The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
THANKSGIVING, WHY 1T Is sYNoN-
xMous WITH THouGHTG1vING.
By Canon w. r. Whitmarsh, ID. d.,
Secretary of the Episcopal Diocese
of Nebraska, Omaha, Neb.

the Lord. Psalms Xcii, 1. -
For the Lord hath dealt bountifuiiy Win
thee. '-Psalms cxvi, T.
Did YOU ever stop to think that thanks
giving and thought-giving are somewhat
synonymous terms2 The words thank
and think are derived from the same
root Thanksgiving is the natural out
growth OF thought-giving. and ingratitude
IS most often due 20 a careless. needless
attitude Of mind. The thoughtless man Is
commonly the thankless man. Many OF
our mercies and blessings so much a
matter OF course and everyday occurrence
that we grow TO accept them "a matters Of
course and natural right. When habit and
wont have accustomed us to take without
thinking we easily take without thanking,
losing sight of the Giver in the very con-
stancy of His gifts.
After specifying the rdlsons for thanks
giving. in the chapter which our first text
begins, the Psalmist says. "A british man
knoweth not, neither doth fool under
stand this So in the more british and
foolish moods of the mind we apt to be
unapprecIative; we do not see into the
grand economies of nature and OF grace
But when we give thought to these things
we recognize that God necessarily gives
His providing care. His help, His watch
<uness 10 everything that has life; and
most Of all TO man, in whom the power 10
receive and the power TO appreciate are
greatest of all created things. Let US but
think and we cannot fail TO be thankful.
In the brief space at disposal here IT
IS Impossible 10 more than outhne some
occasions for thankfulness-to lead the
thought along a few familiar channels too
often overlooked but brought forcefully to
mind by our annual Thanksgiving day. For
birth in this favored age and land, for the
capacity TO enjoy all that is beautiful about
Us, for the measure of health and strength
that Is ours. for the power TO work and the
privilege OF occupation, thus providing
for ourselves and those dependent upon us
lin these we have an important ground
work for gratitude.
Sometimes we hear of a man saying, Il
work hard for every dollar L get. earn
IL. L provided this dinner by my own
labor. My little home was secured by
years Of industry and economy. L don't
know that / have anybody to 6hank but
myself. / did il all myself" Granted. and
he does deserve untold credit for his in
dustry and providence, when thousands OF
others are squandering their whole exist
ence. But does he owe nothing to his
Maker and Preserver for the opportunity
and ability TO do all this? \ little thought
and he cannot fail 10 recognize the jus
tice and reasonableness of the above.
named causes for Thanksgiving. What
hast thou that thou didst not receiver
and why dost thou glory as IL thou hadst
not received it?''
A CAUSE OF GRATITUDE.
To mention 1.-The home" and those de-
pendent upon u.s. is to quicken our pulse
beats in gratitude for family ties, for
those dear to us, for the preciousness Of
loving and being loved. Way back in the
time of Samuel we find the prototype in
some respects of our Thanksgiving day,
for we read: There is yearly sacrifice
there for all the family" 1t was a time
honored custom in the family of Jesse,
and doubtless in many another home of
GCds ancient people; in all ages there
have been those VINO recognized the good
ness of God and acknowledged His pro-
viding care. Thanksgiving day is pre-em-
inently home day. Around the family
board gather from far and near those
long separated often. The joys of home
are emphasized by winters approach, and
the season of our anniversary is well
chosen for this reason, besides being the
time of harvesting the products of earth's
bounty. Who can tell how great an in
fiuence IN fostering the home spirit MAJ
csIled te give thanks for our pest bless
irgs! How closely knit together are the
associations of family and all things else
for which we assemble 10 praise the boun-
tiful Giver of every good and perfect gift!
Dwelling for moment upon these do
mestic blessings, notice first the great va
riety in our household affections. There Is
the love of the father for the child; graft
tude and awe at his own relation to an i'm
mortal spirit, tenderness toward helpless
infancy, pride in the possibilities of the
little one and ambition for their best de-
velopment. Then think of the love of a
mother: offering her own life for the new
life, glorying in unlimited expression of
love, plying and standing by though all
the world turn its face away.
Again, the love of children for their
parents; of slow growth, not perfected till
the child becomes parent, but even in
childhood beautiful compend OF trustful-
ness, dependence, gratitude and respect.
The love between brothers and sisters; in
dependent, but looking back to the same
source, sharing pillow and table and inter
twining sympathies and affections: manli-
ness in the one, gentle beauty in the other
as in complete companionship she insensi-
bly, assimilates to herself the man that is
to be-.
The love of husband and wife; two indie
pendent lives so harmoniZing TO become
the symbol of Christ's love for His church;
the relic of Paradise which softens life's
asperities and helps its purposes by Joy.
The relation between grandparents and
their descendants; reaching Down with pc
culiar tenderness. most useful in Offering
TO the young an object of respect. rever-
ence and love.
POSSESSIONS OF ALL.
All these may be the possessions of poor
and rich alike. and often are they the
deer in adversely. Christianity refines
and enlivens the domestic affections, giving
US the true home where children may grow
strong before they go out into hard life;
the memory OF which is a comfort and in
spiTation; where mature manhood learns
its best lessons OF simplicity, forbearance.
humility and trust in Providence. As the
ancients threw the gall OF the nuptial sac
rifces far behind the altar, we should
Danish all bitterness from the home.
Mixed with sweet thoughts may be sad
memories, and perhaps a vacant chair: but
this may be only at night We go to our
different chambers to meet again in the
glorious morning. And even under sorrow
and trial and disappointment we can recog-
nize that "the Lord hath dealt bountifuly"
with US. The noblest characters are de-
veloped through these. even as the refiner' $
FIRE eliminates the dross and leaves only
the precious gold in all its purity. Failure
and disappointment reveal 10 US the in
completeness OF our work, they compel US
TO consider why we failed and spur US TO
success. They expose our relaxation in self
control We shall continue Incomplete as
TO our best hopes till we are more complete
I'm our work shall not control our
destiny satisfactorily till we control our
selves more constantly; we shall not
achieve success in character building till
we know the conditions of success.
And how many of US there are who
jhave cause for gratitude for moral and