Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-11-26

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is one of happiness. Wherever the
mind reaches intelligence enough to
make fairly good use of life, and there
fore to appreciate its wonderful powers
and mysteries, then the heart reaches
happiness which can at times cry out:
81 bless, Thee, oh God!" Many times
dull or wicked says to itself: ''Thank
God.'' It need not define it's God. It need
not be Christian or a pagan. Out of
the two simple facts-an intelligent
mind and the world of a Creator,
comes the religion Of thanksgiving. 1t
is the simplest form of piety, and is
therefore the most universal. 1t
sweeps over the whole arena of intel
igent manhood and womanhood-the
atheist alone being silent.
Many religious minds have doubted
whether they should ask the Maker of
the universe to grant them some bless
ing. It has seemed to them only an
outburst of egotism to ask the Deity to
confer upon their mind or body or busi-
ness some special favor, but no religious
nature has ever hesitated to breathe
forth the audible or silent prayer Of
gratitude. To ask for favors might be
form of egotism, but not to thank the
God of life would seem to be inhuman.
It has been the reasonableness of this
day of piety that has made it outlive
the years which saw the early fathers
of our country assemble in the name Of
gratitude. It was soon seen that the
Heavenly Father was not a special
friend of those who landed upon
Plymouth Rock. His love and care
touched alike all years, all places and
all men. The fall Of the first genera
ton into its grave did not terminate
the history of the Thanksgiving day,
because the Divine goodness never ends
at human tomb. It passes over
graves like a. 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 as active and beautiful in the
eighteenth century as it had been in the
seventeenth.
The Thanksgiving day stands forth
In our time in the same light as that in
which it stood in the days when Miles
Standish walked upon the Atlantic
shore. There is not = patriot In our
nation who is not as dear to Heaven as
was each soul In the Mayfower. Once
started upon its career Thanksgiving
day can end only by command of ma
tional atheism. The mind may be slow
in discovering truth or duty, but
when it has reached such a sentiment
as that which comes out in bloom each
November it can never recall the noble
sentiment and close up its account.
AS the seasons come and go the ma
tion grows greater in all the dimensions
of merit. Behold the growth of our
country! The days of Plymouth Rock
are left far behind. The people move
in more millions, and In more of educa-
ton, wealth. art, science and goodness
The scene has become so vast that the
hearts in this land to-day should be
bowling before Gods altar in a love and
Joy greater far than the sentiments
which expressed themselves SO solemnly
when our -sEate was young Our prayer
of thanlfulness Should expand In fervor
and gladness to 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 SWING. i