Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-25
TIME FOR THANk s.

more than eating turkey ana pumpkin
pie. something more than family re-
unions. something more than merely
Joining in the customary festivities
OF the season. All these things are
good and proper. They help 10 fasten
to the people the habit Of remember
ing that Thanksgiving IL proper
thing and duty, as well as priyi-
lege that should not be neglected.
It is not necessarily out OF place.
even. that the day should be so gen
orally given up to athletic contests
and games OF various sorts. There Is
no harm in any OF these things; in
fact. there may be much goOd-but
the danger is that we become so
habituated to prevalent methods or
manifesting thanksgiving that we for
get really what the day stands for.
why 1t was first instituted and why its
observance Is continued from year to
year by presidential proclamation, IL
becomes n day OF feastlng and OF
recreation, which IL not to be con
demned. but In most cases we doubt
IL the feasters and the sport fans stop
TO realize that 1t is the main object
OF the day to cultivate "A feeling Of
gratitude and recount the many bless
ngs which they have enjoyed during
the twelve months just closed.
Far bo II from us to grumble at the
natural attitude OF the people There
IL nothing prcmeditatedly ungrateful
about their Indifference If you ask
them about IL they will aver that they
IRE thankful all right, but that is
about ~ far AS 1t goes. They mean
to be truly thankful. but the senti-
ment OF gratitude is too far back In
their consciousness to find any
such vigorous demonstration as their
love OF good things to eat or their en-
thusiasm for the prowess OF their fa-
vorite football team. If people were
as enthusiastic about giving thanks as
they are over the merits of their
special team OF athletes, or II they
were as conscientious about their
gratitude as they are appreciative OF
turkey and pie, there would be no
room to criticize. An Overwhelming
hymn of praise would ascend from
every part OF the country and the
name OF the giver OF all good Things
would be glorified in the highest.
Let us enjoy ourselves on Thanks
giving day. That Is well. But le;
US retain consciousness remem-
brance of what the day stands for
and keen appreciation OF our debt
to II benefcent Providence. Right
now, when large part OF the world
IL struggling in darkness of human
making, IL Is the more important that
we should search our soulP and see
II we are sincerely grateful and still
have living sense of the power anu
goodness of that divine guidance OF
human affairs. A light gives forth
a certain candle-power at all times
whether II be In dark place or out
In the sunlight but when 1t shines
against stronger light we do not
notice IL. and II is only when dark
ness closes down that we appreciate
Its usefulness. So with our conscious
ness OF gratitude to tho God above
When everything Is happy and pros
porous we are apt to forget that we
owe debt OF gratitude. We do not
stop to count our many blessings
one by one" But when the clouds OF
trouble come and shut out peace and
pleasure then we begin to study about
how good God Is to us.
Now is the time when thankfulness
amounts to something. Sorrow and
disaster are near enough to us that
our confidence In a higher than hu-
man power. We have always claimed
| to believe that our God was able to
overrule the designs OF the wicked.
and that every design of the evil one
would be not only frustrated. but his
efforts contribute to the ultimate tri-
umph of right. We have boasted that
the Almighty had specially favored
this nation. We think 1t has been
destined to play great and good part
in world history, as the leavening
power that should influence all ma
tions and contribute nightly to the
Improvement Of the world and the
human race. our time has come to
follow belief with action. II we be-
lleve I'm God and In the destiny OF the
American nation. we cannot now fail
to be sincerely thankful that he has
opened the way for this great nation
OF free people to carry the light OF
a better day to the utmost corners of
the earth. And while we are giving
thanks for this great honor let us not
fail to remember that actions speak