The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1918-11-29
Reasons for Thanksgiving

time, until we find ourselves at the
eve of Thanksgiving which brings
to the American people the greatest
occasion for gratitude they have
ever known. The crushing of the
brutal force, which only a few
months ago, was menacing the lib
critics of the world, will call forth
from the deepest recesses of the
heart feelings of gratitude and
praise from unnumbered millions
of honest souls. The coming of
peace, and the ending of the blood
stained period which has rent hu-
manity upon both land ard sea,
bring a wave Of joy that permeates
the souls of our people as unit.
This is season of deliverance for
myriads of fathers, mothers, sisters
and wives, from the ever present
fear that tomorrow might bring to
them word that dear one had CIV
en- life for the cause of freedom.
THE heavy clouds have lifted.
The people that sat in darkness have
seen a great light" 1t is season
of joy and gladness, but it will be
more than that. The spirit of hero
ism and patriotism which the nation
has displayed during the time when
victory seemed far away and the
spirit of earnest thankfulness and
sacrifice already shown, gives prom
ise of Thanksgiving of this year,
of all years in the radius of our
memory as being day beyond that
of other years, a day of humble
gratitude to Almighty God for his
ever guiding power. If it is not so,
we have missed the larger meaning
of these momentous days. Under
meath the spontaneous outbursts of
joy. there should be deep under
current of thanksgiving: it is no
time for boasting nor jeering,
'Not unto US o Lord, not unto US,
but unto thy name be the praise" is
the word which comes from the
Book with supreme fitness for the
hour.
The highest cause for gratitude
by which man can be stirred is
service: it was so with Christ. In
the supreme hour of sacrifice we
read he took the cup and gave
thanks" He was glad for the su-
preme opportunity of service to
men through sacrifice. That same
high cause Of gratitude is ours to-
day and must give new character
to our thanksgiving and praise. Our
opportunity of service has come,
and the nation has given of its
might in unmeasured offering. Not
for what we have done our gladdest
praises go up to God, but for the op-
portunity of spending it for the
worlds freedom, safety and peace.
The spirit of America which is now
being recognized by so many tokens
in these days a spirit of unity, of
unselfishness and moral idealism is
striking evidence of the truth
that, "He that loseth his life shall
find it," As the nation has girded
its might for the great struggle in
the cause of Righteousness and free
dom resources in the spirit of the
people have been developed and dis
covered beyond the reckoning of
even the most optimistic in those
days of the far-off ages before the
war. For these new gains. to the
spirit of the nation we offer our
thanksgiving and praise, For to-
morrows tasks, also for the new day
of world service which the much
esteemed peace will bring for the
5 opportunity to turn our struggle to
/ the work of building again a better
and more just and democratic order
, of life, both in our own land and in
( all lands, our hearts are stirred.
No nation, no people, no contin-
ent can rejoice in this victory alone.
1t has been purchased by men OF
, every race, and color, and all the
world will share IN this fruit. Per-
haps the largest fruit Of the victory
will lie in the new sense of world
. brotherhood. In the present adjust
ments we can see fulfilling of his
word: 81 will overturn and over
throw until he comes whose right 1t
j is to rule" God is overturning,
His is the victory. Rev. Gregory.