Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-27


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 surging, 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-
joice 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 Day.
But while studying the history Of
Plymouths first Thanksgiving day we
must remember that it was not only
day for thanksgiving to God, but also
q day made memorable by home enjoy
ments. The pilgrim fathers opened the
day with prayer. They also felt they
did not dcsecrate 1t when they gath
cred about the festal board and laugh
ed and joked as well as talked about
the great themes of the gospel while
they sat at dinner. AS far as possible
all our people should make next
Thanksgiving day home day as well
as church day, and, as the president
of the United States by his Thanksgiv-
ing proclamation has signed the death
warrants for all the biggest and the
latest turkeys the barnyards have
been able to produce In the past sum-
mer, let grandfather and grandmother
and all the children and the grandchil-
dren meet again in the old homestead.
1t will not be very long before such
gatherings will be an impossibility In
few years the chief magnets that
now draw the children together at
Thanksgiving will be gone. Then, az
you meet about the great, big roasted
turkey, which is the symbol of a
Thanksgiving feast, | not only want
you to cut the best and the tenderest
slices for your mother and father and
for your wife. but | also want you to
be sure not to forget to cut off 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 abun-
dance, are ready to help them.
Then next Thanksgiving day after
you have helped everybody all round
and after you have thanked God for
all your many blessings, and after you
have also worshiped in Gods sanctu-
airy, in spirit as your pastor, and as a
privileged guest, want to come into
your dining room. And, though you
may give different parts OF the turkey
TO the different members Of your fam
lily. | want you to save one part for me.
want you to save for me the wish
bone" and as I in spirit come among
you there | want you to take hold Of
one side Of that wishbone and let me
take hold of the other. Then as pull
and break the wishbone and should I
get the larger side l want you to let
me make this wish: MAY the many
blessings which God has showered
upon you during the last twelve months
soften your heart in gratitude to him.
Nay the vacant chairs in 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 left
to you may you be as faithful In your
trust to your homo, your wife, your
children and to the great world ut
large rs We're 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 REDEEMED
rock OF Plymouth for a pulpit.
Copyright, 1907. nv Louis Klopsch.l