The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-11-24
BENTON, LOUISIANA,
Thursday ,::::::::::::::::November "a, 1898.
THANKSGIVING DAY.

Thanksgiving, as a national holi-
day, has gradually but surely won
its way into the goodwill of people
of all sections, until it has become
one of our most firmly established
fete days. Hardworking people
like those of the United States are
ready to welcome every legitimate
opportunity for recreation, and they
are glad to add to the number Of
their festivals, without too closely in
curing into their origin or family
history. We are an eclectic nation,
and ready to adopt suggestions from
every source. Thanksgiving as a
holiday, therefore, enjoys growing
popularity. AS time of family
gatherings, social pleasures and hos
pitality the sentiment associated with
it's traditions is sufficient to justify
its existence and gives it perma-
nent and friendly standing, and PEG
pie of all creeds and Of no creed at
all gladly unite in observing it after
their several fashions.
The religious significance Of the
occasion, though lost to many who
remember only the social aspect,
cannot be too strongly emphasized.
The observance of the day is ma.
tional recognition of the existence
and sovereignty of benevolent and
intelligent Ruler of the universe.
It is an acknowledgment of our belief
as nation that there is, in the Ian
guage of Washington's Thanksgiving
proclamation of November, 1889, "a
great and glorious Being who is the
Beneficent Author of all that was, OF
is, or that will be-" It is declar.
alton that we have not outgrown the
creed that there is directing Provi.
dence which governs the destiuies OF
nations, and whose favors and bless
ings we must seek, if we are to ex.
pect long continuance of prospect.
ty. God may not be recognized in
the Constitution, as some of our
latter-day thinkers are fond of re.
\ minding US, but He was recognized
by the American people in nearly
every important step leading to the
formation of their government. The
Representatives of the United Colo
MES of North America" in ''settine
forth the causes and necessity O.
taking up arms" expressed in the
concluding sentence of that declara
ton their ''humble confidence in the
mercies of the Supreme and Impair
tial Judge and Ruler Of the universe
and the Representatives of the Uni
ted States of America. in genera
Congress assembled,' appeared in tn
Declaration of Independence "to th
Supreme Judge Of the world for tn
rectitude" of their intentions.
All this is, of course, familiar t,
everybody, but it means much and i
worth recalling at period when tn
simple faith of the past has beef
obscured in many minds by th
clouds of skepticism.
Thanksgiving Day is the logica
and appropriate development of tn
faith expressed in these formal dec
larations of our early history. 1
marks the annual public acknowledg
ment of our allegiance to Divin
power, and in that aspect stand
apart from all other festivals in GU
calendar as a day of impressive an,
striking significance.
The lesson for US as nation o.
Thanksgiving Day is our dependence
upon the Providence to which tn
founders of the Republic appealed a
the outset of their undertaking
When we forget that, our greatnes
as a people will begin to wither an,
decay.
n. Y. Herald: One of the frs