The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-03
THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS

Now that the Thanksgiving turke
has fulfilled its destiny and appetite
been glutted 10 the extent of safety
il seeIps quite fitting that we turn on
thoughts for moment to a study o
the real purpose Of this establishe'
feast-day.--for this is what il ha
come 10 mean TO the multitude.
Nearly three hundred years ago tn
Pilgrim Fathers celebrated the frs
Thanksgiving Day in this country
gratitude to Providence that had LEI
them through many trials and priva
tions to comparative peace and plenty
furnished the motive which led to tn
event: the principle underlying tn,
motive is a Fundamental Truth that il
becoming more and more understood
as the years pas, though known il
some degree since time began, for;
"Some few, whose lamp shone bright
err, have been led
"From cause to cause, to natures sec
ret head,
"And found that one first principle
must be"
From the time Of our Puritan ances-
tors it is hard TO say with what reg
ularity the custom was observed. Ma
tions like individuals are prone to for
get the Most High until danger or
disaster has overtaken them 1t is
recorded that Congress recommended,
annually, days Of thanksgiving during
the Revolution, and in 1884 for the re-
turn Of peace, as did President Madi-
son in 1915.
Washington appointed day Of
thanksgiving after the adoption Of the
Constitution and in 1895 for the gen
eral benefit and welfare Of the nation.
Since 1863 the President has annually
issued a proclamation naming the last
Thursday in November as a day Of
Thanksgiving. The day now ranks as
a legal holiday and its purpose en-
dorsed by nationwide observance.
1t is safe to predict that the custom is
80 firmly established that we need
have no fear that it will ever be abol-
ished.
Saying Thank you" for the slight
est service rendered by friend or
stranger, has become something like
"a fad in recent years; the words are
said with pretty, rising infection,
quite different from the more serious
~ uttered 81 thank you" Of quarter
of century ago. Notwithstanding the
very evident fact that the words carry
but little meaning in the mouths OF
many who use them, it is distinctly
right habit to acquire-that OF re-
turning thanks for benefits received.
The making Of legal holiday or
ho-ly-day for nationwide thanksgiv-
ing, is but the emphasizing or symbol
Of what every day should be in mans
inner consciousness.
We as a people are not as volubly
polite as the French, but we do not
like TO admit that we lack sense of
appreciation; we cannot bear to be
thought ungrateful, nor do we like
to be under obligations to another
no matter who that other may be-
and so we have gotten the habit Of
pay as we go" in whatever currency
the obligation calls for--money, labor,
love, gratitude. But with all our love
OF getting even" do we not often for
get TO return thanks to the Source Of
ALL Supply, until reminded by the
Presidents annual message asking US
to observe day in contemplating the
Benefcence Of ALL GOOD?
Now, as in the past, there are
and always will be-some who, sor-
rowful or bitter will ask-"What have
] to be thankful for7" Others there
are who carelessly Indifferent to ev-
erything except the pleasures Of the
passing hour, seem never for q mo-
ment to think II at all necessary to
acknowledge the blessings which they
enjoy. To such as these ! send my
message.
Sorrow and grief are states Of mind !;
but these states Of mind are very real
and work their own woe-to the
person laboring under them. Not yet
have the masses been laugh; that TO
indulge in sorrow, grief and kindred
states Of mind--are, 10 view them from
n rational standpoint, as detrimental
70 well-being as TO indulge in hatred,
n