The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-25
. THANKSGIVING DAv.

To-day is set apart by tie yroc'ama-
ton Of The President OF Ike. United
States and +ae proclamatlons Of the
Governors 0. the various States and
Terri ories as a day Of Thanksgiving
throughout cur land, TO the Supreme
Au.hor Of all our good. There is some
thing sublime in the contemplation of g
whole natien bowling before the Supreme
Ruler of the universe in humble &C
knOwledgment of His kindness and of
His goodness to them, both as indiyid-
uals and as q nation. II is an event in
which az men of all religious faiths, can
participate. And even men of no re-
Egieus faith can have q part therein;
for though they may not believe in the
personality Of God, though they
may not with an eye OF faith see
through. the mystery, which in their
minds surrounds that idea, yet their
intelligence teaches them that some
power kindly disposed towards our
race and anxious for our welfare has
created the earth and placed upon it
all the materials upon which we Sub
sist, and out Of which We create the
comforts and lnKnries of life. What
ever the intelligent power may be, we
are indebted 10 it for our existence. and
70 it our gratitude is due. The great
God, approached acceptably, as many
believe, only through the name Of Jesus
Christ, would surely be well pleased
with the prayer Of gratitude that falls
from the lips OF q man who can only
address Deity as the Great Unknown
Almighty cause Of bis existence, and
the giver of those comforts which make
that existence blessing.
But the thank offerings of our
nation, as well IS those Of
the individual, to be accept
able TO the Author of our blessings,
must be sincere. They must come
from the heart and not from the lips
only. II our national Thanksgiving
Day has become merely a form, and
frO2 the heart of the nation there goes
up no united real prayer Of praise and
thanksgiving for our goodlY land, for
our free institutions of government. for
our abundant harvests, for our fruitful
seasons, pleasant homes, and happy
hresides-the formal ceremonies attend
ant upon It, from the proclsmstions Of
the President and Governors 20 the
closing benediction of the last congre-
CATION are a solemn mockery to the
Supreme Ruler of the universe, and are
more likely to be visited with cursings
than blessings. Let US still hope that
in or land there are enough thought
ful, earnest men and women who
shall assemble in their places of
worship and around the family sltars
to make this day acceptable to God.
Throughout Utah there is abundant
cause for gratitude, Notwithstanding
her people have their woes. The
harvest has been bounteous; the ele-
ments have been propitious, and al
ready have given promise Of q fruitful
season II the year TO follow this, by
pillng up the moisture in our mountain
gorges that shall fructify our fields,
gardens, orchards and vineyards. In
this Utah has the advantage Of the
States in the east. She mas not only
the blessings OF the past season to be
grateful fer, bat siready the blessings
Of another are, We may say, in sight.
Then, let families reunite around the
table spread with earth's bounties, lei
JOY abound, aud peace preside in every
household. Let gratitude as . sweet
incense ascend 10 God, and that cur
Teasing and prayers may be pleasing
to Him, let the poor be cared for, and
psrtake Of the plenty that abolnds in
the land.