The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-11-13
Continued from Ist Page)

have been raised up TO rule the
people! or course an army and
Gattling guns are kept ready to re-
mind the many of the divine auth
ority Of the few. But these forces
are only for those who are spiritually
blind to the gifts of Providencel
And on November rs we will as
semble, and pass resolutions, and
send them by prayer and sermon
and print to Heaven, and impress
on the Angelic Hosts how thankful
the powers of Paradise ought to be
that we are here, success in poll
tics, health and prosperity, too
righteous to be visited by those dis
asters and diseases which have so
grievously afflicted other countriesl
Oh, the narrowness of the notion
that we are to observe Thanksgiving
Day merely as an opportunity OF e1-
pressing thanks for what God has
done for us, as distinguished from
His dealing with Others. Oh, the
dangerous bigotry of making our
own experience an illustration Of
Gods mercy.
read once story that amused
me and made me think. A father
had his little boy with him on the
beach; and whilst they were watch
ing the waves come and dash them
selves into spray, "a long-legged
crane suddenly appeared, who at
once Logan his hunt for breakfast.
The father saw in this crane a fit
subject for illustrating the benign
Creators adapting all creatures over
all things for the accomplishment
of certain purposes. "See, my son."
how wonderfully Providence has
shown His goodness in the construc-
ton OF that crane You will notice
that the bird has long legs which
enables him to wade out into the
water; he has keen eye sight, by
which he can easily see the fish I'M
der water; and you will notice that
he has long bill which he can use
TO pluck on. the fish; do you not see
how wonderfully the Creator has
provided for that crane7 Is it not a
sure sign that Providence rules the
world with love, and has given every
one cause for gratitude7" Eyes,
father" said the boy; shut Gust at
that moment the crane jerked up a
trout from the water), don't you
think it's rather rough on the fish,"
We must not forget the fish.
Gods ways are most inscrutable.
His purposes are always merciful,
but often it is only by faith that we
can believe. He will flood one home
with CHEEKY light and cast its shadow
on its neighbor. He will cut down
thousands Of His people by earth
quake, or storm, or pestilence, and
allow other countries to be free from
all serious disaster.
But it is mere assumption to say
that these various phases of Gods
rule indicate His opinion of the re-
ligious status of the people. 1t is
presumption to say that we will
thank God for His mercles to us, as
indicative OF his special favor. The
world is weary of that sriseeism,
which constrains the pietist to OBJ
serve the misfortunes OF others with
the inward reflection, "The Lord
hath afflicted them for the multi
tude of their transgressions." And
when he himself gets sick, says,
"Whom the Lord loveth He chas-
tiseth."
In 1865 the usual Thanksgiving
proclamation was issued by the
President OF the United States. All
churches throughout the Southern
States were opened for worship, and
filed with Christian men and wo-
men. In the North, people of Puri-
tan piety were thanking God for
having put down the Rebellion, and
more than one sermon was preach
ed, setting forth the idea that the