Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-11-26

lluL IDG kOulCSoilNS5 "a many "a liz A.
gates had as much to do with its silence as
did the general demand for religious tolera-
ton. There were those who felt that there
should be a recognition at least Of the SUI
pcr-ruling Deity who presides over the des'
TIMES OF nations and who determines the
issues of battles and the duration OF en-
pircs. But the fathers who builded SO WISE
is in other directions chose to be positively
silent, and as a nation the Cr ID 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 no
issued his second and last proclamation.
Many years elapsed before another president
had the courage to issue another, the war
of 1872 1911 having ensued 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 ia
now held fast, namely, the fourth Thursday
in November.
Even as il now stands, a fixed holy day,
it is IN no sense binding as to its observ-
ance. 1t is a maxim of law, that there can
nc no Slllule llldI Is UllulDB cNCSpt ~ nave
a p~unitory clause, and the presidents proc
lamation contains no sentence OF punish
mrnt 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 N
dividual man does as he pleases in that day.
The various churches hold a service; but,
as a rule, there is a painful emptiness OF
benches, and so many'sanctuaries have SUI
icrcd from abscnteeism that it is the prac-
tice in most places to hold union services
Of many congregations, so as to assure a
somewhat decent attendance. Usually al
these services, even, there is q marked abb
scnce of men, women supplying the wor-
Slippers in far the greater part.
No effort is made to accuse the people OF
to-day of a lack of religious sentiment. But
it is a fact that the people have seen fit to
make of the day one of home-bTinging and
home love and a ~sumptuous home feast. 1t
is a day of roast turkeys. cranbcrries, plum
puddiugs, mincc pies and other dainty and
indig"stiblc foods, and a day when the abb
sent ones seek to get back under the home
roof to spend the hours with those they
love.
The Puritans established it as a day OF
worship and praise of God for His abound
ing mercles. Jo 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-
giou8 spirit pertains to the day is to be
found IN the silent, unspoken worship that
clings to hearts that are warmed in the
thought oi a 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 hold the day
in this manner; yet the fact punctuates the
statement that the great republic Of Amer-
lea is yet very far from being a Godful ma
tion as such. AS a 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 has
the power to cast down and to raise up.
and from whom comes all the good that men
have and enjoy. Richest Of all the nations,
most blessed OF God, it yet declines to rec
cgnize His %omnipotent hand in the fruitage
of the fields and the yield of the mines and
in the product of the mills.
WILLIAM RoSSER COBBE.