White Oaks eagle., 1895-11-21

The divine that is in man constantly
seeks after the infinite. Hence among
all peoples there is N universal search
ing after God. As are the cult and the
morals of the people, so their idealiza-
tion of the preeXistent. All, however,
clothe Him With righteousness and
confess Hin. to be the supreme almoner
of the universe. Gratitude is neither
dead nor sleep, and as men receive so
the wells 81, thankfulness send forth
bubbling waters whose ripples make
music of praise. Among Christian ma
tions, where conceptions of the All
Good have reached greatest perfectness,
the lesson of gratitude is most fire.
quently taught and most universally
practiced. Long anterior to the birth
of the American. nation the people
were wont at the close of the aftermath
to set apart day in which to consider
the tender mercies, the boundless love,
the generous hand of God, in order that
their hearts might swell and throb in
responsive touch to His beneficence.
This practice, born amid the rocky
hills of New England, has been per-
pctuated annually by a nation, which,
above all peoples that have been and
are, has most cause to be glad.
Here indeed do the rocks pour out
rivers of oil, the earth yields marvellous
increase and only the sins and short
comings of men make possible want Or
suffering anywhere. Among this peo-
E!e is the greatest personal liberty,
broadest Interpretation of the rights
of the individual, highest aspirations
after comforts and luxuries and great
est general faith in the promise and full
fillment of a more exalted condition of
universal happiness. With this pco-
pie, as with no other people, are greater
diversity of climate, more varied yields
of vegetation and a wider range of enl-
ploymcnt for the masses than is found
anywhere else upon the globe. In this
country men have need to their comfort
to employ less hours for labor and may
devote more time to enjoyment and
| pleasure than their fellow-beings in
other lands.
Recalling these superior benefits our
| people have cause indeed for gratitude;
not because they enjoy privileges that
would seem to be denied others but for
the reason that their lines are cast in
pleasant places. The grateful heart is
best capable of approaching, and he
who remembers his blessings cannot
fail of according praise where praise
| belongs. Rctrospecting the year ant!
its results there are suggestions that
the barns are filed to fatncss with gold
Ell grain, the wheels of industry whirl
and whrr, the marts of trade are active
with hurrying feet and the hope and
promise of better things are potent.
Remembering his divinity as we'll as
his mortality; recalling the Proyi-
dence that is over all and giveth all, Ia
who receives should not fail of CRATE
ful heart nor selfishly measure his own
gifts by those of his neighbor.
There are those who sorrow, because
from the beginning he laughter of the
joyful has rung out amid the cry oI
hearts made desolatc; but there is the
universal promise of comfort TO the
mourner. At this season of the yeal
the once green leaves are sercd, fallcr
upon the ground, betrodden under foot
OF man; but the naked trees, through
which the chilly blast Of the west wind
now means, shall, with the warming
days of spring, pat on new beauty ant
freshness. So the days that are to b,
give assurance of peace TO spirits thai
may be troubled. The night comes
but the glad sun is on it's course and its
rays will spread life and light upon ali
The mortality Of man confirms suffer
ing at intervals, but the divine that il
in him lifts him up out of the depths
and in the higher life he sees ant
adores the benefcent God of all. II il
good thing to remember mercies, e
: forget Affections and to give thanks t.
the Ail-Giver.
a. WILLIAM RossER CoDBE.
, ----=
nII A xrTyntTNvUNFI, yTNrNSNr