Graham guardian., 1915-11-26

life's experience
are what we make them. Bible stu
dents should be philosophers; for tn
/ Wisdom from Above Is the nobest sci
enCe. the best instruction 1t promotes
the spirit Of a sound mind, which Il
necessarily philosophical; for n sounC
mind prompts us to make the best o
conditions rather than to find faul
with Divine providence, thus making
ourselves and those around us yer,
miserable.
True Christians have always founC
plenty Of cause for thankfulness, ever
though they might have had more thar
their share of life's difficulties. Nol
was this thankfulness because they
understood the why and wherefore OF
the present reign Of Sin and Death
BY faith they accepted their portion OF
joy and sorrow. believing that it was
measured to them by the Lord, and
that full obedience and cheerful sub,
mission were their duty.
Excuses For UnthankfuIness,
The world, awakening from the
sleepy superstitions of the past, readily
finds many excuses for ingratitude. To
show the unthankful masses that he
recognized their viewpoint, although
not agreeing with them. the Pastor
mentioned some of these excuses, and
then pointed out the better course of
thankfulness and proportionate happi-
ness. He reminded them that the poor
Of our favored land habitually waste
more than would make some Of the
poor Of other countries very thankful;
that under the Divine blessing con-
venienCes and comforts have multi
piled until the masses of our land have
home comforts, educational facilities,
parks, well paved and well lighted
streets, libraries, cheap transportation,
etc, such as were not dreamed Of in
our grandfathers' day. We should not
grecdily ask for more until we have
fully appreciated these blessings. and
have given thanks therefor
But, says one, our fOrefatherS
were superstitiouSly thankful They
thanked God for sunshine and rain.
We have learned that these are ma
lures provisions; and we thank nobody
for them. Our fOrefathers thanked
God for escape from feudal slavery.
We see that they should have rebelled
against feudaliSm. When recovered
from sickness, they thanked God that
tlnV hD1 1in1 tn ntn ,nl
torture. We hold that they should
have thanked their physician and
should not have believed in everlasting
torment; for 1t is all humbug.
"lntelllgent people have no more
knowledge than ourselves respecting
future. We agree with the college pro.
leSSors that our race is progressing up
ward by an evolutionary law of ma
Iure; that God has nothing to do with
1t; and that there Is no future life for
us except as our pOstcrity represent US
IN higher plane Of living. You will
perceive, then, why we consider Thanks
giving "A medieval superstition"
Replies to the UnthankfuI.
To this reasoning the Pastor replied
along two lines, philosophical and ana.
ytiCal First. he showed that such
and atheistic evolutionists
ire unphiloSOphiCal; for they admit
hat they have blessings far beyond
known to their forefathers,
md that their unhappiness has pro
increased. A true philos.
Dphy would tell them that their loss Of |
happiness is due to the unthankful |
manner in which they receive these |
blessings. Even If their theories were |
rue, philosophy would warn them that |
is unwise to cultivate thoughts |
which increase their unthankful. un.
appy spirit.
Secondly. he asked for proof that |
here is no living and true GOd-that |
here IS merely nature god a blind |
OrCe. What philosophy can demon.
tratc that by chance the earth re- |
Mains in its orbit, the seasons occur
II regular succession, etc? He aC-
nowlcdged that once our Creators
wisdom and bencticence were hidden
y our SuperStitions and the irrational
reeds Of the past. Now, however,
'od's Word shines forth to those who
an see its beauty.
Furthermore. he suggested that we
o not boast ourselves rs having great.
+ courage than some in feudal times,
ut that we note that the patriotism
'hich secured the Magma Charta was
$ courageous as any possessed today
r more 50; that our freedom from
ONE Of the supcrstitlons Of the. past
asults from the spread Of eduCaton;
nd that for this widespread educa-
ion we must thank only the Lord, for
came despite the opposition of the
lch and the Indifference Of the poor.
.od'S due time had come daniel 1874.
he Next Best Thing to the Pine