The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-27
Thanksgiving Day

The biggest problem confronting primitive
was his next meal. Compelled to rely on
the fortunes of the chase he often went days at
a time with bare bones for his fare The most
arduous labors were required even to find his
game and the risk Of his life often necessary
for it's capture. Under such circumstances a
wind fall lucky capture seemed nothing less
than a gift from heaven and elected the hungry
humans sincerest gratitude to the gods. In this
way the ancient customs of holding religious
ceremonies before each meal established
and persists to this far off day in our grace
before meat.
Our New England forbears on their rocky
coasts, with famine often imminent and danger
on all sides, were in much the same position as
primitive man. With them also the next meal
doomed as the great problem of the day and
absorbed much of their time and attention.
Whole colonies hung for their very existence on
the success of crop and communities were
often made, as Thoreau says to cut their bread
very thin.
It was very natural therefore, under such
circumstances, to feel that bumper crop a
bountiful harvest, was providential. At such
seasons the strenuous colonist sat down to his
meal mush, his pumpkin pie and his wild turkey
with the liveliest feeling of gratitude to divine
Providence for such an outlay.
This accounts for the religious origin of
Thanksgiving. After the stringencies of crop
failure our Pilgrim Fathers early in the seven
teenth century were so thankful for full harvests
they finally set aside day in 1921 for the sole
purpose of acknowledging to the Gver of all
good gifts their thanks for the blessings of
heavy fields.
And why shouldn't they? A traveller in
Of 10
raise here on these rocky lands?' I'VE raise
men, was the prompt reply And men were al
ways plentiful Babes came if corn didn't Hun
CRY mouths cried to be fed. And a big feast for
the whole family was memorable event
We no longer feel the same pressure of want
Compared with those memorable days. the most
humble family of this time lives in affuence
Meals come three times day and the starving
are few and far between. Dinners are taken as
q matter Of course and even the poorest are able
at times to have such Injuries as fresh eggs on
the board
Because of this the religious side of Thanks
giving appears to have fallen into decay Preach
the country over lament the fact and de-
plore subsistence into materialism and the
grossness of the flesh. Thanksgiving feasters
are accused Of thinking more Of the flavor of
pumpkin pies and the pungent bouquet of cram
berries than of the origin of all the good things
There undoubtedly is grounds for fearing
lest the spiritual side atrophy through neglect
and preachers justified in warning us of our
danger, but after all is it not rather true that
the religious element has not disappeared, but
simply changed form?
Thanksgiving day has come to be reunion
day for families and friends. Interurban cars
trains, buggies, autos and bicycles have been
bringing friends, husbands wives, children I'M
ces. aunts, grandparents and relatives. poor and
wealthy, to sit at Richmond tables and gather
about Richmond living rooms. Old times will be
rehearsed, tales will be told, laughter and chat
tering will be the order of the day.
And what is this but the communion of spir-
its which is a foundation doctrine with all
Christian churches? We believe the Divine
Spirit flows into the receptive soul through the
flash of loving eye, the clasp of hearty hand,
the good natured banter, hilarity and kindly wit
which flows about family circles and through
all the ministries of feasting and fellowship
Common bread is the bread of life Every
meal eaten in sincerity is a sacrament Through
the simple elemental creatures of food and drink
the mighty Power of which each human is but a
his divine and wonderfully beautiful existence
How Bureau May Be Secured for Richmond
The four hundred business and professional
who interasted in he -;t.,IL -.