The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-11-25
WE GIVE THANKS.
YES, FOR MANY THINGS.
A Layman's Thanksgiving.
BY "NEMO." :"

Copyrighted by Dave & Tabor.)
We thank Thee, who art Power un-
measured, that though perished and
forgotten generatians have sought to
know Thee as Thou art, yet both Thy
form and Thy dwelling place remain as
ever unknown and undescribed. Thus
gratefully do we see that each genera
ton, clamorlng for life and feeling
after light Is prompted anew to rever-
entail seeking, because Thou art still
hidden among countless things that
proclaim Thy hand1-work and hint at
Thy mighty power. And we thank
Thee that the secret of the Almighty
is least known by the froward who seek
Thee f1ippantly, not being impelled by
| their souls hunger.
But Thou who fillest endless space,
And art by highest hosts adored,
Leave us some light, Thyself to trace
Lest we should lose Thee, Lord.
x.A
Creator of all things, and Permitter
OF evil, we thank Thee for the world as
it is, with its wrongs that need right
ing and Its pangs that cry out tor
soothing. We thank Thee that things
are not as they ought to be, for therein
do We find justification for our exist
ence and stimulus to effort. Created
to be doers of deeds, we thank Thee
that there is need of deeds, and that we
are still called TO be co-workers with all
who in all ages have combatted evil,
and worked, blindly sometimes, to give
Truths light to the world.
But Thou who seest every sin,
And sheathest still th'avenging
sword,
Let not the wicked always win,
Lest good grow weary, Lord.
~
Thou Tryer of men, from the depths
of hearts distressed, we thank Thee for
sorrows. Though smitten and dlsap-
pointed in hopes that seem purest, we
yet can raise quavering note of praise
to Thee, who seest the precious metal
within where no human eye can trace
it, and who increaset affections that no
dross may remain. In suffering we
progress, and in feeling sorrow we
learn sympathy. We thank Thee that
we are deemed worthy of klnship with
Thy greatest ones, molders of thought
and saviors of nations, who have ever
been led upward to usefulness through
great trlbulatlon.
But Thou who sendest pain and care
And dost each trusting sigh record,
Give us not more than we can bear,
Lest our faith falter, Lord.
*.*
Thou Giver of will, thou Fashioner
of individuality, we thank Thee for
standards of morals, varying with ma
tfons, yet existent everywhere as a
boundless gulf between ourselves and
the brutes. We thank Thee for the
double nature within us, warning un-
ceasingly the lower against the higher.
We thank Thee that our lower natures
are strong and insistent, causing us ever
to be watchtul warriors within the
cltadels OF our own hearts, and above
all we thank Thee for every soul that
learns the secret of victory over self
and thus gains power to help the weak
er fight his weary battle.
But Thou who seest right and wrong,
Like day and night, in clear discord,
Hold not the twilight over long,
Lest we mistake them, Lord.
So
Thou Unimaginable One, whose
breath is the life of our nostrils, since
we can dream of nothing higher we call
Thee, LOVE. For human love and
love Divine, we thank Thee. Borne
bv the soft movings of the wings OF at
fectlon we rise further and further from
| the discord and seIfishness OF the dark
places of the earth into the calm OF
the heavens, where peace reigneth and
| the view is broad like Thine. For the
heaven-on-earth that human love can
bring, and for the glorified earth in
heaven which our love-enllghtened
fancies picture, we thank thee, Giver
of sex.
But Thou, whose highest name is
Love"
Who givest it as our reward,
Let it come ever from, above,
Lest it degrade us, Lord
~
Thou Judge of peoples, whose vast
hand is but lightly burdened with our
teeming millions, we thank Thee for
our nation, restless, impulsive, hopeful.
For it's faith in itself as set apart and
destined for great testings in self-gov-
ernment !; for Its development, remote
from threatening neighbors, 50 that
BUCkLEN's ARNIGA sALvE.
- Y~~A