The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-11-28

ualS, rs well 40
nation. There has
been a tendency,
since the day became fixed as ma
tional holiday, and was regularly des-
ignated each year as such. to subordl-
nate the true spirit and purpose OF the
day to the sports and festivities which
have crowded into its observance. IL
is the day of the great football con-
tests, 1t is the day of feasting. and par
ties and merry making and pleasure
seeking, but 1t is no longer the day which
fills the churches with their devout con-
gregations whose hearts rise to COD
in thankful recognition Of His goodness
and mercies. In old New England. where
the day as observed in this country had
its origin, Harriet Beecher Stowe tells
us that, great as the preparations were
for the dinner and the festivities OF the
day, everything was so contrived tnat
not a soul in the house should be kept
from the morning service Of Thanksgiv-
ing in the church" But to-day 1t Is not
30. Church attendance Is the excep-
ton rather than the rule. In most places
the union service Of half dozen diner
ent churches has hard work mastering
respectable audience. Instead OF every
church being filled with its thank-oner-
ing, praise-giving people. the large ma
jority of them stand mute and empty,
while the families which should be
there are busy with the pleasures and
festivities of the day. This is dishonor-
ing to God. violation Of the purpose OF
the day. and disrespectful indifference
TO the request of the president, that the
people of the land shall gather In their
respective houses of worship and there
render unto God thanksgiving for the
blessings which He has bestowed during
the past year.
T HUS is lost to the individual and,
through the individual, to the ma
ton the real power and blessing of
Thanksgiving day. Our text reminds us
that God is the giver of all good. The
tremendous crops of grains and fruits
and vegetables of which this nation
boasts and of which abundance thou
sands of tons of food stuffs are sent to
feed other nations, all come from God.
The coal and iron and gold which man
takes out OF the bowels of the eartf.
and by which he is warmed and his in
-dustries created and run were first
hidden in the ground by God. The fish
of tho rivers and lakes and seas, the
fowls of tho air. the cattle and sheep
and horses on the thousand hills and
the plains arc the gift of God for the
blessing OF man. The very life which
throbs in mans veins and makes him
different from the rocks which lie colo
and motionless at his feet comes from
God. The sunshine and the rain are
sent by God. All. all comes from God
for every good and perfect Gift 1.
from above and cometh down from Tho
Father of Lights" And because ,hi,
is true we call our Heavenly Father tn,
Bountiful God, and at Thanksgiving
time His bountifulness should receiv,
special recognition. Devout md hum
ole thanksgiving should rise from
every heart to God Who gives all goot
and perfect gifts. Our Thanks2ivin,
message is Of the Bountiful Gcd. an,
we want to take away the inoefinit,
and meaningless thought of God an,
engraft in its place deep conscious
ness Of the personal relations of Go,
the Creator and Giver to man the crea
ture and the recipient. The farme,
needs to lift his gaze above the tasseI
ing corn tops and tho crowded barn,
and granaries; the man In commercial
life must look above the gold which
jingles over his counter as he buys ant
sells; the clerk at his desk or behint
the counter and the workman at hi
bench should see beyond and above tn,
task and the pay envelope which tn,
employer passes out: the professor
books should lift higher than the hu
man: the scientists telescope shout,
reach beyond the stars. There shout,
be consciousness OF God in the hear
of all-that He is the BountifuI God
the Giver Of all good. This is no
merely sentiment; It II a definite con
ception of God based upon fact.
n Cd as the Oliver of all good mus
~ be the source Of all good. Con
slider this proposition carefully.
suggests God as the proprietor of tn
vast supply house of the universe. A
Creator, God has filed this suppl
house with every good and perfect gil
for man. As Ruler of the univers'
He has maintained the supply through
out the ages OF mans existence upo
earth. And as Giver He has bestowe
these inexhaustible gifts upon mar
Let us consider first. then. God a
Creator. Evolution cannot eliminat
God as the primary factor from Hi
universe. The theory Of evolution me
explain the orderly methods by whic
Gods infinite power has called int
being every created thing, but II doe
not explain God away. neither does
disproye the story OF creation az re
corded in the Inspired Word Of God