Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-11-29

q final reunion with their absent KIN
dred? Upon the bold, bluff heights
overlooking Plymouth harbor Amer
lean patriotism has erected a colossal
statue commemorative Of the heroic
deeds of these first great ancestors.
At the base of the pedestal rest four
figures. These symbolic freedom and
education and law and morality. But
these four figures, though beautiful In
themselves, are all sitting at the feet
of gigantic statue called Faith. There
Faith stands in midwinter, not only
overlooking the surglng. angry waters
Of the mighty deep. but also the hal
lowed graves OF the mighty men whose
principles laid the foundation OF this
nation. There the pilgrims faith
stands, with the opened Bible In one
hand and with the other hand pointing
upward to where the spirits OF the
mighty and the redeemed pilgrim IA
theirs have passed to their reward. so
at the foot Of that mighty statue OF
Faith with open Bible may we all re-
1oIce in the confident assurance that
our Thanksgiving chairs at the FAMILY
gathering shall not always remain va
cant-that we shall all be together IN
the heavenly reunion.
Thanksgiving n Home DGy.
But while studying the history OF
Plvmouth's first Thanksgiving day we
must remember that 1t was not only a
day for thanksgiving to God, but also
a day made memorable by home enjoy
ments. The pilgrim fathers opened the
day with prayer. They also felt they
did not desecrate it when they gatn-
cred about the festal board and laugh
ed and ioked as we'll as talked about
the great themes Of the gospel whlle
they sat at dinner. AS far as possible
all our people should make next
THANKSGIVING day a home day as well
as church day, and, as the president
of the United States by his Thanksgly-
ing proclamation has signed the deatn
warrants for all the biggest and the
fattest turkeys the barnyards nave
been able to produce In the past sum-
mer. let grandfather and grandmother
and all the children and the grandchll-
dren meet again In the old homestead.
II will not be very long before such
gatherings will be an impossibility. IN
n few years the chief magnets that
now draw the children together at
THANKSGIVING Will be gone. Then, as
YOU meet about the great, big roasted
turkey. which is the symbol OF a
THANKSGIVING feast, | not only want
Won to cut the best and the tenderest
slices for your mother and father ana
for your wife, but | also want you 10
be sure not to forget to cut of large
part of that turkey for the poor. There
will be many people next Thursday
morning who will have nothing to eat
except the plainest kind Of food unless
the Christian people out Of their aoun-
dance are ready to help them.
Then next Thanksgiving day after
YOU have helped everybody all round
and after ~ou have thanked God Tor
all your many blessings, and after you
| have also worshiped in Gods sanctu-
ary. In spirit as your pastor. and as
privileged guest, want to come into
your dining room. And. though you
may give & ..rv!ent parts of the turkey
| to the differ III members of your fam
ily. | want you 10 save one part for he.
I want you to save for me the wish
bone" and as in spirit come among
YOU there | want you TO take hold or
| one side OF that w.sh1one ana let me
take hold Of tie other. Then as pun
| and break the w,aAJOne and should
get the larger side want you to let
me make this wish: May the many
blessings which Col has showered
upon you during the last twelve months
soften your heart in gratitude to him.
Nav the vacant chairs il your dining
room teach you that your earthly time
is to be very short Therefore, may
YOU here and now resolve to love your
Master as you have never done before.
And In the earthly years that are lett
to YOU may you be as faithful In your
trust to your home, your wife, your
children and to the great world at
large as were the pilgrim fathers to
the principles which they established.
And may the sweet and holy faith OF
Plymouth's first Thanksgiving day rest
and abide with you forever" May
God bless us this morning as we use
the tear stained and blood reddened
rock of Plymouth for pulpit.
copyright. 1902. by Louis Klopsch.l