Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-26
THANKS GIVING 1908.

yet l consider faith and prayers
Amongst the privatest Of mems affairs"
So wrote the poet Hood. But, mas
much as the civil authorities in state
and nation yearly admonish the peo-
pie to assemble in their respective pla-
ces Of worship and publicly give God
thanks for the blessings vOuchsafed to
them, it may not be out Of place at this
Thanksgiving season to consider the
question whether unbelief is undermin-
ing the old found ations of religious
faith.
The New York World holds that
the charge that unbelief is doing this
is "susceptible of reputation in the
light Of current evidence" The
World rightly says:
Forms may have changed, but
faith seems as firmly rooted as ever.
The virtual injection into the national
campaign just ended of a religious
issue is of itself good presumptive
evidence that the nation to-day thinks
and feels deeply on religious subjects
even if it is not burning witches and
exiling nOn-comfOrmists. Some Of
the old mOOrings may have been
lOOsed and particular creeds dis
carded as OutwOrn, but there is no
lack of cOntempOraneOus testimony in
the nations belief in the essentials of
religion"
For expressions of faith and modes
of worship graceIess zealots may con-
tinue to fight: but there is cause for
thankfulness in the fact that the
Christian faith has brought to the
world broader humanity, a deeper
sympathy and sweeter charity, and
that this faith is carrying the nation
onward and upward to nObler and
a higher destiny. Evidence is not
wanting to show that Christians Of
various cOmmuniOns are being drawn
closer to each other in the works Of
necessity and mercy. Let those who
are impatient at the slow progress
that is being made in worlds re-
dcmptiOn ask themselves if the pro-
gress would not be FASTENED by a
more perfect union of the moral and
religious forces which these cOmmuni-
Ons represent We are indeed far
from the millennium: but for the ad
vance that is being made let us be
duly thankful. Faith is not perishing
from the earth. At no stage in the
worlds history has there been greater
public concern for the unfortunate than
there is at the present time. At no
other period has there been so Jealous
an advocacy of great moral reforms.
We know that in many quarters it is
popular to class such reforms as puri-
tanicaI But the Puritans were needed
in their day and generations, as the
reformers and reforms are needed in
ours; and of the Puritans John Boyle
O'Reilly wrote:
"Severc they were; but let him cast the stone
VINO tnrlStS dear IONe dare measure Win
his
Their strict professions were not can't nor
pride.
Who calls them narrow, let his soul be wide!
Austcre, exclusively, but with their faults,
Their golden prObity mankind eXalts.
They never lied in practice peace or strife;
They We're no hypocrites, their faith was
clear;
They feared too much some sins men ought
to fear:
The lOrdly arrogance and aYariCe
And vain frivOity's besotting vice"
The world needs the reformer who |
sets his face against the arrogance,
the avarice and the vices of the age.
Let us be thankful that he is with us
to arouse the conscience of the people |
TO subjects which concern their spiri-
tual, and moral welfare Let us be !
thankful for abundant Earvests and |
great material prosperity; but above |
all let us be thankful that the people |
have it in their power to right what
ever wrongs may be inflicted upon |
them. Let us be thankful that there is |
an independence abroad in the land |
which BODIES we'll for the future