Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-25

doings to eventuate in moral progress.
Our affections oftentimes drive out
toward God and 10 a sense Of our need
of Him. Our prosperity has led us to
place too much emphasis on automo-
biles and gold and to crowd out Gcd
and the needs of the soul of their
rishtful first place. Frivolity and the
amusement craze has made impossible
serious thought concerning ones
spiritual welfare.
Live Lives Of Appreciation.
"Reminiscences naturally expresses
itself in the misrepresentation of God 5
gifts. Genuine does not consist merely
in the oral recitation of 4 series of
Thank you's' TO God in prayer. This
is very commendable, if it be not an
act by itself and segregated from a
mans heart attitude. God is not
pleased with fornalties. We must
back up our words cf praise hy life
OF appreciation of His gifts. Nothing
corroborates the expression of graft
tude as thanksgiving.
"Thanksgivins in its most genuine
form IS more than single act. 1t IS
more than a word uttered al particu-
lar time; il IS rather a sustained at
titude. a beuefactor, and a sustained
carefuness in the use of HIS gifts. If
we are thankful we will not miSap-
propriate what He has given US nor
use i seldShly for our own enjoyment
merely. bur employ il as He dictates.
Gratitude conducts one into a life Of
large hearteduess and sympathy.
Gratitude excludes petty fault finding
and entails noble satisfaction in the
mater.al.ties which Providence has al
loted 70 US
Would Emulate Pilgrims.
The THANKSGIVING spirit IS best as
cerlained in the circumstances which
inspired lis annual observance. The
Pilgrims fed from adverse conditions
in England and Holland to the shores
Of America The Mayiiower did not
land them amidst saw mills of the
Dutch, but at the beginning of winter
they found themselves in wilderness
filed with savages In spite of many
unpleasant vtc;ssitudes, hardships,
hindrances and privations. they OBJ
served the first Thanks givins Day.
This colony rose above its original ad-
verse conditions and prospered most
splendidly In contrast 10 the Pill
grims We have preserved for our warn
ing the fate Of the gold hunting idlers
OF Virginia. The Pilgrims and Puri-
tans contributed immensely TO our
civilization, because they recognized
God as the author and giver Of all the
blessings they enjoyed. The spirit thar
peryaded the Pilgrims should govern
our lips and lives now. Blessed is the
nation whose God IS the Lord Craft
tude IS the basic prerequisite OF trust
in God.
1T IS indeed spirit-srrensthe and
conductive TO religious awakening TO
recount the national blessings that
have in profuse quantities been gratu-
tiously given us by Cod and which
minister unspeakably 10 our delecta-
ton and satisfaction. Unthankfulnsss
leads TO the disregard Of the things
that condition multitude Of our bless
ings and viii inevitably issue in the
removal Of these blessings from us.
This can be substantiated historically:
Israel. Spain. etc, have had areas of
unbounded prosperity bat It was by no
means unconditional.
Every day thankfulness Yields fruit
in soul expansion. Thanksgiving Day
is not set apart so that on that day
alone folks might give thanks. but to
stress the idea and afford leisure and
opportunity seriously TO consider Gods
greatness and goodness. This will fur
nish an incentive for an every day in
telligenr Thanksgiving.
The services closed with hymn
and benediction.
Other Services in City.
Both St. Paul's Episcopal church and
the First Church OF Christ Scientist.