Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-28
THANKSGIVING.

Thanksgiving Day was originally as
"a well known. a holiday suggested D'
the Puritan spirit which prompted lh'
6rst settlers OF this country 90 crate
fuuv acknowledge their dependence on
s. kind Providence Cor life and all
temporal and spiritual blessings AS
the descendants OF the settlers Of Ne"
England went west they took win
them the beautiful custom Of observing
one day in the year as one OF special
thanksgiving and finally 1t was by the
government made a national holiday
II is regularly observed every year
but rs original significance Is about
lost sight Of With the majority Of peo-
pls II Is merely day Of feasting and
snort Il Is dag OF carousal instead Of
one Of fasting, prayer and praise Very
few churches arrange for special SER
vices on that day and Il is doubtful
whether. as rule, around the family
altar the original significance Of the
day is specially remembered.
II would be well, could a change in
this respect be effected. Not that long
faced, artificial sanctlmoniousness Is
preferable to natural, sound rejoicing
but 1t should be natural to a people pos
sessing the light that is shining In the
midst Of this nation, to turn joyful
hearts toward the Glver OF all good
and to remember Him even IN their
plays and recreations
Especially appropriate would this be
on this Thanksgiving Day the last in
the present century Looking back a
hundred years We find that during this
period thrones have crumbed, repub-
lies have risen and fallen, Three coun-
tries, besides our own, England. Russia
and Germany. have had remarkable
growth by expansion, but the develop
,nent OF the United States in every d.
rectlon has been most marvellous. From
fifteen sparsely settled States on the
Atlantic shore, the Republic has extend
cd across q continent and far beyond to
the other side OF the Pacific ocean.
From a population OF about 100000 in
habltantf II has grown to 5000. 900. and
from poverty 10 a national wealth OF
in the neighborhood Of ninety billion
dollars. There is nothing In the worlds
history to compare with this. And
not only has the country grown exter-
nally, but It has successfully wlthstood
the storms that threatened to over
throw the magnificent structure and
tear up Its very foundations, and now It
faces the new century more united In
all its sections, larger and stronger
than ever to grappe with the new prob
lens that may present themselves. II
ever a nation had cause for thanksgly-
ing, the American people have such
cause
Besides, every individual in this Re.
public has his or her own subjects for
gratitude and praise The opportunities
for work at good wages, the facilities
for education and for enjoyment. the
blessings Of liberty both religious and
political, are more numerous than in
any country under the sun. And ali
these are the gifts OF God. We NAV
talk, at times, Of the wisdom OF those
prominent in the affairs Of government
but ultimately the source Of this wis.
dom is the Almighty, and to Him alone
belongs honor and glory for evermore
AS a nation and as individuals II IL
necessary TO recognize and acknowledge
this fact. Even elect nations when
they have forgotten this and become
lifted up in pride, have been brushed
aside and their mission has been on.
trusted to others That is one Of the
most impressive lessons OF the history
VI the world.