The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-11-21

huts, the treaties
- with the Indians,
the civil compacts with one an
other, were all, in a way, acts
of worship. Thanksgiving day In
its conception, and its inception.
and its observance 800 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 oldcn 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?
It will not do to say that the former
we're 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 1t.
Let US go back to Bethel. Why
should not Thanksgiving day be made
a revival day? Not 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 willing dedica-
ton of ourselves to his holy service.
t-Bahylonian judah affords q
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 great
open air meeting, and Ezra read the
Word Of God to them, while their 9TH
er religious teachers and civil gov
ernors 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 1t was
holy day unto the Lord their God.
60 your way" said Nehemiah. seat
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"
This teaches us that there is such
thing as holy mirth, joyous festiv-
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
It 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 lie said: Send por-
lions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared" Gods idea of repentance,
is, among other things, Ito Judge the
ldlHGTlCcSs W TSIlGfO lHe oppressed,
and to plead for the widow
It teaches us in the third place that
the, mirthl 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 1t led
not to mirthfulness, and love, but to
jealousy and murder. Cain was pros
porous. but he killed his brother.
There was material prosperity in the
days before the food, 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 6:5). There was material
prosperity after the food. for men
built cities and erected empires. but
they forgot God until he scattered
them 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, II we will listen to
it! Let us gather around that word
on this Thanksgiving day! Let 1t take
the place which other things have
usprped Of late. Closed eyes will be
opened by 1t, darkness will give place
to light. and the garment Of praise
will be donned instead of the spirit of
heaviness.