South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-27
TOO FEW PEOPLE
SHOW GRATITUDE
Rev. G. w. Allison Finds Pro-
portion Small That Gives
Thanks.

THANKSGIVING is not only q
Christian virtue. il is demanded OF
the ordinary man Of the world. All
the world despises an migrate, even
though the particular case Of ingra-
utude may be only observed and not
even committed against oneself in
person" said George william ALI
son yesterday morning in his ser
mon at Hope Presbyterian chapel
on The Grace Of Giving Thanks. %
Among other things in this address
ne said:
The religion Of the world which
does not have a harvest festival is
indeed a strange anomaly Nearly
every religion on the globe offers
up on the affairs Of deity "A part
OF the fruit Of the field or the first
lings of the flock. And in nearly
every case il is an expression Of
gratitude TO the providence Of Cod.
In many primitive religions there
are several such offerings during the
year. In most Of them however. the
matter IS very formal and has lit
tie ethical content. II is reserved for
Christianity 10 translate its gratitude
10 God into a Thanksgiving for men.
Particularly is il reserved for Amer
lea TO make this an occasion for ma
tional inventory Of the blessings Of
Providence to US as individuals and
as a nation.
II shall not indulge in any plati-
tudes Of prais. for plentiful prosper
ity-usually these degenerate into
SNUG hypOcricy; and I think even
an migrate "A more respectable crea-
ture than a hypocritei And yet there
is "A sense of gratitude evident in the
feeling of those who know of the
sufferings OF many peoples of our
kind-particularily the starvation of
the millions Of the near-east. How
is il we have escaped such suffer
ing, and they are victims? Surely
not on account Of any superiority Of
our devotion TO God over the Ar
meniansl Can il be other than the
gift Of Providence in mercy to us ?
And shall we share 10 relieve their
terrible distress God grant we may,
And it ought TO make US genuinely
humble TO realize that our album
dance in prosperity is "a result not
only of our own national peace and
abundant natural resources, but di-
rectiy a result in many instances Of
Esuropes' mad, maudlin butchering.
and brutal slaughter And yet with
al. we are thankful for peace in
righteousness.
Too Few Thankful.
Gratitude can never become a
national quality nor Thanksgiving
a national hOly-day. except as we
come individually into possession Of
the grace OF giving thanks. Nor will
the thanks of self-suficiency do:
we cannot brook the thanks of the
Pharlsees that he "is not as other
men" That was conceit. not graft
tude. We are pleased with the one
Ieper in ten who were cIeansed. who
upon thought, returned 20 thank the
Master for cleansing. That was
thanksgiving indeed. But the pro-
portionl An. the sadness Of it, Is
DO better today? How often do We
express our gratitude 20 those who
are benefactors2 For instance. our
public servants. How often instead
Of appreciation they get vIlifca-
tion: instead OF gratitude. they get
imprecation! Here is an opportun-
itv for Thanksgiving in living our
thanks
ITO many Thanksgiving will mean
ahles loaded with goodies until il
fairly Eroans under the weight: and
after dinner the grOaning transferred
20 the partakers II ought 10 mean
more vastly more than this. II
ought 20 mean a day of RETROSPECT
tion-a calling TO mind all OF Gods
favors 20 us during the past u
months and a psalm Of thanksgiv-
ING 10 i'm. Tt is a good thing to
give thanks unto the Lord II our
hlunted senSibilities are hurt bv in
gratitude for our gifts and kind
nesses, what must be the pain Of
God at our hardness of heart And
! think too II IS a good thing 10 mo-
mentarly pause for resolution 10
be gracious 20 those who shower
ki0dnesses-one or many-upon us.
Not only because they need the en-
couragement Of gratitude i'm doing
good, but also because il is a good
thing for ones own soul TO cultivate
the grace or Twins thanks. To lifts
the fife from selhshness and pro-
longs the lease Of soul in goods that
are not bought with gold. Let us
live our thanks 20 God in services
70 man"