The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-11-20
EPWORTtl LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week Beginning Nov.
a.. Thanksgiving For Personal
Mercies' - Text, l Kings viii,
SO; lisa. xiii, z; Tim. 1, IL.

'Bless the Lord o my soul, and for
get not all His benefitsr'
What baser sin can there be than in
gratitude? To what evil will it not
lead? And yet what grievous lack
there is of real, heartfelt gratitude for
the blessings so freely received by ALL
At this season of the year it is Gus
tomary to have services appointed for
formal recognition of Gods benefits to
us. This is all right so far as it goes.
But it does not fill all the need Each
one should at this time, and at many
other times in the year, take time to
think soberly of the obligations to
gratitude.
Most people are inclined to wish for
more rather than to be thankful for
what they have
1t would not be a bad plan to take
pencil and paper and go off alone and
reckon up the items of common mercy
for which we have reason for gratitude.
What shall we say about health? Ii
may not have been the most vigorous
imaginable, but how much of solid en-.
joyment of existence has been open to
me, if | would take it? What years of
privileged | am glad am alive. | am
glad ever have lived. Life has been
worth while. What possibilities the
future holds in store for me! How
shall best use them? May the Lord
direct!
What of family and friends, what of
business, what of home, what of these
days, this land and nation? What
cause for gratitude have | that was
placed in all the ages and in all lands
just where l have been? For all this
thank thee, 0 my God!
Then, the church of Jesus Christ. the
Bible, the past of things good and no
BILE, whose record has come down to us
as example and incentive to noble liv-
ing-all this calls for profound glad
ness.
But what is gratitude? Is it merely
being glad that | have so many good
things? Rather it is acknowledgment
of indebtedness for the mercies receiv-
ed, recognition of the source whence
they come and determination to use
them all in such manner as to glorify
the Oliver and benefit self and fellow
men.
What value there is in open express
sions of thankfulnessi No sweeter
songs are ever sung than those which
are the expression of thanks to God
for His goodness. Praise is fitting for
Us to give to God, and it is most appro-
pirate that in public worship our adora-
ton should take the form of Inscriptions
of praise to deity, in psalms and sacred
songs The very act of singing and
giving thanks increases our conscious
sense of dependence on the Fathers
mercies and brightens our appreciation
of the mercies of Jesus.
There is more than this, however, in
real gratitude. 1t flows out in consid-
GRAFTON for others and in efforts to re-
lieve their needs and benefit all whom
we can help. We praise God most
truly when we share our good things
with those who have need Jesus
speaks of the cup of nold water given
In His name as precious expression of
love, The world is full of opportunities
for us to please the Master and show
our gratitude by relief of distress and
care
Valuable as are gifts of money and
material things, more valuable are the
heart expressions of interest and sym
pathy we can give to others. The
hearts of men are hungry and need
feeding more than their bodies. Our
best gifts are soul treasures. Loving
interest in the welfare and real care
for another's progress and uplift out
weigh in worth all gifts of cash or
material goods. Be thankful and make
others glad in Christ.