Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-11-23
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days that are to come. We hank God
for our land, for our history, for the
blessings Of all the yesterdays, for the
victories Of right and truth, for the
achievements OF the human Intellect
and heart. All these like golden bells
hang high in our country's cathedral
tower, and join the universal chime Of
praise to God and prophesy a brighter
and a better tomorrow. We believe in
the past; all the world is familiar
with our story. We thanh God for the
present; we have hope for the future.
There are higher mountains Of vision
to be climbed, richer soil to be titled.
sweeter songs to be sung. stronger char
acter to be developed and grander his
tory to be made. To-day as a nation
we r~everently thank God for the Iii
vine favor of the past, and humbly sup
plicate his guidance in the days that
are yet to be.
B~lcssinEs Spiritual.
Finally let us be thankful for spirit
ual blessings. The embers have fallen
upon US like sparks and nave kinlled
the fires of true devotion, of increas-
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of increasing Christian unity. Our
schools, colleges, libraries. asylums
and churches have been literally sup
ported. There are more young people
in our institutions of learning this year
than ever before. More ana more we
are teaching and coming to know that
true nobility is not of birth or wealth
or diadem, Out of mind and heart and
manhood. We are developing heart
power. We are no longer insensible
to our brother who may be in distress.
Never was there a year in which SO
much was done to are for the orphan.
to alleviate human suffering, to pro
long life and to bind up the broken
hearted.
And this s~rit Of brotherliness is
abroad in all Of our churches. We no
longer insist that the denominational
name shall be blown in the bottle. If
the perfumery is good it is a sweet
smelling SAVIOR unto he Lord. no mat
ter what the label may be on the out
side. This does not mean that we do
not love the traditions and rejoice in
the histories of our various churches.
Our Episcopal friends Wear their gowns
and have their uprisings and down
sittings. Let them. It might help
some of the rest of us if we were to
use more of these helps to devotion.
Our Presbyterian brethren hold fast to
their catechism. 1t is we'll. The CON
sentative has always been a valuable
man in every community. Our Baptist
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might not be a bad thing if they could
wash some of the sheep that are in
other folds, as well as their own.
Our Methodist brethren-in some quar-
tiers at least-still hold on to the mourn
ers' bench, and it would be good for
all of us to be more on our knees than
we are.
But in all of our churches the great
fundamentals are being emphasized,
and we can thank God his year as
never before for Christian fellowship.
Like a mighty army moves the church
OF God!"
While we thus render thanks to God,
we will not forget those to whom the
year has brought sore trial and be-
reavement. Let us increase the vol
ume of praise by visiting the widow
and the fatherless. Let us tell them
that the light that was extinguished in
the earthly home will shine as a bea-
con from the window of heaven for
them bye and bye. Let us thank God
for that best of all gifts-his Son. our
Savior. Let us confess our depend
ence pon him and renew our allie
glance to the great principles he has
taught US.
God of our Fathers known of old,
Lord Of our far flung battle line.
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over land and pine,
Lord God of hosts be with lis yet
Lest we forget, lest we forget,