Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-11-29
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!. THE COUNTRY CHURCH j.
\. AND SUNDAY SCHOOL. y.
j. \ Thanksgiving Thought.
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progressive Farmer.)


Progressive Farmer.)
This issue of The Progressive Far
mer appears on the eve Of the annual
Thanksgiving season, a Thanksgiving
that comes at a time when the South
crn farmer IS enjoying the greatest
prosperity known in this generation.
1t is a fitting time therefore to recall
the Lords own parable of "The
Prosperous Farmer"-the parable Of
tn" man who rejoiced over his fruit
full fields and bursting barns. but
forgot the higher things Of existence.
We hope we may be pardoned,
therefore, for urging upon our read
crs very sincere observance Of the
Thanksgiving Day proclaimed by
authorities Of State and Nation for
next Thursday. 1t will be good
thing if throughout the rural South
our farmers and their families come
together in church and school house,
and make acknowledg cement in
prayer and song to the Giver of All
Good Gifts
1t Is also a good time to inquire
whether the daily life, the common
round Of the family is shot through
with this gleam OF diviner things.
Does each family observe the old
Fashioned habit Of "retulning
thanks" not only one day in the year.
but at each meal where the susten-
ancc for the body reminds us OF Him
whose sunshine and showers have
made such Sustenancc possible? and
thHt other ancient custom which the
poet Burns portrayS SO beautifully in
"Thc Cotter's Saturday Night:
'Thc Cheerful supper done, wi scri.
Gus face,
They. round the inglc, form cir
Gle wide:
The sire turns DER. wi patriarchal
grace,
The big ha' Bible, ance his fa-
theirs pride
The prlcst-like father reads tho sa-
cred page"
The growth OF absentee landlord
ism. which has laid its blightinc
hand on so many 4 noble influence ir
rural life. has weakened the religious
life OF the country, too; and wc be-
lieve, therefore, that there is more
than usual need for turning our
thoughts at this Thanksgiving sea-
son to those influences and practices
which may strengthen the spiritual
forces Of our section. The old-fash-
Toned customs Of grace at dinner"
and chapter-reading at night in
each family should be supplemented
by efforts to build up church and
Sunday school. In many. Il neighbor-
hood in wEich there are not enough
people OF any one denomination to
support strong Sunday school, the
people might yet gather at the school
house in union Sunday school that
would be the pride Of the commu-
nifty ard tower Of strength to all
high purposes. The country church
should also be strengthened by adj
rancing the PASTORS salary in accord
with the advance in the cost Of living
and by painting or enlarg!ng the
church building now while times are
good
AS for the injurious effect Of alb
sentee landlordism on the religious
life Of the South. this fact does in
deed deserve increased attention.
The tenant neglects the church and
the church neglccts the tenant. Nov
ing from place to place, the landlcss
man forms no strong attachment to
any one religious group, and too Of
ten the local church organization and
its Sunday school make no effort
whatever to secure the attendance OF
the newcomer tenant and his family.
These things ought not so to be. and
to every Progressive Farmer reader
who is active in church or Sunday
school work. we would make this as
our final and most important appeal:
Don't forget to secure the attend
ancc of every tenant in your neigh
h"rhood, and where you cannot inter-
est tn" man or his wife, get the chill
drcn to attend.
go "a <rnc> s,uuu, <sza vzau> u