Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-12-06
WORKS OF THE PAST A BOON.
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WORKS OF THE PAST A BOON.
By Rev. G. @. Wright.
One soweth and another reapeth.
Others have labored and We have en-
tered into their labor.-John 4 1873.
Il have had all these portraits of our
ancestors hung up here in the dining
hall because l feel that they made this
day Of happiness and plenty possible
for us
So said an old New Highlander when
his family had gathered for the time
honored Thanksgiving feast, And one
of the chief blessings that comes to
us with this great day will be this
larger view and wider gratitude.
With our powers, means and oppor-
tunities we have sown and we have
reaped, but lest we should say our own
hand hath achieved all the success and
abundance, it is good that we consider
the things that have combined to bring
us and such day to pass. We reap
the fruits of mighty natures forces
earth, air, sea and sun-that have
co-operated with us while we toiled and
wrought for us while we slept.
We have builded our house upon the
foundation of the coral layers-of the
lives Of all the ages gone. The pres
ent generation blossoms from the dust
Of the dead and inherits from all the
past. Each age has made the next
age possible, till the present marvellous
times have come to us.
Let us gratefully remember the past
ages that failed to see and enjoy the
harvest they planted, and whose labor,
elf-denial and fidelity made our great
life possible, and that we stand on their
bones, and have built on their plans,
inventions, accomplishments, tolls, am
billions and defeated hopes.
From this backward contemplation
let us turn for a moment toward the
future, to the generations to come, and
let us highly resolve to leave an i'm
proved and augmented legacy to them
an uplifted, unified state and cleans
ed temple-a world and a life made
better and easier for our having lived
in them.
Then turn to the present, to acknOwl-
edge our debt to the generation that is,
and with whom we live and move and
have our being and success; and to
share and communicate with the strug
Cling fellow creatures about us. Re-
member thy neighbor in the day of thy
plenty. From basket and store, from
heart and mind carry him portions
with full, warm hand ''for he that low
eth not his brother whom he hath seen,
cannot love God, whom he hath not
SEEM
Have you bettered the poor mans narrow
span?
Have you frightened the way he trod?
Perchance when he learns the love Of man,
He may trust the love of God
Finally, our hearts will turn up
ward in loyal gratitude to him that
gave the increase" He has reigned
In us and in our fields, factories, offices,
schools and homes, as well as in his
heaven He has fed and clothed us,
preserved and inspired us. Every good
institution stands and improves; COM
forts multiply thought Is being cleans
ed purpose uplifted, motive ennobled
the heart and life Of mankind is be-
ing restored and saved. With a just
JOY in our own accomplishments and
good fortune, an enlarged apprecia
ton Of the countless dead who were
our forerunners and benefactors in
measure Incompatible and a wider rec
ognition of the essential assistance Of
the great mother nature and a closer
fellowship with our neighbor brother,
it yet behooves us to give God the
praise for all we have and are.
Back of the loaf is the snowy -four,
And back Of the 1our-the mill,
And back of the mill are wheat and the
shower,
And the sun and the Fathers will.