The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-12-01

Died. said his first answer to the gen
tleman's suggestion reminded him or
an incident that occurred in New
York City few years ago on Thanks
giving Day. A young girl went. as
she had been accustomed, to call on
an old lady nearly blint and hope
lessly confined to her bed in a dreary
attic, with her lower limbs paralyzed.
with no relatives, and subsisting upon
charity. Thanksgiving Day was men
TONED, and to the surprise of the
Young girl. the old lady expressed
herself as very thankful. To the ques-
ton. well, Auntie. what have you to
be thankful for?" came the NC >.
Why, child, | am so glad - no.
dead yet So the chu.ches .
their first reason of t.ankfdl..e the
fact that they Are not dead yet" He
remarked, in passing, that a dead
church was very unpleasant object
for it could not, like some other
things. be buried out of sight. He re-
minded his hearers that in reading the
Independent Reporter they could not
but observe that the churches OF
/ Skowhegan were very much alive.
For his second reason for thanks
giving on their part, he diverged to
say that he frequently had the desire
to look some people in the face and
tell them just exactly what he thought
/ of them. The audience inferred from
i his manner that this might mean
something not so pleasant as what fol-
lowed. But he said in this instance he
did not have the time to say all he
would like to mention as to the Pas
tors of the three churches and would
! only give as this great cause of thank
/ fulness the fact that all the churches
/ of Skowhegand had faithful. devoted
and efficient pastors. He would in
/ clude in this statement the Catholic
! Church, whose gentlemanly and kind
! ~ Pastor he had also learned to ad-
mre and love.
He gave as his third reason for
thahkfulness the restoration to health
Of the Pastor Of the Methodist Church,
saying it was not alone his own peo-
Pile who reioiced when he. was able
to leave the hospital, but also the
membership of the. other churches
and the entire community.
Then, in an impressive manner, he
called attention to the fact that the
three churches had one cause Of graf
itude not shared by the Catholic
Church, in that they were not only
served most fortunately and accept
ably by their devoted ministers, but
that all the wives of the three were
so admired, appreciated and loved
that. with their husbands, they form
ed combination not to be exceled.
if indeed equaled anywhere. This
statement was roundly applauded.
Mr.. Walton said, the time allowed
him would not permit of extended
statements as to the many other
causes of thankfulness. but he could
not but mention the large number OF
dear children in the different sabbath
schools and the faithful and loyal
teachers who were doing the work
that. in too many homes was neglect
ed striving TO develop them into no
BILE men and women, 8. He added that
if these attractive children could be
seen and observed, another cause for
| thankfulness would be admitted. II
CAUSES FOR THANKSGIVING IN
" THE TOWN 81
tlf (Clyde II. SMITH
Founded and builded ON the wind
ing banks of the old Kennebec in this
beautiful valley enriched by the gior-
les Of its glorious traditions, famed by
its God fearing, law respecting men
and women, we behold one spot near
err and dearer than all the rest for
which we can ittingly offer on this
great New England day our thanks to
/ Him without whose aid we live in
vain.
We can properly perpetuate the in
spirations, making possible this event
by expressing. at this time, our graft
tude for the many blessings bestowed
on our town and its citizens during
the past year; the coming together Of
these churches on this and other &C.
casions, signifying that all are work
! ing on the same foundation. seeking
| from the same fountain, bespeaks in
and of itself the message of Thanks
giving.
| How thankful we should be, wheth-
at the head Of our churches, these
corner stones of civilization, men OF,
character, strength and respect. How
thankful for this very church that q
young man has come to our midst
whose broad Vision. ana untiring 5efr
forts needs no ehlogy. :
We cannot be unmindful of our OBJ
legation to our excellent schools, the
teachers, and officers. Who otals' cam
recall seeing our boys an girls doing
their bit. on Armistice Day without
being proud of our institutions OF
learning, our houses OF worship? In
the words of our State Superintend-
ent, "Skowheean no longer follows,
but leads in education"
Well may we rejoice for our towns
splendid and Incompatible highways,
so recently constructed for the devel-
opment and completion of the best
hydro-e electric water power in the
state, opening the way to larger, bet
ter and buster Skowhegan, thankful
for our prosperity. While other mu-
inequalities have been struggling to
give work to those unemployed our
industrial and agricultural enter