Daily camera., 1898-11-23

that the godlessness Of many Of the dele
gates had as much to do with its silence a
did the general demand for religious tolera
ton. There were those who felt that there
should be recognition at least of the su
per-ruling Deity who presides over the des
TIMES of nations and who determines the
issues of battles and the duration of EN-
pires. But the fathers who builded so wise
ly in other directions chose to be positively
nlent, and as a nation the United States
started out goddess and distinctly material
istic. Washington, himself religious man,
was so held in the thrall of the skeptieisn
Of the times that he burst not proclaim q
day Of general Thanksgiving to God, until
he was so directed by the congress; and be
waited for the same authority before he
issued his second and last proclamation
Many years elapsed before another president
had the courage to issue another, the war
Of lSl2-iSl4 having ensued and ended before
this was done. Nor was it until after the
evil war was fairly ON that Thanksgiving
day became general in its observance, Lin
coin being the first to place it where it il
now held fast, namely, the fourth Thursday
in November.
Even as it now stands, fixed holy day.
| IL il in no sense binding as to its observ.
| ance. 1t is maxim of law, that there can
be no statute that is binding except it have
punitory clause. and the presidents proc.
lamation contains no sentence of punish.
nent against people who refuse to observe
its provisions. Common consent of the peo.
pie gives it recognition to the extent that
places of business are closed; but the in
dividual man does as he pleases in that day
The various churches hold service; but,
| as rule, there is painful emptiness of
| benches, and so many sanctuaries have suf-
| fered from absenteeism that it is the prac-
tice in most places to hold union services
| of many congregations, so ~ to assure .
| somewhat decent attendance. Usually At
these services, even, there 10 marked ab-
sence of men, women supplying the wes-
shipers in far the greater part.
No effort is made to accuse the people o<
to-day of lack of religious sentiment. But
| it is fact that the people have seen fit to
make of the day one of homebringing and
home love and sumptuous home feast. It
is day of roast turkeys, cranberries, plum
puddings, mince pies and other dainty and
indigestible foods, and a day when the ab-
sent ones seek to get back under the home
roof to spend the hours with those they
love.
The Puritans established it ~ day Of
worship and praise of God for His abound.
ing mercies. 10 this day in parts of New
England one may find suggestions of the
former-day spirit; but throughout the
other portions of the country what of reli,
gious spirit pertains to the day is to be
found in the silent, unspoken worship that
clings to hearts that are warmel in the
thought of happy home and of the loved
that are gathered under the home roof. Far
be it from the individual to pass sentence OF
condemnation upon such as bold the daI
in this manner; yet the fact punctuates the
statement that the great republic of Amer.
lea is yet very far from being Godful ma
ton as such. Az day of home life and home
love, there is that that is very pretty in the
day Of Thanksgiving; but there are many
who feel that the lesson of the day should
point to a more direct and positive individ
ual recognition Of the God who alone hal
the power to cast down and to raise up
and from whom comes all the good that mep
have and enjoy. Richest Of all the nations
most blessed of God, it yet declines to rec
cgnizs His omnipotent hand in the fruitaee
|of the fields and the yield of the mines and
in the product of the mills.
WILLIAM RO9SER COMA