Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-11-21

the civil -ompacts with one an
other. were all. in way. acts
Of worship. Thanksgiving day in
Its conception. and It's inception.
and is 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 clcer Times
Read the sermons preached on
Thanksgiving day il we olten times.
and compare them with the political
hara1gues Of today. Shades Of Increase
and Cotton Ma.her, They believed in
God then They believed be gave seed
time and harvest, and they had 4 goG-
~ fear Of that Judgment upon sin
which might withhold the blessing
once. Just once-ant them
Il viii not do to say that the former
days were better than these. They
were not in some things. They burned
taIIov candles then, and wore poke
bonnets. now We have the Merry Wild
ov hat and the arc light They walked
- - IA AAANAAs anu saAA14 w EA4G sen
nov We navigate the air. and know
the mysteries OF the submarine. But
the presence OF God was potent to our
fathers. and now-vell. we're not SC
sure about IL
Let Us 20 back to Bethel Why
should not Thanksgiving day be made
a revival day Not day Of gloom. not
the sournsss OF the Puritan. but his
siadness. for he had sladness, a rem
gladlsss. the gladness that comes
rom an enlightened recognition Of his
bounty who Is the author and gfver Of
every good and perfect gift, the glad
ness that comes from a willing dedica-
ton Of ourselves 70 his holy service.
Post-Bahylonian Judah Affords n
good type OF the observance OF
Thanksgiving day You will find the
story n The eighth OF Nehemiah.
Laughter for Tears
The people we're 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 we're afraid. and were moved 10
tears. for conviction OF sin had gripped
them. but they were exhcrted to
laugh instead OF weep. for IL was a
holy day unto the Lord their God.
Go your way" said Nehemiah. "sat
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 re sorry. for the
10y Of the Lord Is your strength
This teaches Us that there Is such
thing as holy mirth. joyous testiv-
Try unto the Lord. Indeed. this vas
the prevailing idea OF all the Mosaic
teasts. which were social as well az
religious occasions q the highest tov
Il teaches rs again that holy nirth
Is accompanied By benevoiszce and
love What constant provision IS made
for the POOR IN al the Old Testausn,
legislation Nehemiah was teaching
nothing Few when he said Send Dor.
tons unto them for whom nothing Is
prepared Gods idea OF rauenranca
Is. among other things. to Judge the
tatheriess. TO relieve the oppressed
and 70 plead for the widow
Z teaches rs n TIE third place that
the mir-h which breeds henevois7ea
is inspired not hy material prosuertrv
bur By the knowledge Of the word a.
the Lord There vas material uros
periry IN pcst-Edenic times. but II Lad
not 70 mir-htIlness. and love. bur tu
jealousy and murder Cain vas ur,s
porous. but he killed his hruthar
There was material prosperity IN ths
dsys before the food. for men uerz
eating and drinking. marrying and civ
ing IN marriage. but God saw ma
every Imagination Of the thoughts a
mans heart was only evil continually
Genesis s-5l There vas raterts
prosperity after the aood for me-
built cities and erected empires. bul
they forgot God until he scattered
them 70 the four corners Of the earth
Oh, what good news God has TO pou,
into our sad and heavy hearts out a
his precious word. II We viii listen :,
IT, Let US gather around that WORT
on this Thanksgiving day Let Il tax,
the place which other things havs
usurpet Of late. Closed eyes viii b.
opened by IL. darkness will give Mac.
TO light. and the garment Of urzls.
viii be donned instead Of the spirit G,
hsaviness.