The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-11-26
A THANKSGIVING THOUGHT.

THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER appears.
We wish that the day we're more
generally observed throughout the
South. The custom originated, we
belle We, in New England, and still
seems to be more thought of in that
section than elsewhere. This is I'm
fortunate, because the whole cOun-
try would be benefited if every
where the scattered members of
families should gather about the old
homesteads on the last Thursday in
each November to spend the holiday
in the true spirit of the rhanksgiv-
ing season.
We are reminded jus5 here that
this years Thanksgiving prociama-
ton, issued by President Roosevelt,
contains at least one paragraph that
should not be forgotten with the
passing of the occasion that called
it forth. 1t is this:
"Let us remember that, as much
has been given US, much will be ex-
peoted of Us and shat true homage
come from the heart as we'll as from
the lips and shows itself in deeds.
We can best prove our thankfulness
TO the Almighty by the wayin which
on this earth and at this time each
of us does his duty to his fellow
men,"
That is a worthy sentiment, and it
would be we'll if each Thanksgiving
worshipper this year could be
brought to realize that it does really
point out the truest expression of
the Thanksgiving spirit.
Ruskin, in his essay on "Work,"
in "The Crown Of Wild Olive ex-
presses the thought with so mu h
more force and beauty than it is in
our power to do, that we make no
apology for reproducing n para
graph. Says Mr.. Ruskin:
"'Do justice and julgment-that's
your Bible order; that's the service
of G d not praising or psalm sing
ing. You are told, indeed, TO sing
psalms when you are merry, and to
gray when you need anything and,
By the pe~rversenes3 of the Evil
Spirit, we get to think that praying
and psAlm-singing are service If
d child finds itself in want of any
thing it runs and asks it's father for
it-does it call that doing it's father
"a service? If it begs for a toy or "a
piece of cake-dOes ii call that r
ing its father? That, with God, is
prayer, and He likes to hear it: He
likes you to ask Him for cake when
you want it but He doesn't call
that serving Him Begging is not
serving: God likes mere beggars as
little as you dole likes honest
ser wants, not beggars. So when a
child loves its father very much, and
is very happy, it may sing little
songs ab 1t him but it doesn't cal
hat serving It's father neither is
singing songs about God, serving
God"
We believe that Mr.. Ruskin's
view will prove all entirely new cne
TO many readers, a1d yet it is but
the expression III pat andin another
form Of the very foundation princi
pie of Christ's teachings 1t is not
our purpose 10 preach a sermon, but
we think shat on this first Thanks
giving Day of the new century each
Of as should try to remember that,
he can chest prove his thankfulness
to the Almighty by doing his duty to
his fellow-men,"
But this is not a new doctrine, nor
better stated than in the language
of the Great Master who taught that
mot every one that saith, Lord,
Lord, shall enter the Kingdom Of
Heaven" but that if we do a service
to the least of His creatures we shall
be rewarded a. if toe service had
been rendered to the Master himself
In other words, the Gi7er of all
good needs no cheering word from
our lips nor friendly deed from our
hands, and that way of expressing
our gratitude is not open to us; but
He does teach with unmistakab.e
pl4inness that any of His creatures
whom we can help is for US His
representative, His substitute, and
that He will finally make plain to all
His dOctrine-"As ye have done it
unto one of the least Of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto mo"
Rnnn nsn No MI L. nnn---n- H.