The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-26
Churches Unite
In Thanksgiving
Services Today

when we deal with Gods care ana
help. Personal and national tnde-
penderce are essential, but we must
not forget that there are some things
for which we can depend only on God.
2. 1t promotes reverence. lrrev-
erence for sacred things is the curse
of the age. The Bible, prayer, the
church, piety and the hand OF God
in human history are too much sneer-
ed at today. tits a wonder some peo'
pie do not write the name OF Deity
with small letter.
8. It leads us to acknowledge God.
Is It fair to claim all the credit for
success, and victory, and put the
blame for a failure and suer1ng on
Providence? 5l.
Historical View Of the American
Thanksgiving.
The Plymouth colony first observed
1t 293 years ago, in 1921. George
Washington proclaimed service in
the Continental army on the occa-
sion OF the surrender at Yorktown,
and the third day after this on. the
2Sd of October, 1881, Congress on
hearing OF the victory adjourned in
a body to the Dutch Lutheran church
for praise. In 1890 Congress request
ed the President to proclaim day
Of Thanksgiving. 1t was observed
November 26, Just 124 years ago to.
day. It has been regularly observed
since 1868.
some Things Tor Which to be Thank
full Today.
1. Personal blessings. Count your
blessings. 1t might be SO much worse
with each one Of US than It is today.
2. The elevation OF the individual
unit is the American ideal. You count
one. Every citizen OF this republic
is unit OF power. Texas was admit
ted by the vote of one man in the
U. S. Senate, and he by State SEN
'ator from Kansas who was elected by
the vote Of one old man who died from
going to the polls. Did that old man
count? Do you value your citizen
ship? The cathedral at Cologne, one
Of the most magnificent in the world,
was 600 years in building. When 1t
was done according to the original
plans they found that the architect
had been too busy to sign his name
--he was forgotten, but his work after
centuries was accomplished. So may
yours be II you value the dignity o.
your civic opportunity.
8. Asyear Of national blessings.No
nation has more. to be thankful for
Instead Of gloating over the trade
thrown to us by the war OF other ma
tions we ought to thank God for peace
and use part OF what Mexican war
would have cost us to restore world
conditions. Our "great crops" pale
into insignifcance when we think Of
the lives OF our young men spared,
and the blessings of the peace which
we enjoy
A. Our opportunity. This is great.
er than ever before. 1t is emphasized
In the proclamation OF the President
of the United States. 1t Is our priv
ilege to so maintain the dignity OF a
Christian nation that when the time
comes we may reach out strong. clean
hands across the sea and help the
crippled nations OF more than half
the world to substitute the Prince OF
Peace for the War God of the ancient
days.
s. Christian victories. 1t Is fool
ish to think that the plan Of God will
fail because OF human battles. Have
not some Of the peoples involved in
the conflict forgotten God, planted I'M
belief and poisoned the universities
OF the world with destructive criti-
cism and the unchristtan scientific
substitution for His word? The Cross
goes on to victory. and even this
dreadful carnage will open the way
for yet greater conquests by the gos-
pei Of salvation. Meantime the church
Is giving to every land the hopes that
lives, the civilization that can en-
dure, and every comfort that follows
in the wake OF redemption from sin.
II nations have wandered from the
true idea Of this holy religion they
must be brought back. It is hard
lesson, but the world has only learn.
ed to honor God whenlit was unable
longer to trust In Its own wisdom.
6. In West Virginia we are pro.
toundly thankful for the passage OF
great moral amendment. May 1t
not be with pride we view this vic
tory, but with humility, and the pur-
pose to show the value OF soberness
Of life; and to: aid the men who were
on the open road to ruin, in walking
the solid highway of a redeemed and
reformed manhood
Z. For this hour OF reflection we
are thankful. No man has really ap-
pretended the beauty OF the smallnes5
Of things until he has viewed them
from some great height Lifted as
we are today upon the mountain top
Of an hour OF thankful contemplation,
swe remember thousands who cannot
with us, or who have had this
.ssire crushed out by circumstances.
May we not think of our own peo-
Pile deprived of this privilege? The
fireman, sthe policeman, the railroad