The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-24
The RICHMOND v1RaINIAY- rHURsDAY, Nov "a, ls1

giving service was one Of peculiar
beauty significance for the reason tlal
II emphasized both the religious spirit
OF the American people ana the re-
tigtous liberty of the nations. The
President OF the Uni.ea states anu
the governors of the several states
OF the Union call upon the people to
go to their houses OF prayer anu give
thanks unto God for the many bless
ings ana the bounties which He has
given to them during the past year.
But 1t Is significant that while the
executive onieers OF the States and OF
the nation call upon the people to
assemble In their houses of worship,
In the first place this cali is horta-
tory and not mandatory, nor Is there
any prescribed form of worship or any
one specific creed to which all must
respond. The response of the people
lis voluntary and their worship Is car
ried on in the form which the indi-
eidual conscience may dictate.
This practice emphasizes the great
truth of the common fatherhood Of
God. who receives the homage OF all
His children. be it in whatsoever
form. or spoken ine Whatsoever lam
guage.
We are closing. with this year. the
first decade Of the twentieth century.
.bAtCi tdts Nt'CeLnbak. WV NthhatS
| beginning in a blaze of glory. To the
tremendous achievements OF the nine
teenth century, this twentieth century
is adding the splendid triumphs Of still
greater daring During the past one
hundred years We mad conquered the
earth ane searched the caverns there
Of. We had compassed the seas and
their isles, and laid the pulse of our
voteeless speech along the floors OF
h .,tr -
have begun the conquest of the air
and though we are but on the thresh-
cd of this latest accomplishment
We feel assured that the coming years
will bring rs to still higher heights,
so that we viii almost literally fulfil
the adage of Emerson, ITO hitch our
wagon to the stars.
But proud as we are of the record
of our material triunphs. that re-
cord would be only one of shame
were we to stop with merely mate
rial achievements. The nation, as
well as the individual. has the OBJ
legations Of morality resting upon Il.
This obligation Is proportional to its
material blessings. Rome OF old had,
relatively, the same triumphs OF ma
terias progress as We have to-day. We
have to-day no theaters or temples
more magnificent than Rome had the
] a1Heducts that led into the city. the
/ roadways along which her victorious
armies marched. were more splendid
for their day than cur similar enter
prises. But because they were ac-
complished by civilization that was
morally deficient. they served only to
make the downfall of that civilization
the more conspicuous and the more
dramatic.
In voicing our gratitude for the
blessings that have come to lis in
diNidua'iy and as a people We must
remember that we are in the service
of eternal truth. This Thanksgiving
worship to-day is intended TO DO not
merely sporadic outhurst or graft
tude. hut a stimulus at the constant
and unceasing recognition of the pres
ence of the might. the wisdom and
the mercy OF overruling Providence.
We employ the agenciesSof the uni
verse, but we must do SO in the di-
reetion in which they move, They
/ never 60 out Of their road. They
never turn from their fore ordained
paths. Neither the sun nor tho moon
/ nor a. bubble of air, nor a mote of
dust How significant token for
us There are certain paths along
which people must go If they wish
10 go with safety and with gertrude.
These are the paths of justice. of free
dom. OF truth and of righteousness
Hence in the gladnsss OF our present
3 Thanksgiving, in the joy Of our pres
/ emit prosperity. let this thought be
also present. Our Thanksgiving ser.
i vice should he no transient incident
but the impulse for an undiminishins
! gratitude. an nnwearying reverence
and the unweakening resolution that
/ the expression of that gratitude shall
be as constant as the procession OF
the days and the recognition OF our
moral obligations as sure as the flight
Of time itself