The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-11-30
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n IEARLY five centuries ago, DR..
nj Martin Luther designated day
Y in the month of March for the
purpose of doing penitence.
Calvin and the other reformators fol-
lowed Luther's example, and penltence
day became an acknowledged institu-
tion among Protestants. When the first
English settlers came to the shores of
America, they introduced the custom
in this country. During the course of
the centuries, repeated changes were
made in the observation of the day. At
the end of the seventeenth century it
was called day of penitence and
prayer; because it was made the oc-
casion of offering prayers for a good
harvest. In the eighteenth century the
word "penitence" was dropped aItogeth-
or, as far as this country is concerned,
and finally it was called Thanksgiving
Day, and its observance was changed
to the fall of the year, when the crops
had all been gathered:in, and when the
farmers had plenty of time on their
hands to enjoy a holiday. Up toabout
one hundred and forty years ago, the
day was strictly protestant church
holiday.
Nowadays, when the president and
governors issue their:proclamations for
the observance of Thanksgiving Day,
they address their. invitations to all the
people in this wide land of ours, and
not to any paraicular..sect or creed. 1t
is not church holiday any more; but 1t
is of a semi-religious character, never
theless, as it Is bound to be when all
inhabitants, be they Christians, Jews,
or pagans, offer their thanks to God
Almighty, whether such offerings are
made in church, in the homes, or in the
solitude of private rooms. Besides the
thanksgiving, it has also become day
of rejoicing and of feasting, as it is
expected that all people should be on
pleasant terms with themselves and all
the world. 1t is really beautiful GUS
tom, and it is looked forward to by all
with the most joyous expectations;
except by the feathered inhabitants of
our poultry yards, for whom it has
become day of dismal woe and car
mage, as, in the minds of young and old
America, the day is connected with
roast turkey, cranberry sauce and
mince pie.
This beautiful festival we are cele.
brsting today. Unthinking people,
inside and outside of prisons, may
entertain the erroneous idea that pris-
oners have very little to be thankful
for. Conceded that the loss of honor
and liberty are ill calculated to make
person feel otherwise than miserable,
that fact by no means lessons his obli-
cations of gratitude towards God.
Conceded, also, that prisoners enjoy
only very diminutive fraction of the
pleasures and comforts of life, they still
have abundant cause for thankfulness.
But there are lots of people whose ma
ture prompts them to look at the most
gloomy side of everything, and to shut
their eyes persistently to its brighter
side. Many of US, when in the solitude
of our cells this afternoon and evening,
will not be able to muster even an atom
of cheerfulness; but will think with
unspeakable sorrow of the shame and
disgrace we have brought on ourselves
and our loved ones. 1t is right and
proper that it should be so, for it proves
that a person has many good qualities
left, when he is able to recognize and
repent his faults. Such person will
not fail to discover many good points
for gratitude towards God.
Our temporary guardian, the state,
has not been unmindful of the joyous
occasion, and has provided for US, his
wards, such cheer as is consistent and
advisable in our present condition.
Most of us enjoy good health, and even
those who do not, are still in position
to be thankful that matters are no worse
than they really are. Many of us have
loving mother, q faithful wife, devot-
cd dchildren, or other good friends, whose