The Ordway new era., 1918-11-29
THANKSGIVING
BY Rev. f. w. Pimlott, Pastor of the
First Methodist Church.

Psalm 1913 1-"Bless the Lord,
o My Soul. and All That Is With
in Me. Bless His Holy Name"
Tke armies of liberty were unable
to advance; millions of people caught
in a vice-like grip were starving and
freezing; the whole world was grasp
inging for bit Of untainted air; au-
tocracy seemed to defy democracy
in the air. on the waters, and on land.
This was the situation after more than
four yeGrs' of batting, until Septem-
Dor and October. of this year. Then
perfectly bewildcring series of
evcntJ began to develop on the west
front. on the south front and on the
horizon. Blow after blow fell with
timely and deadly precision until the
Hun machine began to waver and
then to crack. Ever since tho COM
nand OF all armies was placed in the
| hands of one man things began to
develop and plans maturcd. 1t was
not one man VINO won the victory
but some millions of men coordfnat-
ing their movements with the mind
of a military genius.
Commands of generals mingled
with the noise Of battle. The voice
of craftsmanship lifted out of the
chaos. The heart yearning of mil
liens of people in many lands, at
times broke into audible cries. But
the silent suffering of women and
children deprived of homes, beaten
end abused, starved and mutilated.
went up to the doors of heaven and
made their terrible appeal for de-
livery from another winter of such
suffering. God heard the cries of his
children and answered their appeal!
Thanksgiving day. 1918, will find
the world in possession of a new joy.
This joy was purchased at a terrible
price, for the common joys of victory
seem to be lost in tho BADNESS of the
mult.1udes. This new world Joy was
born in the hour of victory when the
military establishments of more than
half the world set themselves to the
task of winning the war under one
commander whose word was supreme.
This rev world joy will not only be-
come reality ard a treasure, gained
by humanity when the same principle
of world direction is recognized and
TIE supreme leadership of Jesus
Christ is established. Just as this
nation could not exist half slave and
half free; just as the world could not
abide half autocracy and half democ-
ri-Cy, 50 inc DTOtFeTHOOu Cl man cdH-
not some as long as millions of people
live in heather darkness. Every knee
must bow to the Lord and Master
Jesus Christ!
Centralized command won this
war! Only centre lized spiritual COM
mand can win the war which must
he won after this war. We are told
by all world thinkers that our prob
lens of reconstruction are more vast
and complex than those of the fight
ing program. Shall selfishness rise
up at the peace table and insure an
other conflict by its dictates? Shall
we hear the claims OF dozen peo-
pies conflicting ard casting out peace
from the councils? This would be
dark hour for our world II we did
not know that a Supreme Command
er sits in His world and dictates GER
tain orders. That new world Joy
had its birth at world Calvary and
the price is paid in human blood and
suffering as II was paid once on the
Hill of a Skull, outside Jerusalem.
Shall all this world sorrow and suf-
fering be for nothing? God will see
to it that not one drop of blood has
been spilled In vain. The one thing
full is the presence OF God in our
worldl Our fears last March and
June were turned away by the con-
fidcnce which we reposed in Marshal
Foch Our fears for the days of re-
construction are turned to that new
joy by the confidence which we have
in God. our Father. who is in su-
preme command. Then let all men
everywhere give thanks unto God.
"Bless the Lord. oh my soul; and all
that 10 within me, blesD his holy
name"
"BIess the Lord. o my soul, and for
get not all His benefits;
Who forgiveth all thinc iniquities;