The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-11-26

- 49, ZNltA# ~ q ASaI A4u6 pSCu
expressed frequently
that the gOdlessness of many of the dele.
gates had as much to do with its silence as
did the general demand for religious toiera-
stionsssThere were thpse wkn felt that theirs.
seh9uadSh A:xscogritionsnt least OF the su-
per-Tliipg Dcitsswho presidee overtfe des-
TIMES of nations and who determines the
Issues of hntties and the duration of en-
pires. But the fathers who builded SO wise
1y in other directions chose to be positively
silent, and asa nation the United States
started out goddess and distinctly material.
istic. Washington, himself a religious man,
was go 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 lsl2-iSl4 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 it's observance, Lin
coin being the first to place it where it is
now held fast, namely, the fourth Thursday
in November.
Even Us it 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
be no statute that is binding except it have
q punitory clause, aud the presidents proc.
lamation contains nc sentence of punish.
lnent against people who refuse to observe
its provisions. Common consent of the peo-
pie gives it recognition to the extent tha
places of business are closed; but the in.
dividusl man does as he p~lcases in that day.
The various churches hold a service; but,
a. a rule, there is a painful emptiness of
benches, and SO many'sanctuaries have suf-
fered from absenteeism that it is the praq
tice in most places to hold union services
OF many congregations, SO 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.
Ne effort is made to accuse the people of
to-day OF a lack of religious sentiment. But
10 Is a fact that the people rave seen ct to
make Of the day one of home.bringing and
home love and a sumptusus home feast. 1t
10 a day Of roast turkeys, cranbetries, plum
%puddings, mince pies and other dainty and
indigestible 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.
Tho Puritsns established it as q day Of
worship and praise of God for His abound
ing mercies. To this day in parts of New
England one may find suggestions of the
forner.day spirit; but throughout tho
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 warmed in the
thought Of a happy home aud 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 Gedful ma
ton as such. As o day of home life and home
love, there is that that is very pretty in the
Gay Of Thanksgiving; but there are many
whs 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 f~ruitage
of the fields and tho yield of the mines and
in the product Of the mills.
WILLIAM ROSSER cOBBE.