster says it is "An emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received." Gratitude is the most pleasant emotion the soul is capable of. In fear there is torment, in pity, distress, but in gratitude there is the most pleasing and desirable frame of mind. There is the mingling as into one, joy, appreciation, and a pleasant recollection. Joy in receiving, appreciation while in possession, and a pleasant remembrance of the benefactor.

      Gratitude is the most important emotion that swells the human soul. While it affords man great pleasure, it, at the same time, calls down the Divine favor as nothing else can. There is nothing of which God speaks with more displeasure than its opposite, [4] ingratitude. He calls heaven and earth to hear, while He manifests His utter displeasure: "Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider."--Isa. 1:2-3. And while it affords pleasure, and meets the approval of God, it produces a wonderful effect upon man's life. The grateful man not only renders God thanksgiving, but also honors Him by a life of faithful service. His whole soul is poured forth into a life of obedience. He feels that he must do something to please One who has brought him under so many obligations by His unmerited favors.

      II. GRATITUDE TO GOD IS COMMENSURATE WITH OUR RECOGNITION OF HIS HAND IN THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY.

      If, therefore, we are to manifest our gratitude to God in thanksgiving, we must be able to see His hand in the blessings of the year. Let us look at,

      1. Blessings of a general character.

      1. Peace with foreign nations.

      While dark and threatening clouds are gathering over the nations across the sea, betokening a general war at no distant day, our relations with them remain undisturbed and peaceful. True, while this is our relation with foreign governments, we have had some unpleasant commotions within our own borders. [5] Some of our brave soldiers have been sacrificed in an Indian war. We are now humiliated in the eyes of the world, by corruption and general uneasiness in a few Southern States. But may we not be thankful that the God of the Pilgrim fathers, the God of Washington and Lincoln, who forsook us not in our struggle for independence, and in our effort to maintain that independence when threatened by an internal foe, will, in His own time and way, bid the angry winds subside and the troubled waters be still, and that there will yet be a great calm, in which the good ship of State may move on in her mission among the nations of the world. Surely, her work is not finished in one short century,--she seems too much like a young man coming out of his chamber to run a race for her work to be accomplished already.

      2. Our orchards and fields have yielded an abundant harvest. We have enough to meet the wants of our forty-millions of a population, and to spare for the nations abroad. No hungry mouth need go unfed, if there is a fair distribution made.

      3. We have been spared from a widespread epidemic. In one of the cities of the South the yellow fever prevailed to some extent, but the nation generally has enjoyed a remarkable exemption from disease in the form of an epidemic.

      4. A much needed lesson of economy has been taught the people of the nation. We had learned to [6] live extravagantly, and this extravagance was drifting us on to certain ruin. The public treasury was plundered, that men in high places might keep up their fast living. Business men were compelled to sap the foundations of trade to keep up appearances in their families. Churches crippled their spirituality, by building magnificent and costly houses of worship, to compete with each other, and thus meet the demands of a fashionable religion. God, who sits in the heavens, touched the great engine that turned the wheels of trade, and suddenly everything stood still. In our moments for thought we have returned to our sober senses, and as soon as we have the lesson of common sense living well learned, the same hand will once more set in motion the wheels of trade, and our land shall again be vocal with the hum of spindles, looms and wheels.

      5. Corruption in high places has been exposed. True, men of far reaching fame have been hurled from their pinnacles of honor by this exposure, but they will be left along the track of the nation as so many wrecks, to warn ambitious men of the fact that there is a divine power that is not indifferent to the interests and safety of this nation as one of the trees of His own planting. Men may plunder and steal until they have built great storehouses and barns, but the handwriting will appear on the wall, "Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting." The messenger will be heard [7] saying, "Thou fool." "That which is done in secret shall be proclaimed upon the house-top." It does not require the foresight of a seer to foretell the meaning of the general heart sickening among the masses of our people while beholding the corruption that characterizes the leaders of the political parties of the day. God is moving the people to demand, at no distant day, a higher type of moral integrity in the men who are to control our destiny, and hold the keys to our funds.

      6. The International Celebration of our Centennial. In this we may see the hand of God in the following particulars:

      1. In what we have become under His blessing in a single century. From a mere handful we have become one of the most powerful nations of the earth. The Exhibition proves that we are equal to, and far in advance of many of the nations that have had centuries of the start of us. Great cities have been built, broad prairies have been converted into beautiful and productive farms. Manufactories of every kind have been built. Railroads span the continent from ocean to ocean, and our ships, laden with our superabundance of produce, plow the great deep on their way to distant lands with supplies for the teeming millions of hungry ones. We have territory enough to raise our bread; wool and cotton to clothe our people; gold, silver and copper in abundance for our money; iron sufficient to [8] build our railroads, and make our war implements; coal to run our engines and keep us warm, and coal oil in abundance to give us light and lubricate our machinery. Our rivers and mountains run north and south, teaching us that before we can be divided we must cut in twain what God has made one. In this wonderful growth we have but an earnest of what we may become in the centuries yet to come, with God's blessing resting upon us.

      2. In what we are able to accomplish. We have done the most stupendous work of the century. We brought the world together in such close proximity, that it sat down in the great park of our City of Brotherly Love. We put on exhibition the products of the world, so that in a few months our people could learn more of the customs, habits and products of the nations than by years of travel and a life time of reading. Here we saw foreigners in their native costume and languages, the products of art and nature from almost every clime and variety of genius. We brought the nations into a more intimate and friendly intercourse with each other. Heretofore, we were disposed to look upon England through the symbol of the gruff old lion on her coat of arms, disposed to walk up and down in lordly pride, as if he were indeed king of nations. England regarded us as an eagle with threatening bill and talons, and poised wings, waiting like a bird of prey to pounce down, perchance, [9] upon Canada. But when we kindly invited England to our jubilee, we found him so gentle and mild that he could be trusted to lay down with the lamb, and he found us as represented by "Old Abe," gentle as a dove, and glad to be able to say, "How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." May we not expect that after such an opportunity to learn to respect and love one another, that these nations will exhaust every possible peaceable means for the adjustment of difficulties that may occur, before they turn the dogs of war upon one another? We have also afforded the nations an opportunity to improve by a comparison of their various products, skill and machinery.

      3. In showing to the world how Christianity gives direction to genius, elevates taste and insures general prosperity. I presume no one failed to notice how far in advance in inventions and products of a useful character the nations most thoroughly Christianized are. While the genius of the Chinese manifests itself in cutting and carving in wood and ivory, and in ornamenting wares, our American genius builds a Corliss engine to drive the world's machinery at the Exhibition, engineers a railroad over some towering mountain, that the grain of the west may reach our eastern cities; superintends the blowing up of acres of rock from the bed of a river, that the wicked city of New York may pass more easily and safely through "Hell Gate," or [10] in manufacturing machinery to sow and reap the broad acres of the west. The unchristianized taste of the Chinese carves about their sleeping places all manner of hideous, fiery eyed, coiling dragons and snakes, to peer down upon the sleeper. What but the coarse taste of heathenism could ever endure such things about the place of sweet repose. A christianized taste would think of a guardian angel with outstretched wings to protect; a sweet dove with an olive branch in its mouth, or an innocent lamb reposing on the green grass. The nations must have been blind if they did not discover that where the gentle dews of Christianity are distilled, and the gentle warming rays of the Sun of Righteousness are felt there is the most rapid development in everything truly useful to mankind. I would not be surprised if the Centennial Exhibition should induce the nations yet largely closed against the Bible and Christianity to throw open their ports and invite to their homes the system that they could not have failed to see made other nations, though younger than they, far their superiors in domestic comfort and general prosperity.

      4. In bringing out to the surface the deeply seated regard we have for the Christian Sabbath.

      Infidelity said it would not be treating foreigners with due respect to compel them to observe our day of rest, that the Exhibition would be a financial failure if closed. Rationalism claimed that the day could be [11] spent to a better purpose by studying God as revealed in the works of art and nature, than by listening to the voice of our pulpits while holding him forth as revealed in Jesus through the gospel. Notwithstanding these arguments, our Christian sentiment arose and rolled back the tide of infidelity and rationalism, and declared in thunder tones it would not be treating God, who gave us our greatness, with respect, to break His command to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy," and that we believe it better to obey God than man. With these sentiments we closed our gates, and proved to the world that with them closed we were able to make it a success both in numbers and money, far surpassing all previous similar exhibitions, even though they were open. In this the nation, under Christian influences, rebuked the foul spirits of infidelity, rationalism and free thinking, as perhaps, they were never before rebuked. With hearts all aglow with gratitude, we should thank God that there is still salt enough in the nation to preserve its institutions from the hands of spoilers. Thank God for the noble men of the commission, who dared to meet and break the tide of evil that was rising to flood the city with demoralizing influences.

      5. The Bible still remains in our free schools.

      Cunning, designing and wicked men have combined to break down this bulwark of our national safety. Let the Bible be removed from the place where character [12] receives one of its earliest moulding impresses, and it will not be long until the nation will be shorn of its greatness and power. The Bible, however, has a deeper hold upon the American people than the mere casual observer imagines. Our mothers put it among the treasures of the knapsacks of their sons when they go out to battle for their country. Our courts are not allowed to proceed with the trial of an offender against law and order, until they do reverence to the Bible. Our law makers dare not attempt to make laws for us until they prove their fidelity to our interests by saluting the Bible with a touch of the lip. The Bible is the omnific power that is lifting humanity to a higher plane of morals, originating and sustaining the institutions that ameliorate the condition of suffering humanity, and waging an uncompromising warfare against every species of evil found among men. Time would fail me to tell of the families it has lifted from sorrow and wretchedness to happiness, the tears it has wiped away, the hearts it has relieved of heavy burdens, the death-bed scenes it has made peaceful and hopeful, and of the millions it has shown the way to a nobler life here, and to immortality in heaven. That at the end of the first century, and commencement of the second, the Bible is found where it can best exert a moulding influence upon the character of those who will soon have the interests of the nation committed to their care, is a matter for which we should be profoundly grateful. [13]

      2. Blessings of a local character.

      1. Peace and good order have characterized our city, notwithstanding the millions of strangers that have thronged our streets. Many of us feared lest the bringing together such a heterogeneous mass would lead to riot, blood, and general demoralization; but instead of this state of things our streets were, perhaps, never more quiet; and the thousands upon thousands that mingled together while visiting the great Exhibition, could not have been more pleasant, peaceful and orderly if they had been on their way to and from places of worship. It was a matter of conversation among the visitors, expressing their surprise at such order and good-will. Too much praise can not be given our worthy and able mayor for the wisdom he displayed in managing with so much ability the city government.

      2. General good health prevailed, notwithstanding the overcrowded condition of the city. An examination of the death lists for the year will show that, although our population was larger by hundreds of thousands, the deaths were little in excess of former years. This is a fact well worthy of thought. Notwithstanding our city was full of strangers, who had changed climate, water, food and customs; and the waste from the increased business of butchers, hucksters, hotels and boarding-houses was much larger, thus seemingly adding greatly to the causes of [14] disease; yet our deaths were so little in excess of former years.

      3. Millions of dollars have been brought to our city, and distributed among our people at a time when many did not know how to meet their wants. Through the Centennial Exhibition many found employment, others sale for the little produce and goods they could command, and others, again, opened their houses and entertained visitors, and in this way they have prepared themselves for the cold winter that is before us.

      4. Our city was visited by a gracious revival of religion. There, perhaps, never was a year in the history of the city that witnessed such a far reaching work of grace. The city was pretty well aroused and an influence went out from us into the State, and adjoining States. The meetings in the old depot (now the great clothing emporium of Wanamaker) under the telling sermons of Moody, and the sweet, soul stirring singing of Sankey, will never be forgotten. The churches of the city were visited with showers of grace under the regular ministry.

      3. Blessings of a domestic and individual character.

      1. No raging disease visited our families to rob us of our children. It is true, some of our circles have been broken; but how tenderly we were dealt with. Sometimes disease comes in a fearful form, and robs families of all their dear ones in a few days. [15]

      2. Many of the families of the city have been visited by the saving grace of God. A father, a mother, a son, a daughter, and in some cases, whole families have been converted.

      3. Individually we have received innumerable blessings from God, of which I cannot now speak in particular. Not the least, however, is that our lives are spared, and all facilities afforded us to prepare for the time when we will be called upon to close up our history, and enter upon eternity.

      Let us learn from this subject,

      1. How wonderfully God has blessed us as a nation, community, families, and individuals.

      2. That as in the past, so in the future, prosperity depends upon the blessings of God. "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." "And in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all."

      3. To so recognize the Divine hand in the blessings of the year, that we can from full souls adopt the closing language of the text: "Now, therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." [16]

[CTS 1-16]

      The electronic version of George Sigler's Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon has been transcribed from a copy of the pamphlet. Thanks to Ed Rosenberry, Conference Minister of the East Pennsylvania Conference, Churches of God, for providing an electrostatic copy of this publication.

      Pagination has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
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 p. 5:      our own borders, Some [ our own borders. Some
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 24 October 1997.
Updated 15 July 2003.