The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1900-12-04
they found
Freedom to worship God" +"

gathered in they sent out fowlers
to procure venison and wild tur
keeps, and their first Governor is
sued a proclamation "That so they
might, after a special manner, re
joice together, after they had gath
cred in the fruits of their labors."
So here few hundred people, who
had faith in God began to build o
nation for Him. Through many
trials and struggles they had to
fight their way, Contests with the
Mother country from abroad, and
wars with the Indians at home.
Surely with such conflicts they
were laying the foundation for
a great and mighty nation. Can
any sensible man believe that it
was blind Fate, or mere chance,
the plan of man, or the power of
the greatest autocrat that has ever
lived ? No; no: 1t was the hand
of our God. These early settlers
of our country recognized no title
to nobility but the favor Of their
God. "To know Him, to serve
Him, to enjoy Him, was with them
the great end of existence.
Their homes at first were but rude
huts, but their palaces were houses
not made with hands; their dia.
dems crowns of glory which should
never fade away. AT one time the
little New England colony was so
reduced in food that there re-
mained only six grains of corn for
each individual, but their faith
did not fail them, and when the
ship arrived from England bring
ing them supplies, they recognized
it as from God, and Thanksgiving
Day was proclaimed. There was
no day set apart and observed
at that time, but whenever the peo-
pie felt the helping hand of God
special Thanksgiving Day was
called. But out OF this custom in
time grew the annual Thanksgiving |
Day, which now forms part of our
national life. This country has
become what it is by the right use
of God given means. Our ances-
tors did not sit idly down aud ex-
pect that God would protect them;
they believed that God had ar-
pointed unto each man his work,
SO they worked with q viii, and
gave God the praise and glory.
This year, in his proclamation,
the President calls upon us to
thank God that "He has brought !
our nation in safety and honor
through another year. That the
works of religion and charity have
everywhere been manifest. That
our country through all its extent
has been blessed with abundant
harvests. That labor and the great |
industries of the people have pros
pered beyond all precedent. That
our commerce has spread over the
world. That our power and inf
ence in the cause of freedom and |
enlightenment have extended over
distant seas and lands"
We have received great blessings |
from the past, the present is ours,
and the future is largely what we
make it. We ought to be ashamed |
of ourselves to-day if we are not
thankful for all temporal bless
ings. For the comforts of home,
for the sweet fellowship of loved |
ones, for peace and health and |
strength we thank the God and |
Father of us all. For the good
ness and mercy that have followed |
us all the days of our lives we bless
and praise His holy name. But /
desire to-day to lead your thoughts
to something higher than these out
ward and material gifts-though |
we have never been thankful
enough, norrecognized the countless
number of our mercies. Back of
these good gifts, there lies the cause
of gratitude by which these out
ward mercies are assured, and from
which thew flow wrhe Lord reion-