The American community of Shanghai celebrated Thank ing Day by|(R holding a service under the auspices of the American Association of (hina at: the Union Charch last evening. Mr. JU. Jameson presided and be was supported by the Hon. Rofus Thayer, Judge of the U. 8. Cart for! China, Dr. Amos. P, Wilder, Consal General at Shanghai, the officers of the American Association of Chins, the' Rev. F. L. Hawks Pott, w. the Rev. G. F. Fitch, p v., and other prominent Americans. The organ and pulpit were decorated with the Stars and Stripes. There was a large attendance of Americans and other nationals, The proceedings began with the playing of Prelude and Fogao (Mendel-sabu) as an organ volnotary by Mr. Waddell. The Chairman in opening. the prceediogs remarked that it was very pleasing to see ea many friends of other nationalities present, The harvest hymo, "We plough the fields and scatter" was then eng by all present, and the Rev. F.
ks Pott read the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy and offered prayer. The President announced that Mrs, James L, Cowen was unable to sing owing to 'a indisposition that prevented her leaving the house, He called on Mr.
Moyer, who gave a five rendering of Song of Thanksgiving."
Dr, Amos P, Wilder was asked by the Chairman to address th the Consal-General delivered lengthy speech which was listened to with rapt attention. Dr. Wilder expressed some no certainty as to what a Thauksziving Day address shoald be from a pulpit by a layman—th markedly siered in of the day, which of a long table lined with relatives in s New England towa, and a hazy recollection of thirteoa kinds of pie, or thirteen pisces of one kind of pie—at' thie late date he could not speak with accuracy. Ca the centre table was trossared copy of a newspaper annonneing George Washington's death. The ed too late, he feared, to get piritnal import of the day. had to confess that the Americans di not originate Thanksgiving Day. {t was one of the things their English ancestors allowed Americans to take across the sea, (Langhter). The English people celebrated the battles of Cressy and Agincoart with thanks giving days, and the Jews had it before them. The Paritans knew only two holidays, this one and Fest Day in the spring. Obristmas they regarded as a dangerous reversion to things they were abandoning. Beginning in New Eng-Iand as an occasional affair, it spread to the south became an annual event. The humility that characterized it bad broadened and now especially when far from home Americans regarded. it as the one time in the year when they might emerge from their traditional shyness (Isughter) and boastfalness might go unchecked (laughter) and while at other times Americans encouraged other nations by telling them they were good as anybody, on Thanksgiving Day facta were scrupulously adhered to owed laughter). If the good things of life kindled gratitude surely the American people bad reason to be thankful, The speaker proceeded to quote statistics showing the prosperity of the country, He remarked that it was no wonder the politicians trembled to take down roughly the tariff system on which all this economic snd social fabric was built. What s country! Was it strange they did not call it any man's country, bat associated it with Omnipotence, The impressive thing the figures quoted was not the riotous profusion of good igs but the people who produced them. Their friends of other nations who had never been in America—who conceived of them as head-hunters, souvenir mad, searching the heavens for wrecked air-ships that they might loot the dead before the undertaker could arrive (laughter) really they did not do them justice. They forget that they bad been too busy inventing the telephone, telegraph, electric light, type-setting machine, phonograph, the sewing bine, bicycle and as for the automobile, boys used to take "joy rides" on the town road roller and the steam thrashing machine forty years ago. Bhonld they be judged harshly by those who formed their ideas of the Isnd of Longfellow, Whittier Poe, Emereon and Lowell by their sensational papers chiefly affected ing, by the lies in their kitchens and tardy sweethearts working on the railway? It was misleading to estimate America on a rash through the country on a" tourist-car or by robbing against the rich in high-priced hotel, where one did not meet thei who grew $1,600,000,000 of beautiful wholesome corn to gladden many ations, or $550,000,000 of pure fi eve cotton to keep Manchester bassy, No, it was with the United States as it was with Englaod aad Sontland and ry people who had staff in them—was the great middle-class, the men of field, shop and factory who were the glory of America—man for man the meet prosperous, most—intelligeat, most opportanity the ha, plest people in the world, It was the public school, the abolition of rank snd privilege, the divorce of State and Charch, and the vital pity of the fathers that made the nation great. One must be American, a true son or daughter of the soil, to take in the fall significance of the words "Thanksgiving " They had known thanksgiving days for harvest, for deliverance from peril of the sea,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.