South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-01
EDITORIAL IS THEME
OF THURSDAY SERMON
Dr.. Edwards Reviews News
Times Article on "A Mu-
niCipaI Thanksgiving"

The union Thanksgiving service in
which six OF the Protestant denom-
nations OF the city took part, were
OF a more than usual interesting
character. They we're held in I'm
manuel Baptist church last evening.
Rev. Or. Loren NJ. Edwards, pas
tor OF the Methodist church. preach
ed the sermon on The Spiritual
Values of Thanksgiving. in which
ne criticized a recent editorial which
appeared in The News-Times en-
titled. a Municipal Thanksgiving.
Editorial Is Significant.
THE editorial" he said. 'is so
significant and typical as 10 present
a good starting place for our inter-
probation Of tho spiritual values of
Thanksgiving. 1t serves 10 indicate
just how far we are wandering from
the spirit OF this meaningful autumn
festival The editor in the article IN
question. advocates a municipal
Thanksgiving festival, independent
OF the churches. conducted along
secular lines and imtued only with
the religion Of the individual as II
enters into his civic life aside from
sectarian association. The editorial
procedes 10 point out that a sim
liar movement has been attempted
on the Fourth of July when new
Americans and old tried to get to-
gether and realize their common
heritage.
Americans need 70 be grateful
from a purely secular standpoint,
though it may be. and no doubt are
10 the Most High as the author of
all good that these thanks must
ascend.
Three Falacies Revealed.
"A careful analysis OF this frank,
not 10 say, blunt declaration re-
veals three fallScies so common as
10 receive more than the notice that,
otherwise would be accorded the ut
terance OF a single man. The first
falIacy is the failure 10 distinguish
between the Fourth OF July and
Thanksgiving in the essential diff
ference of their significance. Our
national birthday is a most appro-
pirate time TO promote community
movements and 20 cement all class
es OF our citizenship is a closer re-
lation and in a rev understanding
of our national heritage. That day
is secular, even IL important, but the
case is vastly different when we con-
slider the festival OF THANKSGIVING.
Thus is suggested the second fallacy
of the editorial under discussion:
Namely. that thanks can be render
H.. Ir.rn
OF God. The editor admits that
Thanksgiving may be. and no doubt
is rendered the Almighty Himself.
Can you have Easter without an
open tomb and a resurrected Lord
When we think OF Easter eggs,
Easter millinery. etc. one might
easily think so. Can you have Christ
mas without a Star, a Holy Babe, an
anthem OF annunclation? With the
various features or the Christmas
time that are more pagan than
christian. with the apotheOsis of
Santa Claus, but without an eX-
PLANTATION OF the significance Of the
term, with the elimination of the
word Christ from so much of the
seasons's literature and announce
ments. so that nearly every card, or
greeting or banner substitutes
Xmas for Christmas. it would seem
that there were a rather earnest ef-
fort being put forth 10 have Christ
mas without Christ.
How far we have travelled in the
same direction as regards Thanks
giving may be gathered from
newspaper catalog OF Thanksgiving
games, dances, parties, hunts. etc.
and also from such utterances as
the editorial under present review.
This national festival was intended
10 be "A distinct recognition OF the
mercy and goodness OF God and the
nations gratitude was 70 be given
emphatic voice on that day.
Churches Forget Differences.
The third fallacy in the article
is the insinuation that sectarian dfr-
ferences defeat TO certain extent
day. Evidently the editor does not
read nor digest the Thanksgiving
notices which appear from time 20
time in his own paper. II he did. /
he would know that this is an oc-
casion on which the various
churches forget their denomination
al differences and with hymns OF
common praise. and mingled prayers
OF gratitude all come 10 the worship
OF a common Father for His bene-
fits during the year II any day Of
The calendar Is free from sectarian