Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-11-19
THANKSGIVING A HOLY DAY.

AllOuS 1li tuO uAbtOuS Us uahtuS nv
established religion or no recogni-
ton OF God in its constitution and
laws. When our fathers met in
national convention TO frame the
magma charts of this country the
spirit OF in6delity was strong in that
body, and fear has been expressed
frequently that the godlessness Of
many OF the delegates had as much
to do with its silence as did the gen.
eral demand for religious federation.
There were those who felt that there
should be q recognition at least Of
the super-ruling Deity who presides
over the destinies Of nations aud
who determines the issues of battles
snd the duration of empires. But
the fathers who builded so wisely 10
other directions chose to be positive
~ silent, and as nation the United
States started out goddess and dis
tiDctly materialistic. Washington,
himself a religious man. was so held
in tue thrsll OF the skepticism of tho
times that he burst not proclaim a
day of general thanksgiving to God,
until he was so directed by the con-
gress; aud he waited for the same
authority before he issued his second
and last proclamation. Many years
elasped before another president had
the courage to issue another, the
war of 1sl2-1814 having ensued and
ended before this was done. Nor
was it until after the civil war was
fairly on that Thanksgiving day be-
came general in its observance, Lin
coin being the first to place it where
it is now held fast, the fourth Thurs
day in November.
Even as it now stands, o fixed
holy day, it is in no sense binding
as to its observance. 1t is a maxim
of law, that there can be no statute
that is binding except it have pun
tory clause, and the presidents
proclamation contains no sentence of
punishment against people who re-
fuse to observe it's provisions. Com
mon consent of the people give it
recognition to the extent that places
of business are closed; but the indi-
Yidual man does as he pleases in
that day. The various churches
hold service; but, as rule, there
is a painful emptiness of benches,
and.so many sanctuaries have SUI
fered from absenteeism that it is the
practice in most places to hold union
services of many congregations, so
as to assure q somewhat decent at
tendance. Usually at these services,
even, there is marked absence of
men, women supplying the worship
ers in far the greater part.
No effort is made to accuse the
people of today 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.
1t is day of roast turkeys, cram
berries, plum puddings, mince pies
and other dainty and indigestible
foods, and day when the absent
ones seek TO get back under the
home root TO spend the hours with
those they love.
The Puritans established it as n
day Of worship and praise OF God
for his Astounding mercies. To this
day in parts of New England one
may fud suggestions Of the former
day spirit; but throughout the other
portions Of the country what of re-
ligious spirit pertains TO the day is
to be found in the silent, unspoken
worship that clings to hearts that
are warmed in the thoughts OF a
happy home and Of the loved that
are gathered under the home roof.
Far be it from the individual 10 pass
sentence of condemnation upon such
as hold the day in this manner; yet
the fact punctuates the statement
that the great republic of America
is yet very far from being a Godful
nation as such. As day OF home
life and home love, there is that that
is very pretty in the day of Thanks
giving; but there are many who feel
that the lesson of the day should
point to more direct and positive
individual 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 recognize His omnipotent hand
in the fruitage Of the fields and the
yield of the mines and 10 the product
of the mills.
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