The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-12-26

itself upon the inhabitants OF a, new
country, had overtaken the early set
tiers IN this country Their crops
had signally failed, and man and
beast We're next door to starvation.
It is good thing to get hungry,
tc have a keen appetite, providing
there is within our reach that which
will amply satisfy that hunger. But
to.thave an appetite for food, de-
sire, a longing, so desperate and sQ
intense that the coarsest and COM
monest food, however poorly serv-
ed, would be considered a luxury,
and nothing within our reach to sat-
isfy this tromenting desire would be
q condition of desperation, which II
sincerely hopezn one OF us: may ever
experience. EARLY in the 1Tth GEN.
fury, as the story goes, ffie, 1nhfabf~
|tants Of the New England colonies
had reached the verge Of this condi-
ton; a division of all the provisions
in their possession showed that there
was not more than enough to sus-
tain life at dying rate for a few
days. What did they do in this ter
rible extremity? why, they did
what men almost invariably have
done In moments Of extreme peril.
When human skill and human re-
sources and human efforts had failed
they turned their thoughts to a high
er power. They appealed to the
great proprietor of the store house
|of infinite resource and external
plenty. A day Of fasting and prayer
was solmenly proclaimed, but on the
day preceding the fast vessel la
dcned with provisions arrived, and
the day set apart as the day OF fast
ing and prayer was changed to one
!of thanksgiving, praise and reioic-
ing. God does not always wait for
us to ask, but SO anxious is he to
bless his children; so great is his
love; SO tender is his care and SYM
pathy, that even before We ask him,
Just as soon as he sees that our
hearts and minds are in O. Droper
frame to receive and appreciate and
enjoy them, he opens the door Of
heavens immortal store house, and
in rich and lavish and varied abund-
ance showers his blessings upon us.
Since 1852 this day has been OBJ
served as day Of national tahnksgiv-'
ing, signifed and designated by pres
idential proclamation. The last
Thursday in November is generally
designated. Perhaps there could be
DO more appropriate season for spe-
cial Thanksgiving and praise than
when from the bounteous lap Of
mother earth the granaries and
store houses have been filed with
the golden grain and ripened fruit.
TO me there is something beyond
and above the ordinary in this feast
or thanksgiving Of praise and Of
Song, which annually engages the at
tention Of the American people. It
is ~true that in the observance or
this day there may be much that Is
mechanical and formal, and so there
Is in all worship and service allow
ing for the insincerity and mere for
mality that may be attached to the
observance Of this day; SILL it L.
right and proper in the language OF
he Bible. 1T Is good thing to give
thanks unto the Lord and to sing
praises unto thy name, o most high.
The thought is pleasant to me that
belong to a national household,
large as It is, engaged as it Is, with
the multiplied and complex problem
OF life, which is not satisfied with.
the 90 days Of the year laid down
IN the dccalogue, but with Alaeritv
and delight q unanimity which, per-
haps. excites angelic and seraDhic
wonder and praise. step beyond
this and add one more and with
grateful pleasure grasp the oopor-