River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-11-21

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huts, the treaties
the civil compacts with one an
other, were all, in way, acts
of worship. Thanksgiving day in
it's conception, and it's inception,
and it's observance 300 years ago was
only less holy than the Sabbath. A
ball game on Thanksgiving day! As
soon turn away from Jehovah and bow
down to Baal and Ashtaroth!
We Olden Times.
Read the sermons preached on
Thanksgiving day in I'VE olden times"
and compare them with the political
harangues of today. Shades of Increase
and Cotton Mather! They believed In
God then. They believed he gave seed
time and harvest, and they had god
ly fear of that judgment upon sin
which might withhold the blessing
once, just once-and then?
1t will not do to say that the former
days were better than these. They
were not in some things. They burned
tallow candles then, and wore poke
bonnets; now we have the Merry Wild
ow hat and the arc light. They walked
on earth then, and sailed on the sea;
now we navigate the air, and know
the mysteries of the submarine. But
the presence of God was potent to our
fathers, and now-well, we're not so
sure about It.
Let us go back to Bethel. Why
should not Thanksgiving day be made
revival day? Not a day of gloom, not
the sourness of the Puritan, but his
gladness, for he had gladness, real
gladness, the gladness that comes
from an enlightened recognition of his
bounty who is the author and giver of
every good and perfect gift, the glad
ness that comes from a willing dedica-
ton of ourselves to his holy service.
Post-Babylonian Judah affords a
good type of the observance of
Thanksgiving day. You will find the
story in the eighth of Nehemiah.
Laughter for Tears.
The people were gathered in a great
open air meeting, and Ezra read the
Word of God to them, while their 9th
er religious teachers and civil gov
errors explained its sense. At first
they were afraid, and were moved to
tears, for conviction of sin had gripped
| them; but they were ,exhorted to
! laugh instead of weep, for it was
! holy day unto the Lord their God.
Go your way" said Nehemiah, "eat
| the fat, and drink the sweet, and send
| portions unto them for whom nothing
| is prepared, for this day is holy unto
! our Lord; neither be We sorry, for the
| Joy of the Lord is your strength"
J This teaches us that there Is such
thing as holy mirth, Joyous festtv-
| ity unto the Lord. Indeed this was
| the prevailing idea of all the Mosaic
| feasts, which were social as well as
| religious occasions OF the highest Joy.
| 1t teaches us again that holy mirth
| is accompanied by benevolence and
love. What constant provision is made
/ for the poor in all the Old Testament
| legislation? Nehemiah was teaching
nothing new when he said: Send por-
! lions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared" Gods idea of repentance,
| is among other things, Ito judge the
fatherless, to relieve the oppressed,
| and to plead for the widow"
It teaches us in the third place that
| the mirth which breeds benevolence
is inspired not by material prosperity,
but by the knowledge of the word of
| the Lord There was material pros
perity in post-Edenic times, but it led
| not to mirthfulness, and love, but to
| jealousy and murder. Cain was pros
perous. but he killed his brother.
| There was material prosperity in the
DAYS before the flood, for men were
eating and drinking, marrying and CIV
ing in marriage, but God saw that
"every imagination OF the thoughts of
mans heart was only evil continually"
Genesis $50. There was material
prosperity after the food, for men
built cities and erected empires, but
they forgot God until he scattered
than to the four corners of the earth.
Oh. what good news God has to pour
into our sad and heavy hearts out of
his precious word, If we will listen to
it, Let us gather around that word
on this Thanksgiving day! Let It take
the place which other things have
usurped of late. Closed eyes will be
opened by it, darkness will give place
to light, and the garment of praise
will be donned instead of the spirit OF
| heaviness.