The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-28
GREATEST REASONS
FOR THANKSGIVING
IN ALL HISTORY
REV. o. r. r. TRESSEl
Trinity Lutheran Church.

Few have been the times in the his.
tory OF our nation when there has
been such reason for rejoicing and
true Thanksgiving as at present. We
of this generation, who only a few
years ago thought that we would per-
haps live through no more stirring
times than those of the Spanish-Ameri
can war, have been privileged to see
day that will mean as much In our
national history as 1776-1S12-1S65.
For what we did for ourselves In those
glorious times of the past. we have
now helped to do for others In self
sacrificing fight for an ideal fondly
cherished by our hearts that has been
the marvel and inspiration OF the
world.
True thanksgiving must have as its
basis deep sense of sin and unworth-
mess. Never before has God shown
so forcibly to all nations and peoples
their transgressions as during the past
four years. Our own beloved nation
Is guilty of many sins and transgres-
sions that are fostering as a canker
on the body polite. What better time
is there for national repentance from
center to circumference than when God
has shown us such mercy and loving
kindness? With Jacob Of old we
ought all to be able to pray, Il am
not worthy Of the least Of all mercies.
and of all the truth which thou has
shown unto thy servant. Gen. 1910.
But true thanksgiving must go far
ther than sincere repentance. our
whole heart must be on fire with graf
itude to God who has done such mar
velous things in our midst. With the
-{v
give thanks unto the Lord: for He is
good for his Mercy endureth forever
Ps. 11S: /. He has blessed our fields
and orchards once more with an album
dant harvest He has brought to an
end the world war. He has crowned
our arms with victory. He has
crowned the supreme sacrifice our
BOYS have made with the dawn OF a
new day for all nations Of the earth.
Why should we not be thankful? And
Why should not our hearts break forth !
In expressions OF true, heartfelt graft !
tude to Him?
But Thanksgiving that Is worthy |
" the name must issue in lives and
leeds Of thankfulness. We must in |
carnate the thanks that we feel and |
express In deeds of lovingkindness. !
And what a glorious call and opportu-
ity awaits just this. Just as God |
used our arms and our food supplies |
It the critical time to cause right to
riumph. so, now that peace has come,
lie would use our surplus food sup |
,lies to save the starving nations OF
Europe and Asia. Millions Of hands |
tretch out across the sea to us and !
ay, GIVE us bread or we die!" With /.
he glamour Of war ever before one,
nd the martial spirit in our blood. we
rose as one man to win the night.
With these things lacking, shall we
20 down In defeat when the call to
ght with hunger and disease, where
here will be no booming of cannon or
,creech Of SHE'LL but where the muni-
ions Of war will be provided by the
.loble and generous self-sacrflce OF a
ruly thankful people? II we go on in
emperate eating our sacrifice Will
nean the saving of many useful lives.
md such sacrifice will not only help
build our moral fibre, but will also
,e acceptable as thank-offering and
, sweet-smelling SAVIOR by the Lord
lur God.
For was an hungered, and We gave
ne meat: ! was thirsty, and We gave
he drink: l was a stranger, and We
ook me in: naked. and We clothed
Ae: I was sick, and ye visited me:
was in prison, and ye came unto me. 4
Inasmuch as ye have have done it
INTO one OF the least of these my l
rethren, We have done it unto me-
aith Christ Matt 25. 30, &c. 40.