davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
SPEAK YOUR GRATITUDE
Rev. Arthur 5. Phelps, Central Baptist
Church

Rev. Arthur 5. Phelps, Central baptist
Church
We cannot all be great, but we can
all be grateful. TO learn the lesson of
thanksgiving to God practice it on men.
Some men, says Edward Box, who
thank God on their bended knees for
get to thank their fellow men when
their knees are straight.
Conceit can find no one to thank but
itself. Some men seem to be alto
gether lacking i'm joy and gratitude.
Blind Helen Keller says:
81 have met people so empty of joy
that when l clasped their frosty finger
tips it seemed as If | were shaking
hands with northeast storm"
But If you are recognizant of a
neighbor's beneVolence toward you,
why not be as square to God? Richard
Steele wrote 200 years ago:
There is something wonderful in the
narrowness of those minds which can
be pleased and be barren of bounty to
those who please them"
Shakespeare makes Amiens sing that
the winter wind is not so unkind as
mans ingratitude. nor does the bitter
frost bite so nigh as benefits forgot
Let us not only live our thankfulness,
but speak it too.
Sweet is the breath of vernal shower,
The bees collected treasures sweet
Sweet musics melting fall, but sweeter
yet
The still small voice of gratitude.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
A THANKFUL HEART

Rev. G. j. Miller. Grace NJ. r.. Church
DR.. Franklin says that in a time OF
great despondency among the first
settlers of New England it was pro-
posed in one of their public assemblies
to proclaim a fast. An old farmer
arose, spoke or their provoking heaven
with their complaints, reviewed their
be thankful for, and moved that in
stead of appointing a day for fasting
they should appoint a day of thanks
giving. This was accordingly done and
the custom has been continued ever
since.
A mirage of our troubles is an eXag-
geration and surprisingly increases the
suffering and discomfort. But If we
look for the cause OF the glory ON the
clouds we will find many things to
make us thankful We may think, mo
one has so hard lot as l." but what
man is not thankful he is not a woman
and what woman would not be
ashamed to be anything else?
The man may say:"I had nothing to
do with my being here, yet am thank
full that 1 exist"
Glory belongs to mother; she is the
boys crown of joy. Mother without
shelter, bread or water like Hagar,
would mourn her lot. The mother
says: "Thank God for home"
The boy says: II am thankful for
both. What is home but paradise?"
Paul, the happiest man, said; For
me to live Joyous, happy, thankful
life is Christ, but to die would be
gain"
go, bury thy sorrow; the world has
its share. Go, bury it deeply; go, hide
II with care"
Live i'm the atmosphere of thankful
heart. and you have foretaste of the
promised gain, heaven. Thus be thank
full for home, mother, Christ, heaven
and joy is yours,
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
HIS ONLY RECOMPENSE
Rev. II. II. BOdISin, A. M, Editor Cali
fornia Independent

Thankfulness is the only compensa-
tion the Almighty demands of men for
all His unnumbered blessings. 1t is the
cheapest and at the same time the
most valuable pay man can offer to
his maker. Ingratitude is the basest
act man can be guilty of. There may
be excuses for other crimes, but never
an excuse for this.
Ingratitude reacts on mans char.
acter and sEriyels up every virtue or
the soul. Gratitude, properly eX-
pressed, fosters and enlarges the moral
nature and brings it more in harmony
with God who is benevolence itself.
The definite expression of Thanks
giving Is demanded of man, not only
for its wholesome influence on the indi-
vidual, but also for its beneficial effect
on others. A man may feel grateful in
his own heart, but If he make no out
ward sign of it's presence, 1t dies in his
own breast. A gratitude that spends
itself in words alone is shorn of it's
power,
A true Thanksgiving is like a double
star possessing two beautiful parts
blended into one luminary--words and
deeds Of thankfulness,
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
THANKS BE TO GOD
p. j. oReilIy, st. Patrick's Church


This little prayer is so short that
some people who know no better may
consider it useless. Yet there is no
prayer more appropriate on the lips
of man or better calculated to please
"the giver of every good gift"
We all look for "thank you'' when
we do a favor and we have little or no
use for the person who fails to express
grateful feeling when gratitude is
due. The migrate is desplsed as the
lowest type of man.
Yes, ingratitude to man is a crime,
we call the migrate black and base, but
what of the man that fails in this duty
to his Creator? Speaking through his
prophet the Lord has said: 1.-The OK
knoweth his owner and the ass his
masters crib, but Israel hath not
known me and my people have not
understood" Usaiah, 1-3. And our
Lord himself had occasion to reprimand
the nine lepers whom he had healed
"Were not ten made clean and where
are the nine-there is none to give
thanks but this stranger?"
God the Father then, and Jesus
Christ, his divine son, expect return
of thanks for the blessings bestowed on
the human race. We all have received
many favors from the Almighty,
whether of the natural or supernatural
order, and for these, as st. Paul says,
we ought to give thanks always.
There is no country on earth more
blessed than this, and there is no state
in the Union more blessed than Califor-
mia. 1t Is Gods chosen spot, and seems
to reflect his goodness and power and
love more than any place on earth.
Here aVarVOna who will NAV he heal lthV
and strong. There is no such thing as
future blessings from the Almighty is
by proving our worthiness by returning
thanks for those already received. We
are not an infidel nation; let us then
be faithful to our principles. The coin
of our country bears witness to our
creed-"in God we trust" Let this
trust be not presumptive: let each OF
US say at least Thanks be to God..
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING
Rev. Stephen II. sherman, ir., st. Atha-
nasius Episcopal Church

nnsius Episcopal Church
The spirit of our great national fes-
tival should he two-fold: first, a spirit
of humility, and secondly, spirit of
thankfulness.
We secure the one through aspiration.
Above each man is set the Infinite Life.
We seek to emulate it. But, as Phillips
Brooks once said: 1.-The more we as
pire to initiate it. the more clearly we
encounter the comparison; the higher
we climb the mountain, the more we
learn how high the mountain is past
climbing" That is the resultant value
from looking upward
We secure the other through wise
kind of reflection. How many there are
in life who have not the blessings we
have Consider for a moment the
worlds need, it's sickness it's adversity
it's bereavements. Our condition might
be much worse than it is. Therefore
are we thankful and awake to a spirit
of mutual love and helpfulness. That
is the resultant value from looking
downward
On Thanksgiving day, look up! That
will keep us in right relations with
God. Look down and be ready to lend
a hand! That will keep us in right
relations with our fellow men.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
PHILOSOPHY OF THANKS
ncv. william Davis, Vernon ConSrcSa-
tiOnaI Church

at is good thing to give thanks
unto the Lord; it is pleasant and praise
is comely."
So sang the sweet singer of Israel
more than two thousand years ago. In
everything give thanks is st. Paul S
injunction to his readers. There is
profound philosophy in all this. Moth
ing can be so promotive of growth in
Christian character as feeling of de-
Vout thankfulnesS to Almighty God for
the mercies of providence and the
blessings of redemption.
Gratitude is a condition of gladness.
and he who cultivates in himself or
helps cultivate in others q grateful dis
position contributes not little toward
the sum total of human happiness.
The American people have abundant
reason for thanksgiving at this time.
Never has our country been so pros
porous from every point of view as
during the past year. Among the many
causes for gratitude may be mentioned
the unprecedented commercial prosper
ity that has been ours; the part our
country through our beloved president.
has played in the peace of the world;
the recent sweeping victories for civic
righteousness in eastern states, and
last, but not least, the conference on
church federation held in New York
this month, representing tWenty-seVen
denominations and nearly twenty
millions of Christian people.
But these are only a few of the
priceless blessings that have been
given to us by the Heavenly Father.
Verify, God hath crowned the year
with his goodness. He hath not dealt
so with any nation, and as for his
judgments, we have not known them.
So let the people praise him; let
them come before his presence with
Thanksgiving, for he hath done marvel
GUS things for us. whereof we are glad.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
OWED TO THE PILGRIMS
Rev. George DOnaIioe. Church of Our
Lady of LOrettO

Rev. George DOnahOe. Church of Our
Lady of LorettO
The Plymouth Pilgrims may have
been crude and harsh, but they were
strong in their belief that their first
little harvest in America came as a
blessing from the good God. So we
owe to them the now national Thanks
giving day.
Although for some it is their one
church-going day on the calendar,
still it is not, strictly speaking,
church holy day. For the ideal man
of God every day is one of thanksgiv-
ing. Giving thanks always for all
things" is the ideal set up by st.
Paul. =.
This is the morning thought of the
perfect believing man. The priest al
ways prefaces his daily mass with the
declaration: 'It is verify meet, right
dutiful and beneficial that we should
at all times and in all places give
thanks unto thee. o Lord" This daily
eucharistic sacrifice, as the name indi-
Gates. is an act of thanksgiving: a
mystical commemoration of that sup
per when He took bread and gave
thanks" and took the cup and gave
thanks"
The great and good king David had
much to be thankful for, and we must
give him credit for being grateful. 1
count thirty-one sentences in his songs
wherein he tells his Creator that he is
thankful.
Most of us have been like David in
his weakness and his folly. Let us rise
with him repentant and acknowledge
to our Creator:
Verify it is meet and right, dutiful
and beneficial that we should at all
times and In all places, give thanks to
Thee o Lord
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
OUR CHARACTERISTIC DAY
Rev. A, II. Pritchard, Central Presby-
terinn Church

terinn Church
Thanksgiving day is our most charac-
teristic American holiday. it bears the
stamp of our national life. At the same
time 1t expresses the fundamental
religious element of our nations his
tory.
Christmas is religious. 1t honors the
worlds Redeemer and Lord. But
Christmas is churchly.
Independence day is national. So is
Washingtons birthday and Decoration
day. They recognize great events in
our nations life.
But Thanksgiving day is both national
and religious. 1t commentaries the
one; It expresses the other.
Some would like to have definite
acknowledgment of God expressed in
the national constitution. Thanksgiv-
ing day is a more pronounced en-
phasis upon the Christian character of
the United States than such declara-
ton would be. Law cannot proclaim
US Christian unless we are so in fact.
Christianity is voluntary not compul-
sorry. That our people as such demand
the annual recognition of our nations
debt of gratitude to God is more pro-
foundly significant of the prevailing
Christian consciousness than any legal
enactment could be.
Better still would it be should our
people more generally observe the spir-
it of the day.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
ATTITUDE A GEM
!. Dr :. Uecbt. Rabbi, B'nai Birth

Rcy. DIR, =. Hecht, Rabbi, B'nai Birth
Gratitude is one of the brightest
gems glittering in the diadem of hu.
manity, and Thanksgiving, II 1T be OIL
the right kind, is the best and most
forcibie expression of gratitude. The
tbanksgiying day, appointed by the
chief executive of our nation, is one Oh
the annually recurring occasions Tor
the cultivation of that virtue.
Now while it is true that human eX-
preston of gratitude is not always
what it should be, while many regard
it as a sort of acknowledgements OIL
favors received, and deem themselves
absolved from that duty when crops
fail. when prosperity does not bless
them, when visited by wars, sickness
or death-while Rochefoucauld may
have been right when he said that
"the gratitude of most men is but a
secret desire of receiving greater bene-
fts"-while, indeed, there is some truth
I'm Wordsworth's pessimistic utter
ance:
1--WE heard of hearts unkind, kind deeds
with coldness still returning;
Alas, the gratitude of men
Hath oftener left me mourning
genuine gratitude is nevertheless a
virtue, and the proper expression
thereof, a sacred duty at all times and
under all conditions.
The horrlDle oulraSes, lne Drutal anu
fiendlsh butcheries in Russia, that
have shocked all civilization, shaken
our faith in humanity, have, on the
other hand, created a sentiment of
kindness and fellow-feelng that re-
lieved the dense gloom and made us
realize the divine grace. Let our graft
itude never be conditioned by favors
received; let us give thanks, because
it is good to give thanks; let us plant
those lovely flowers of good deeds that
shall gladden. the eye and bring joy to
the heart,
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
REASONS FOR THANKS
1. ii. CammncIS. Supt. of Training school
for Christian Workers

This Thanksgiving day Of 1905 am
thankful
For a risen, glorllied Savior; pres
ent Comforter; "A loving Father.
For conscious, up-to-date salvation,
Through the blood"
For place of service in my Lords
vineyard.
That 1 was born in Christendom and
these United States and have enjoyed
their privileges all my life.
That my eyes have had some vision
of the "regions beyond" and my heart
yearns for the spread of the gospel
TO the ends of the earth.
That there are many being ''puritied
and made white, and tried" prepara-
tory to His coming.
That the revival waves are spread
ing and that there are so many pray
ing, expectant ones longing for the
coming revival
That there are at least 1000 in
Israel who will honor and not desc
crate and degrade the day OF Thanks
giving by debauchery and eXcesses.
And that you publish these many ex-
pressions of Thanksgiving, allowing us
thus to "count our blessings, naming
them one by one"
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
A Prayer
of Thanks
Rev. j. s. Thompson, Independent
Church of Christ

v. j. $. Thompson, Independcn
Church of Christ
We thank thee. Lord of harvest
For sheaVes of golden grain;
For kindly fruits of autumn,
The gifts from hill and plain.
We thank thee. Lord of harvest,
For harvest joy and feast,
And all thy wise provisions,
For man, and bird and beast.
We thank thee, Lord of harvest,
For natures works and ways;
For she fulfills each season
Thy words of ancient days.
We thank thee. Lord of harvest,
For seedtimes long ago,
From which have sprung our heroes
Through ages dark and slow.
We thank thee, Lord of harvest,
For truth that never dies,
That gives us all our freedom,
And bids us hope and rise.
We thank thee, Lord of harvest
For earthly homes we love;
They are to us reminders
OF mansions grand above
We thank thee, Lord OF harvest,
For life that spurns the tomb
But kisses death, and riseth
To face the just at doom.
We thank thee. Lord of harvest,
For harvests in the skies.
Where we may find the treasures
That would our souls surprise.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
TRULY THANKFUL
Rev. George Emory Foster, Newman NJ.
II. Church

Al Glencoe in Scotland which is at
the summit of long steep ascent, the
weary traveller may read from the en-
craving on a stone: REST and be
thankful"
We now stand at the summit of har-
vest time and are asked by our ma
tions leader to pause and give thanks.
We usually rejoice and sing praise over
temporal things; IL only we rejoice for
well-llled Golfers and groaning tables,
we are truly poor indeed.
Let us take inventory of our spiritual
gain. If we are richer in heart than
we were one year ago, IL we more
completely follow the Holy Spirits
voice, If we nave acquired knowledge
of God that will better fit us for His
service here and yonder, IL we have
garnered sheaves of immortal souls,
for the havest of our Lord. which will
make our crowns CLEAN with jewels set
by order of the King then we may be
truly thankful then we may truly re-
CONTINUED ON PaEe TOurD
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
OUR INADEQUATE THANKS
ut. Rev. MOnsiEnOr Hnrnctt, v. c.,
Cathedral of st. Vibinnn


Cathedral of st. Vibinnn
Feelings of gratitude are implanted
in the human brease by God. Our nat
ural instincts are shocked by ingrat-
itude. The beast licks the hand that
feeds him. An intelligent but ungrate-
full being is an anomaly. Gods law
does not dispense from but confirms the
dictates of nature. The Old as well as
well as the New Testament emphasizes
this obligation of mankind. An migrate
men despise.
Gratitude and Thanksgiving should be
proportionate to the dignity of him
who confers a favor, as well as to the
magnitude of the favor conferred. The
sublime and overawing majesty of God
renders us inadequate to sufficiently
thank him for favors conferred on us.
The magnitude of the favors of which
we are the recipients overwhelms us.
Favors of the natural order alone are
more than we can sufficiently thank
God for.
A whole life spent in adequate
Thanksgiving for our creation is scarce
ly a sufficient manifestation of graf
itude for this one favor. What adj
equate recompense then can men make
for the countless favors which we re-
ceive daily at the hands of God?
1t is not necessary to recount the
blessings showered upon us as citizens
of the United States in order to per-
ceive them. No nation can boast OF
greater material progress than ours.
Our wealth is unsurpassed; our inven-
tions unriValed; our education more
universal than that of any other coun-
try; the whole earth serves to supply
our wants and nature herself has
dealt unsparingly with the country
which we call our own. These favors
alone we cannot sufficiently thank the
''giver of all good gifts" for.
What shall I say of the spiritual
blessings showered upon us as citizens,
a nation of unbelievers and scoffers.
We are at heart a religious nation. The
light of Christianity shines In our land
and Christian principles serve for our
guidance. individuals may swerve
from the path of recititude, but the
nation as such is a God-fearing ma
tion, and bends all its energy to right
ing the wrongs which selfishneSS or
cupidity engenders.
Is it too much to give one day to
thanksgivings for so many and such
manifold blessings? The Catholic
church, although joining with nom
Catholics in the observance of Thanks
giving day. does not on this account
give us to understand that our duty
ends here. She realizes her own in
adequacy to sufficiently thank the
Most High. With her every day ia a
day of Thanksgiving, for every day she
takes the "chalice of the Lord and calls
upon the name of the Lord" Through
1t alone can she give adequate thanks
to God
Not only is she grateful for material
favors she is more grateful for spir-
hoo. III. -
her Thanksgiving only when she gives
God thanks for his own great glory
"Gratias agimus Tibi propter magnam
gloriam Tuam."
The Eucharistic sacrifice alone. which
is offered from the "rising of the sun
to the going down thereof" can ad-
equately supply the deficiency of our
nature and enable us TO discharge our
debt of gratitude TO God.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS MA TON
Rev. Clement Molony, st. Agnes
Church


Thank God the American people are
deeply religious. The feast of Thanks
giving, the proclamat1ons of the ex-
ecutive officers of the states and ma
tion, and the attitude of prayer and
sentiments of heart of the people, prove
the nation is religious.
Thanksgiving is one of the essential
acts of religion, one of the branches of
loves worship. Now there are four:
Alteration, praise, petition and thangs-
giving; and the greatest of these is
thanksgiving. Because in it are bound
up the others. Thanksgiving to God is
something nobler than an inferior beg
ging of any paying tribute to a su-
perior. 1t is the creatures glad worship
of the creator. 1t is making a return
for the friendship pledged to us by
Jesus Christ and not the mere service
of a slave.
Thanksgiving is the natural result OF
the thought of God growing in us. 1t
is the most beautiful blossoming forth
of the vine of religion. Keep from it
the frost of sin and that blossom will
grow into the fruit Of fuller love of
God. And from this fruit shall come
the wine which men will drink with
Christ In the kingdom of his father.
Because heaven is thanks and praise,
not petition; at least when intercession
Is over after doomsday
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26
NOBILITY OF GRATITUDE
Rev. Joseph u. CoiIon, New Jerusalem
Church

Rev. Joseph Il. CoiIon,, New Jerusalem
Church
Gratitude II one Of the noblest OF
human sentiments. Its daily exercise
reilnes character and yields pure sat-
isfaction. 1t deserves systematic Gull
tiVatlon.
Thanksgiving as a national festival
should not only Impress us with the
excellence of this virtue, but also pos
itively stimulate It,
For what should we give thanks?
First, for the regularity of natures
processes and the spontaneousness and
variety OF her productions. The stabil-
ity Of Gods ways in nature is the basis
Of our confidence, prudence and prog
ress. Natures fruits and grains, her
minerals and forests, her beasts and
their products, are a treasury whence
we draw nourishment for body, mind
and heart.
Again, we should be grateful for the
constant increase Of scientific knowl-
edge, whereby we are able to modify
natures forces. making them more and
more useful to ourselves and our fell
lowmen. We live in an age of marvel
Gus improvements. The rawness OF
natures gifts constantly appeals to
our latent inventive capacities and
fosters habits of industry.
We should also give thanks for the
interdependence of the various parts
of the great social body, whereby each
labors for the common veal and the
whole protects ard nourishes each,
This wonderful human organism as the
agent of divine providence merits our
love. reverence and service. AS mo-
ment by moment we subsist upon the
fruits of other mems toll so should we
not only acknowledge this, but also de-
light to perform well our part of the
worlds work.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-26

M INIsTERS, teachers and religious
Wt leaders of every faith and
creed, recognizing that Thanks
giving is day of national gratitude to
that Creator whom all worship in some
form or essence, have, at the request
of The Herald, united in expressing
their thoughts on this occasion. In
their own way, they have told why
they deem the day of special signifi-
cance what it's salient features are;
why thanks are especially due the Su-
preme Being at this time; and the
purport of the occasion generally.
Written for The Herald, each divine
has expressed himself Just as he saw
fit. Certainly, in this symposium, ev-
cry Herald reader will find some SER
mon to fit his own particular needs.