Telegram-herald., 1891-11-26

giving. The average condition 81 maa
is enc Of happiness Nherever the
mind reaches intelligence enough 70
make fairly good use Of life. and there
fore 10 appreciate its wonderful poNeFs
and NV ysteries. thsp the heart reaches
happiness which ean At times cry out;
81 bless, Thee, oh Cod" Maay times
In each season. or year. the mind nor
dull or wicked says ID itself: THANK
God 1t need not define its God IL need
not be Christian or pagan. Out cf
the two simple faets-an intelligent
mind and the world of Creator.
comes the religion of thanksgiving. II
Is the simplest form Of plety. and Is
therefore the most universal. II
sweeps over tie whole arena of intel
ligent manhood and womanhood--the
atheist alone being sileat
Many religious minds have doubted
whether they should ask tAe Maker =
the universe 20 grant them some bless-
Ing. Ii has seemed 10 them only an
outburst OF egotism 10 ask the Deity Ia
confer upon their mind or body or bnSl-
ness some special favor, bn; no religious
nature has ever hesitated 10 breathe
forth the audible or silent prayer OF
gratitude. To ask for favors might be
a form OF egotisn, bat not 20 thank tie
God Of life would seem - be illia1aan.
It has been the reasonableness Of this
day OF piety that has made IL oEtllsc
the years which saw the early fathers
of our country assem- bic ia tie name Of
gratitude. II was soon seen that the
Heavenly Father was not a special
friend of those who landed upan
Plymouth Rock. His love and care
touched alike al years. all places and
all men The fall Of the frst genera
tion into its grave did not terminate
the history Of the Thanksgiving day.
because the Divine goodness never ends
at q human tomb. II passes over
graves like . morning sunbeam and
follows the living race The day once
seen and once established could not but
travel on. because the kind Providence
which created the day travelled onward
and was rs active and beautiful In the
eighteenth century n Il had been In the
seventeenth.
The Thanksgiving day stands forth
Al Jul ttiao IA bsC neniS A< ~ - sb&h IA
which IL stood in the days when Niles
Standish walked upon the Atlantic
shore. There Is not q patriot in our
nation who is not as dear TO Heaven az
was each soul In the Mayliower. Once
started upon its career Thanksgiving
day can end only by command OF q na-
tional atheism The mind may be slow
In discovering truth or duty. but
when It has reached such . sentiment
as that which comes out in bloom each
November IL can never recall the noble
sentiment and close up its account
As tho seasons como and 60 the ma
tion grows greater in all the dimensions
OF merit. Behold the growth Of our
countryi The days Of Plymouth Rock
are left far behind. The people move
In more millions, and in more Of edncs-
ton. wealth. art, science and goodness
The scene has become 50 vast that tho
hearts in this land to-day shonld bs
bowling before Gods altar In a lore and
joy greater far than the sentiments
which expressed themselves 90 solemnly
when our state was young. Our prayer
of thsnkfulness should expand In fervor
and gladness 10 meet the new greatness
of the republic which once was carried
on the sea in little ship A great ma
tion should whisper . great prayer.
DAVID swrSs.