Evening journal., 1921-11-21
TELLS origin OF
THANKSGIVING
Pastor Earle Sees Church
Indirectly Responsible
for McKinley's Death
INDIVIDUAL MUST
NOT LOSE INTEREST


a Thanksgiving sermon last even
ing to a large congregation. He
said
THE first recorded Thanksgiving
was the Hebrew feast OF the taber-
nacles when the children OF Israel
gathered in the autumn after the
harvests we're garnered. and built
leafy tabernacles Of olive. pine. myr-
tie and palm branches. and in the
open air rendered Thanksgiving to
God
''rhe first national English Thanks
giving was on September 8, 1888. for
the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
There were but two English Thanks
giving in the last century. The New
England Thanksgiving dates from
1922. when the Massachusetts, Col
ony set apart a day for thanksgiving.
/ It is from our Puritan forefathers
that we inherit this American fes-
tival In the times before Christmas
became common. Thanksgiving was
the Red Letter Day OF the year. in
Guiding both gratitude for temporal
blessings, and also the spiritual sig
nihcance Of Christmas. The first
national Thanksgiving proclama-
tions we're issued during the Revo-
lutionary war. The first grea. Amer
lean Thanksgiving Day was in 1884
for the declaration OF peace. There
was one more national Thanksgiv-
ing in 1889. and no other tin 1868
when President Lincoln issued a ma
tional Thanksgiving proclamation
setting forth "A special day for that
purpose. Since that time tho Presi-
dent his issued an annual proclama-
nation.
Thanksgiving is a spiritual fes-
tival and is needed for rest and medi-
tation. We give too little time to the
spirit. the soul the inner life of de-
votion. More than any OF us realize
do we need the days which COM
memorate great wants in our ma
tional history. in our religious life,
days and events which represent
great principles and essential Gle
ments in human character and des-
tiny that we may think on these
days OF those ideals and liberties
which are our salvation today as a
nation and as a church. and as indi-
viduais. and which alone can secure
the future for our children. There
is almost unparalleled cause for graf
itude. this season, because OF the
complete reversal Of tho attitude of
nations toward war. II seems but
Yesterday a person favoring military
curtailment was frowned upon. We
we're proud OF our naval strength
Now nations vie with each other II
the reduction OF armament The al
IS vocal with resolutions 10 scrap bat
tleships. and sink submarines for
ever. At last the method OF Chris
is beginning to operate. Miraculous
changes within short months We
are far from the Utopian condition
we long 10 see, but Christ looked
upon a horrible civilization compar-
ed TO ours. Then one-half or three
fourths OF the world was in bondage
to the remaining rich and powerful
ones.
Little provision was made for the
unfortunate. Now eleemosynary IN
stitutions abound. Hospitals, or
phanges. asylums for every afflicted
class. Then a conqueror could mutt
late, lash, burn. destroy a thousand
captives with impunity. There we're
no protests from other nations, no
aroused public sentiment to prevent
/ il. Today public opinion is supreme.
q IL n
enough, but history shows great
progress in this field since Roman
times, and since the days OF Eliza
beth Philip IL and Henry ~, wher
darkest crimes were perpetrated C
secure political ends Today not onll
in the Republics OF the world, bu
/ under other forms OF government
s public sentiment the ubiquitou
E press, the intelligent humane will O
{ the people have a deciding inhuene
- in the affairs OF the nations.
, ''The Christian religion and 1t
81 enterprises are far in advance o
J former periods. Fifty years ago tn
a keen skeptic!sm OF Germany cut int
% the Bible. This provoked critica
% study OF the book which revealed IN
e strength and glory of the bool
% There was no missionary spirit In tn
church 100 years ago. Today thou
sands OF missionaries in foreig
. fields. millions OF converted heath
, ems. and millions OF dollars cor
tributed annually. There are, {
course. some dangers which must b
needed. There is prosperity itse
, which may menace man. famil
or a nation. Adversely makes me
. stronger. Prosperity can insidiousl
destroy them. SPANS wealth and 81
premacy years ago. led to luxury an
dissipation and final ruin.
EVERY individual and nation mus
guard the parity between the mate
rial the intellectual and the mora
progress made. II is only as we ar
rich in physical and material re
sources. and commensurateiy as we
off in mental and moral power tina
we are safe Then our prcrogative
NAV also prove baneful unless rigid
Guarded. rake freedom OF speecl
which is the right OF every mar
It must and will prevail, notwlth
standing its abuse may lead to tn
spread OF various forms OF evils
The same evils would be intensifie'
by its suppression. Oftimes the law
abiding citizen misuses this boor
Take for example the perniciou
/. habit Of many people speaking dis
respectfully OF government official
duly elected, especially the Presiden
OF the United States. Have we eve
Z had a Chief Executive who has no