The Mena weekly star., 1918-01-03
AND SHALL WE YET THANK HIM9
 By r. w. Barber.

itf IT. W AhARtts
 The season is again with us when, from custom and from the inner promptings of the spirit, we are won't to lift grateful hearts to q mercifuI and bountiful Creator in thanks and gratitude for His deal- ing 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 devastating our kinsmen across the waters. But to- day we have beaten the pruning hook into a sword, and from ocean Co ocean the tramp of armed forces resounds.
 In view of the staggering issues with which our people are face to face. are we Co content ourselves with thanking an all-powerful God for fife and health and plenty-ma- terial plenty2 Are we to look no further than the mere creature comforts with which He has so bountifully showered us2
 Some may answer For what else should we thank Him2 Has not the madness fallen upon us, too? Are not our young men thronging to the sacrifice, and are not our wives and mothers and sisters and brothers and fathers, with bleeding hearts. helping them on their way?'
 Again, let us see.
 4 century and a half has flown since a band of consecrated men, with vision that reached out far into the future, determined that on this, our loved soil, should be reared an editlce such as the world had never befere witnessed--a nation wherein should reign that immortal trinity of human beatitudes, Free dom, Equality, Justice. To this they dedicated unselflsh lives, for this they fought, and for this they died. But their lives and their deaths and their unselfish sacrifices prevailed, and today that ediflce stands the wonder of earth--a land grounded and built on the eternal principles that guarantee to one and all the right to life. liberty and the pur- suit of happiness"
 But these beneflcent principles are not all-preyailing. In other lands are forces that would set them at naught and make of their advocates. serfs and vassals. It is with these forces that we are now al variance, as were our fathers be- fore us.
 Can we, then, thank an All-Father that our fathers left to us an in heritance of Freedom that we must now defend with our lives and our all?
 Let us suppose that our hearts could not feel this gratitude-what then? Suppose us a people, de- scended from heroes with whom the glorious vision of free earth far outweighed any thought of self we the children of those heroes. willing, like Esau of old. to barter our glorious heritage for a mess of pottage of ease; willing to submit to. degradation, so our selfish enjoy ment of the creature comforts be not interfered with.
 But what red-blooded American could entertain the thought?
 People of America, let Us raise one mighty shout of gratitude to Almighty God that when the hour of OUR testing came. it found in us hearts that pulsated with that same rich red blood that in days agone fertilized and made sacred the soil that has nutured us.
 Let us give thanks that the spirit of '76 is still the mighty force in life.
 Let us give thanks that our hearts can choose rightly between present ease and future glory. Let us give thanks that when the lour of our trial came, it found is worthy to call ourselves sons of our athers. Let us pour out our hearts in gratitude that upon these hearts las been indelibly engraved the decrees of an All-Wise iod, decrees that would make of his, His glorious world, haven of afety for every immortal soul.
 And as willingness without oppor- unity is but a negative virtue, let Is give thanks that, when His plans or the great uplift of mankind leeded champions, He found us worthy instruments upon which to ay His hand
 For this thy greatest of all mer- 'ies--that thou hast found us yorthy-Father above, we would most humbly thank thee.
 THE ENEMY WITHIN.