The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24

AMERICA TRIUMPHANT UNDER GOD
AND HIS CHRIST. BIZ Kitty Cheatham
@. p Putnonls Sons: Neso York.
THE PILGRIM AND THE BOOK BIZ Percy
MacKaye. American Bible Society:
Ne1o York.
TIME celebration of the three hundredth
anniversary of the landing of the
Pilgrims is a complex affair extend
ing over good deal of time and space. The
literature relating to it is already consider
able. Much of it deals with external fact
The two most recent publications that may
be classified under this head grew out of
the desire to reveal the spiritual meaning
of the occasion. Mr. MacKaye's book is in
tended for direct use in the services to be
held in commemoration of the historic event
Miss Cheatham's little volume is wholly adj
dressed to the reader. Like the other, it is
in part a compilation. She quotes largely
from the historic papers of Revolutionary
days and also from the writings of Mrs.
Eddy the founder of Christian Science. I'm
doubtedly many who do not share Miss Cheat
hams specific beliefs will approve her gen.
eral thesis-the primacy of spiritual values
in the life Of nation
America Triumphant begins with refer
ence to editorial printed in THE SUN AND
New YORK HERALD of July A. 1920, on the
meaning of the American flag Recalling
the circumstances of the nations birth, Miss
Cheatham points to the emphasis laid upon
the faith of the founders Curiously enough
it Benjamin Franklin, the practical adj
vocate of prudence. Poor Richard" the au-
thor of maxims about saving money. who
urged his associates to Invoke the divine
guidance of the. Father of Light upon our
proceedings" Franklin went on to quote
the Bible verse Except the Lord build the
house. they labor in vain that build it,"
This constructive view OF the nation as a
house" held by Lincoln and expressed
again i'm his use of Scripture to define the
condition which resulted in the civil war-"a
house divided against itself cannot stand"
An interesting study of successive historic
periods might be made by comparing that
view with the figure current in a later day
"the melting pot"
ION April Q, 1865" continues Miss Cheat
ham. Abraham Lincoln called his Cabinet
together to announce the end of strife at
that hour. and the safety of the Union.
Those assembled knelt humbly and gave
thanks to God Lincoln hailed as a
liberator From his great heart welled the
Christly qualities of tenderness, compassion
malice toward none. with charity for ALL"
Miss Cheatham claims for Mrs. Eddy a
place i'm the line Of interpreters OF the spirit
ual life at the heart of American history.
she quotes a number OF passages to prove
the claim. This Is from Science and
Health:
THE history Of our country, like all his
tory. illustrates the might of mind. and
shows human power to be proportionate to
its embodiment Of right thinking. few
immortal sentences, breathing the omnipC-
tence of divine Justice have been potent to
break despotic letters and abolish the whip
ping post and slave market; but oppression
neither went down in blood. nor did the
breath of freedom come from the lannon's
mouth. Love is the liberator"
Going back to the Pilgrims, Miss Cheat
ham writes:
THE Mayflower Covenant was formulated
by the second little flock of fighters for life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness on dis.
turbed waters, which reflected the conflict
abroad. The record states that the day
before came to harbor, observing some
not well affected to unite and concord but
gave some appearance of faction, Il was
thought good that there should be an asso-
citation and agreement that should COM