The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-29
COMMON GRATITUDE.
It Demands That Each One of Us
Should Return Thanks to God.

f TEN persons We're asked what are
the national holidays, nine would
- reply at once, New Year, Washing
toms Birthday, Fourth of July, Thanksgiv
ing, and Christmas. As fact there is but
one defined holiday and this is Labor day.
But an eminently good and great man,
who had but ill-defned ideas of God, prac
tically inaugurated by proclamation day,
the impressiveness and beauty of which APP
peal with great force to all persons who
possess what is termed the spiritual nature.
Previous to Mr.. Lincoln's procla1nations
there had been at long intervals occasional
orders for thanksgiving or fasting These
proclamations were at very long intervals
and established no precedent. Mr. Lin
coin, one of the brightest humorists of his
day, likewise had pathetic side to his ma
ture, an earnest Of which is quoted in the
fact that he called, not for thanksgiving,
but day Of fasting and prayer. The great
soul of the man was wrapped up IN the
cause to which he was devoted and he felt
the need of sympathy and OF the prayers
of good people all over the republic. He
believed in the good and he felt the good
in his own life He believed in good in
others and he had faith in the strength
which came of the loyal support OF his peo-
pie.
Let it be remembered then that the real
! Thanksgiving, like Christianity and like
Judaism, had its baptism in blood, 1t must
not be forgotten that Thanksgiving of to-
/ day is the thanksgiving not OF the Puritans
who established formal days Of prayer and
thanksgiving for the arrival of some ship
or for some other petty affair, but it was
, born amid the tears of widowhood, the
! walls OF orphans and the shed blood OF
! thousands upon many fields of battle in the
southland As such and because SO born, it
was holy day, precious day, and should
be accepted as such by grateful people
who ought to remember the inestimable
benefits which came in those days OF strife
when Mr. Lincoln was in charge of the
affairs of this country.
4 Youngest of all the nations, yet greatest
in trade and in wealth. this republic has
most need to be grateful for the blessings
which it enjoys. All of the dreams of the
eastern writer's pale before the realities of
the United States Their place is first in war
as in peace Always merciful to the enemy
which they have been constrained to pun
ish, ever standing with open hand to aid
foe or friend, realizing their destiny, look
ing forward to future the magnificent
promise of which is afforded in the past and
the present, every citizen should hail and
welcome and with grateful hearts recognize
that Divinity who SO generously has be
slowed His blessings.
! A1an, whatever his success or his failure
: in life, realizes the need of power higher
and stronger than his own will. Whether
lowest in scale of intelligence or highest
! human being, the God-thought is uni
: versal. One accepts as an act of faith thu
belief in Supreme Being and that Coo
is the bestower of all good. Common
gratitude demands that one should pay thi
: tribute and pay it Loyalty. The gratitude
/, should be the more expressive in view o
: the inestimable blessings which are enjoyed
! by the people OF these United States.
WILLIAM RossER COBBE.