The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1918-11-29
THANKSGIVING, 1918
By Rev. James G. Brown

Let the people praise the Lord!
Let all the people praise the Lord for
His wonderful goodness to the child
rem of men!
Not every one of course has the
same reason for gratitude. One has
enjoyed perfect health, while another
has had to struggle with infrmities
of the flesh. Some persons have been
engaged with activities that yielded
"a full measure of increase, while
others labored with a like zeal only
to see their toll go unrequitted by
reason of conditions over which they
have no control Certain family cir
cles have been allowed to remain in
tact despite the demands of war,
while others have been broken,-many
of which will never be reunited in
this life. Although different stu
atoms awaken different emotions and
evoke different reactions, there is no
one, however severe his trial, keen
his disappointment, great Ais loss,
but who can find some ground for
sincere gratitude at this wonderful
thanksgiving Of 1918.
Viewed from a material standpoint
this year of grace has been one of
bounteous gifts. Remembering the
exacting demands Of last year and
knowing that they would be thrust
upon us in multiplied force, not a few
persons approached the recurring
seasons with evident fear. They ask
ed how can we produce enough food
stuffs for ourselves and allies? If
our crops fail through the presence
and ravages of numerous thoughts,
destructive storms, invading insects,
what benefcent hand will supply our
needs? These and kindred questions
perturbed the spirits of the calmest
men. To avert, at least in part, the
disastrous circumstances which such
conditions would entail, all were
brought to economic and to produce.
Many persons responded, prepared the
soil, planted the seed, and cultivated
the growing crops. Today most of
them rejoice with the fruitage of
their labor. And the Giver of all
good is not to be forgotten
"Our heartful thanks we offer Thee,
Our Father God.
For all the blessings full and free,
By Thee bestowed.
For the years great prosperity,
Our praise ascends,
And sweeter comforts lent by Thee,
A home and friends.
The full and plenteous harvest store,
And fruitage fair;
All with unnumbered tokens more,
Thy love declare"
But the greater reasons for thanks
giving are to be found in the realms
of the ideal. The origin and history
of thanksgiving in America testify
to the dominance of a fine idealism
among our forefathers. Threatened
with starvation from which they were
spared through the goodness Of God,
and menanced by the marauder from
whom they had to protect themselves
with firearms, they were not deferred
in voicing their thanks to the unseen
Presence that had led them across a
perilous sea to a promised land where
they might worship Him according to
the dictates of conscience.
intoxicated with the pleasurable de-
lights Of an unprecedented, prosperous
development, the latter generations
seemed to be a nation of pleasure
mongers and money grabbers. We
were said to be- possessed with a
materialistic and mercenary spirit.
This conviction was strengthened
with the outbreak and progress Of the
late world-war. Little approaching
our apparently obscure ideals, those
responsible for the terrible holocaust
consoled (rather deceived) themselves
with the thought that America was
too busy making money to concern
herself with a piece of disinterested