West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-11-25


% 80 a l which witnessed
~ .SAM the genesis oi
~ sSs..ss ThanksgiN ing af'
esErrsS "a forded no posi-
BILE augury Of
that anniversary in latest times.
A mere handful Of people, but lit
tie more than 100, the children and
woman included with the men
were gathered upon a rocky shore,
with a wide and and storm driven
sea separating them from their for
NOR home, and with savage, and
as yet, unknown people upon their
north. south and west. The early
snowfall gave assurance Of long
an ! severe winter. and the winds
soughed dismally through the tree
branches. Yet these Puritaus were
a plous as we'll as brave people,
who were grateful to God for their
safe landing after a long and bois-
ferrous voyage, and they were cs.
pecially pleased that, though the
country was bleak and bare, their
industry should convert the forests
into fertile fields, which each re-
turning year would yield rich har-
vests of golden grain.
Before all, however, they were
grateful that In this new world they
could worship God as they pleased,
without fear of social prescription
stripes, stocks or the goal. Thanks
giving day was born distInctively
of consuming love for civil as
well as religious liberty. They err
who claim that as nation we do
not recognize God and His control.
ing power over men, collectively as
people, as well as individually
Upon our coins are engraved the
words: ''In God we trust" while
every proclamation of Thanksgiving
recites the blessings we receive at
His hands as well as our duty of
confessing our obligations to Him.
Nothing could be more aprroprl =
ately expressed than these procla
nations, each in its turn.
Our fathers thus set the fashion
Of concentrating the duty and
obligation resting upon men. But
they could not possibly grasp the
thought how in blessing, lie. could
bless them, and in multiplying He
would multiply them-they and
the little colony down in Virginia.
until within three centuries there
should spring from them the fore
most nation upon the face of the
earth. If the newly-arrIved PHI
grlms could fud occasion for for
titude, asSuredly their descendants.
with all other Americans, may do
so with fervont hearts, moved of
Joy, because Of the infinitely su
perlor blessings which rest upon
them. They can thank God that
this is nation Of peace, not gwen
over to war; that we are united
people, filed with a purpose to
make the nation yet more glorious;
and that the earth yields every
where Of its richness, for the sus-
tenance Of the people. They can
thank Him because the wheels of
the factories are whlrling and that
the msrts OF trade are crowned ;
for the jealousy with which our
schools are guarded and for health
full moral influences that are every
where extending. They can bless
Him for homes that are happy and
that th cir lndwellers have none 10
modest or make them afraid. For
advance in art, IN music and all
the material things in the world
beautiful, one should find cause for
Thanksgiving, becluse cultivation
Of these beauJitudes means q dyanc &C
in moral and intellectual growth.
There has been doiverance from
the pestilence that stalked at noon
day and from the storms that make
desolato the habitations Of man.
No great public wrongs remain tC
be redresscd, the poor are not op
pressed and the fatherless and the
vi low have found friends. Herein
/ do the wrOngcd Of aIl nations fnC
q secure Gabitaion.and our couutr,
is hono-ed 10y All The countries
Bach person con fud cause for
. gratitude Tor personal blessings.
and aIl may unite in giving thank.
in This great national holiday, q
peculiar institution Of this great
. people.
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