Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-25

man said 10 an English naval officer
whose vessel was cruising In Chinese
waters: "Your JOSS God 10 better 10
you than our Joss - to us. You have
holiday once a week. All work on board
your ship ceases. and your men have rest.
ON the shore yonder our men are all AT
work. and have no rest. except on one DAY
each year-New Years Day, or JOSS pay.
And that one holiday Is usually spent IN
drunkenness.
Holiday was, originally. holy-day. All
holidays were holy-days. The jewish
Sabbath was the bulwark of the Jewish
nation. After the Sabbath came the an
nual festivals, such as the Passover,
"Pentecost," Feast OF Trumpets, Day
Of Atonement." THE Feast or the Iaoer-
nacles." etc. These annual festivals, re-
ligiously observed. did more, perhaps. tnan
any other one thing to cement the tribes
OF Israel. binding them through centuries
OF struggles. whose ilnstrious history
stands unique in the record of mans pro-
gress. The glory OF America is her Lords
day. shining with greater or less splendor
in those sections where II Is. more or less,
faithfully observed Next TO this holy
day come our national holidays. which
are in true and worthy sense holy days.
There are no less than twenty State and
national holidays celebrated in this coun-
try, but chief among them are the ed OF
February. the anniversary OF the birth
OF the Father OF His Country; the Fourth
OF July. or lndepsndence-Day. and
Thanksgiving-Da The first settlers in
this country were Christians. After a
protracted period OF privation, sickness.
and famine. relief came. What could have
been more natural than the proclamation
OF day of thanksgiving TO Almighty
God. in Whom they trusted. and to Whom
they gave the praise for relief2 The
grand government, which has gradually
developed from that day to this. is essen
TALLY Christian government. True. vice
and corruption abound and mar the
beauty and sympathy OF the body polite,
but the warp and woof OF this nation Is
Christianity: Our civilization and culture
are the products of Christian teaching.
Founded In Christianity. nurtured In the
providence OF Cod. blessed by his contin-
ual presence and mercIes, what is more
natural and fitting than the annual out
burst OF thanksgiving from whole ma
ton, "praising the Lord for His goodness
and for His wonderful works TO the chill
dren OF mem? AL hail Thanksgiving Day!
A. X. MOORE.
Inpn1siftt tuc cpittt VI Etttdoins
To the average mind there can be no
question as to the appropriateness of the
celebration Of Thanksgiving-Day and the
benefit that accrues therefrom. 1t Is an
institution that tends 10 spiritualize the
nation. II acts as a check upon that
vainglorious self-sufilciency that marks
the beginning Of the end OF either nation
or an individual. 1t seeks 10 diminish that
pride that goes before fall.
While IL is true that we ourselves are
working out the destiny of our nation,
and that glory or infamy will be ours ac-
cordlng to our acts. yet he who has read
the records Of the past sees on every page
traces of the uuspeakable Wisdom. that In
the beginning laid down the unerring laws
of universal life. Through all ages the
Master-Hand has been moving the figures
on the chess-board of history. IL Is 10
this supreme wisdom that. as nation.
we give grateful homage on Thanksgiv-
ing-Day. 1t Is the tribute OF the transient
to the everlasting lmmutable.
have somewhere read objections TO
the official proclamation of Thanksgiving
Day, on the ground that 1t is not the
business OF the State or Federal Govern
ment to set aside q day OF prayer for
the nation. While no one more strenu-
ously than myself. insists on the absolute
not find any ground for apprehension in
the proclamation Of Thanksglving-D Day,
for the sole and simple, yet all-sufiiciCnt
reason that there Is no compulsion In the
matter either In the observance itself
or in the form thereof The proclamation
Is not mandatory merely recommends
tory. Each one observes the day In his
own way, as his conscience or his wishes
may lead him. The inndel or the atheist
or the careless believer pay not attention
to the proclamation. yet are not guilty Of
any legal misdemeanor.
1t IS herein especially that the day
appeals to me. II emphasizes the spirit
Of freedom, which is our pride and our
most precious privilege II teaches men TO
be broad and liberal in view. II affords
the opportunity for those who are other
wise separated. TO como together on the
platform OF their common patriotism and
humanity. as witness the fact that Rev.
DR.. NJ. ID. Hoge will be speaker. with
myself, at services Of beth Ahaba"
synagogue on Thanksgiving morning.
The day Is one that makes for the true
civilization, inasmuch as IL lays stress
upon morality and faith 1T is men and
not cities that make civilization" says
Emerson. our cities are growing fast
enough. large and rich enough We need
not larger cities. but truer citizens We
need broader culture. higher public morals,
an awakened public conscience. ard A
community knit together by a sympathetic
patriotism that will defy the insiddo5s
dangers of decay and corruption
EDWARD ~ CALISCH.