The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-27

days Of general Thanksgiving, the latest
at the time Of Queen Yietoria's jubilee.
The first Thanksgiving day observed
on the new continent was probably whcr
the people, who had arrived at New
Foundland. held an Observance and Of
fered thanks TO the Lord. The direct
origin of the Thanksgiving day which we
observe was originated by Governor
Bradford OF the colony Of Massachusetts,
who admid the hardships and yicissitudes
of a bleak New England fall there on
the coast Of Massachusetts,, thought that
the pilgrims had something 10 bo thank.
full for, and the day was observed and
directly founded at that time. The Pill.
grims had not the plenty of to-day and
their Thanksgiving feast consisted Of
wild turkeys, deer and corn meal.
Congress ordered the adoption Of a
day Of general thanksgiving when the
constitution was adopted. Ever since
Abraham Lincoln issued Thanksgiving
proclamation in the midst of the Civil
war in 1868, each president has issued a
proclamation each year and proclama-
tions in turn have been issued by the
governors of the states. In l7DS the
Episcopal church recognized the right Of
the civil authorities to appoint a day
of Thanksgiving, and 90 years later the
Roman Catholic church recognized the
same right.
To fail to duly observe the day is an
act OF disloyalty and we should give a
part of II to rendering thanks TO God.
II IL is to become what Fast day has
become in Massachusetts, day for foot
ball games, sports and drunkenness, it
would be better to abolish It.
What shall we thank God forY We
should thank him for our material bless
ing and the grand country in which we
live--a country whose present greatness
is nothing when compared with the re.
sources that are In il. We can feed the
world. When there is famine in other
lands they turn to America. We as in
dividuals and as a nation should thank
God for our material welfare, but this
Il too low a plane for a Christian people
and may prove a curse 70 us. The ma.
tion is great and win be greater, not
upon its great resources, but upon the
grandeur of the character of its men
and women.
There are things in this country which
should make statesmen and patriots
tremble, but these are balanced by the
churches, schools, colleges, libraries and
other means Of cultivation Of aesthetic
taste. We should be thankful that men
do not dare to continue long in sin.
Thankful for the independent voters,
who vote for that which they believe is
the right.
We should give thanks to God that
the politics of the country are becoming
such that the source Of campaign funds
is made public and that the insurance
scandals have been cleared. Thank God
for the moral advance in the country and
in the temperance movement which has
placed at least half of the country under
prohibition. The people have awakened
to sense of their freedom and are aris-
ing in their might against the distiller
and brewer and showing them that their
business is doomed Thank God for
many spiritual blessings and for pardon
for sin through Jesus Christ.
Many chsirs will be vacant at the
Thanksgiving board to-day, and we
should thank God not for our affection,
but in the midst Of our afiliction We
should look up through our tears, look
up to God, and to Him give thanks.
Why should we give thanks? As an
act Of gratitude to God. Ingratitude is
contemplate and the hardest thing on
earth is the ingratitude of a child toward
its parent. How much more should we
be grateful to God for than to earthly
parents We should be grateful because
Of what we owe to Him. We should be
for our own sskes. The use of
our own small blessings will enlarge and
ennoble our lives.
How shall we give thanks2 First With
words and song we should express our
thanks. BY obedience; God cares more
for deeds than for words. Give to 9th
ers. Be charitable not only on Thanks
giving day but throughout the year and
make every day Thanksgiving day
We do our best work in spirit of
parise and when we 60 into the world
should give thanks to God all Of the
lime.