The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-28
OUR SONGOF
THANKSGIVING
by Rev. elmer W. Harner.

Music Is language, and frequently
tho only language that can give ex-
preston to the highest thoughts of the
mind. or the deepest feelings of the
heart. 1t has been said that words
cannot utter what is greatest in u.s."
1t is only when the gifted sons and
daughters of music come to our aid
that we can adequately express our
feelings and hopes. There has never
been an age of great action which has
not been accompanied by music and
song. Indeed. music is gift of God
and Is capable of a wonderful express
sion and appeal.
There is no music, however. like
the music of triumph, and no songs
like those which celebrate deliverance.
The conquerors of all ages have thus
given expression to their joy and graf
itude; and these songs are among the
gems of literature. Some of these
songs which were written to celebrate
deliverance will live as long as time
lasts.
What has been characterized by DR..
Parker as 1.-The first song of the Bible
is the song, recorded in the 18th Chap.
of Exodus, which was sung by Moses
and his people in praise and gratitude
to God for their miraculous passage
over the Red Sea. They had just been
confronted by mighty problem The
odds were Overwhelmingly against
them. Before them was the sea which
they could not cross, beside them a
mountain which they could not scale.
and behind them the Egyptians whom
they could not conquer. Now God
grants unto them a signal deliverance.
The sea is opened and they pass over;
but their enemies perish in the sea-
What a glorious deliverance. Their
hearts are filled with appreciation and
thanksgiving to God and the best way
to express that appreciation is by
means of a song. To that end Moses
gives them this joyful and inspiring
song: "The Lord Is my strength and
song, and He is become my salvation;
he is my God, and will prepare him
an habitation; my fathers God and
will exalt him. The Lord Is man OF
war; the Lord is his name" Omit
ting a few verses it continues, Thy
right hand. o Lord, is become glorious
in power; Thy right hand Lord. hath
dashed in pieces the enemy The
enemy said I will pursue. will over
take, / will divide the spoil; my lust
shall be satisfied upon them; viii
draw my sword, my hand shall destroy
them. Thou didst blow with Thy wind
the sea covered them; they sank as
lead in the mighty waters" And the
song concludes thus. '"The Lord shall
reign for ever and ever. For the Horse
of Pharaoh went in with his chariots
and with his horsemen into the sea;
the Lord brought again the waters oi
the sea upon them; but the children o.
Israel went on dry land in the mids'
of the sea-"
Our hearts; were thrilled with 10,
when the news reached US on Monda,
that an armistice had been signed ant
that an early peace was to be. more
than dream. Our country and tht
allies have Just achieved notable vic
tory The forces OF evil and Oppression
which have been making mischief fol
armies OF democracy have triumphed
over the armies of autocracy. The
world is safer and better place II
which to live because the great enemy
of freedom and Justice has beer
crushed It will be the good fortune
: we believe, OF all peoples to live hence
forth in peace and to follow theil
chosen pursuits without fear. Surely
we can say with Moses, "The Lord
hath triumphed gloriously."
Have we no song OF thanksgiving
Tor the victory which has been wor
and the peace which is assured? Sure
Iy our hearts swell with Joy unspeak
able as we contemplate the glorious
deiiverance; of all mankind. But 1t Is
well for us to recognize Gods hand
In the victfry and to direct our song
of praise and gratitude to Him. Nc
great victory has ever been achieved
by sheer force. Ultimate triumph has
always been youchsafed to the nation
which has been on, the side of God
The great and good men of all times
have recognized this. Lincoln said
during the dark days of the Rebellion
81 am not 80 much concerned whether
God is on our side but I am deeply
concerned whether we are on Gods
side" AS we think of the great strug
gle which has just ceased, in which
millions OF men participated, we car
say, ut is not by might nor by power
but by my Spirit saith the Lord oi
Hosts"
Let us raise our voice of song tc
God who gives victory where victory
belongs. And let us do more than sing
Let us present our bodies and spirits
unto Him which is our reasonable ser
vice. Let us give unto Him the best
possible return for His goodness and
mercy unto US.
STILL A GOOD MANY