The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-11-25

Indt lne gOulGSsUesS OF many OF IHe Utle-
gates had as much to do with its silence as
did the general demand for religious toera-
tion. There were those who felt that there
should be recognition at least of the su-
per-ruling Deity who presidcs over the des-
TIMES of nations and who determines the
issues of battles and the duration of en-
pires. But the fathers who buiidCd so wise
" in other directions chose to be positively
silent, and as a nation the United States
started out goddess and distinctly material
istic. Washington, himself a religious man,
was so held in the thrall of the skepticism
of the times that he burst not proclaim a
day of general thanksgiving to God, until
he was so directed by the congress; and he
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 lSl2lSli having ensucd and ended before
this Was done. Nor was it until after the
civil war was fairly on that Thanksgiving
day became general in its observance, Lin
coin being the first to place it where it is
now held fast, namely, the fourth Thursday
in November.
Even as it now stands, fixed holy day,
it is 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 30 many sanctuaries have suf-
fered from absenteeism that it is the prac-
! tice in most places to hold union services
of many congregations, 40 as to assure a
somewhat decent attendance. Usually at
these services, even, there is a marked alb
sence of men, women supplying the wor'
shippers in far the greater part.
No effort is made to accuse the people OF
to-day of lack of religious sentiment. But
it is fact that the people have seen fit to
make of the day one of home-bringing and
home love and sumptuous home feast. II
is day of roast turkeys, cranberries, plum
puddings, mince pies and other dainty and
indigestible foods, and a day when the alb
sent ones seek to get back under the home
roof to spend the hours with those they
love.
The Puritans established it as day o.
worship and praise of God for His abound
ing mercies. To this day in parts of New
England one may find suggestions Of the
former-day spirit; but throughout tht
other portions of the country what Of reli
gious spirit pertains to the day is to b,
found in the silent, unspoken worship tina
clings to hearts that are warmed in tn,
thought of a happy home and of the loveC
that are gathered under the home roof. Fa
be it from the individual to pass sentence o
condemnation upon such as hold the da.
in this manner; yet the fact punctuates tn
statement that the great republic Of Amer
lea is yet very far from being Godful ma
tion as such. AS day of home life and hom
love, there is that that is very pretty in tn
day of Thanksgiving; but there are man
who feel that the lesson of the day shoul,
point to more direct and positive individ
ual recognition of the God who alone ha
the power to cast down and to raise NJ
and from whom comes all the good that me-
have and enjoy. Richest of all the nations
most blessed of God, it vet declines to rec
cgnize His omnipotent hand in the fruitag
of the fields and the yield Of the mines an
in the product Of the mills.
WILLIAM ROSSER COBBE.