The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-11-22
THANK HIM FOR THIS GREAT
PRIVILEGE.


The season is again with us
when, from custom and from the
inner promptingS of the spirit, we
are wont to lift grateful hearts
to merciful and bOuntiful Gre
ator IN thanks and gratitude for
His dealing with us during the
year that is past.
And shall we yet thank Him
Let US see.
At this same season one short
year ago We thanked Him from
full hearts that He had kept US
from the madness that was devas-
tating our kinsmen across the wa
ters- But today we have beaten
the pruning hook into a sword,
and from ocean to ocean the tramp
of armed forces resOunds.
In view of the staggering issues
with which our people are face to
face, are we to content ourselves
with thanking an all-pOwerful
God for life and health and plen-
ty-material plenty? Are we to
look no further than the mere
creature comforts with which He
has so beautifully showered us9
Some may answer, "for what
else should we thank HINT Has
not the madness fallen upon us.
toO9 Are not our young men
thronging t., the sacrifice, and are
not our wives and mothers and sis
tiers and brothers and fathers.
with bleeding hearts, helping them |
on their way9"
Again, let us see.
A century and half has
flown since a band of consecrated
ed men, with vision that reached
out far into the future, determine
ed that on this our loved soil 1
should be reared an edifiee such II
as the world had never before wit
nessed-a nation wherein should
reign that immortal trinity of hu-
man beatitudes, freedom, equality.
justice To this they dedicated /
unselfsh lives, for this they
fought, and for this they died. L
But their lives and their deaths
and their unselfish sacrifices pre-
vailed, and today that edffce
stands the wonder of earth-a
land grounded and built on the
eternal principles that guarantee i
to one and all the right to "life,
liberty and the pursuit of hap j
piness. II
But these benefcent principles $
are not all-prevailing. In other
lands are forces that would set {
hem at naught and make of their d
advocates serfs and vassals. It is v
With these forces that we are now
It variance, as were our fathers il
'efore us. In
Can we, then, thank an An ii
'ather that our fathers left us an
Inheritance of freedom that we fl
must now defend with our lives II
nd our allf 81
Let us suppose that our hearts sc
ould not feel this gratitude
hat then9 Suppose us a people. b
from heroes with whom er
he vision of a free earth far out co
reighed any thought of self pl
e. the children Of those heroes.
filing, like Esau of old, to bar 81,
r our glorious heritage for a III
less Of pottage of ease; willing an
submit to degradation. so our be
'lfish enjoyment Of the creature
'mfOrts be not interfered with. -,
But what red-blooded Ameri- -
m could entertain the thought ~
People Of America, let us raise "a =,
re mighty shout Of gratitude TO :"
Bmighty God that when the
,ur of our testing came, it found "a
US hearts that pulsated with SCI
at same rich red blood that IN 90
Iys agone fortified and made an
cred the soil that has nurtured arr
Let us give thanks that the
irit of rs is still the mighty ele
rec in American life. LET as twi
fe thanks that our hearts can ing
bose rightly between present w
le and future glory. Let us STIR
e thanks that when the hour 7
our trial came, it found us wor hat
TO call ourselves sons Of our had
hers. Let us pour out our hay