South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-24
Psalm 1913: l, 2; 100: 4, 5.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?


Does this day bring to you any sense Of graft
tude for blessings or is your heart filled with the
cynical thought that you have nothing for which
you should give thanks the Ruler of the Uni
verse;
Is there lurking in your heart the merest suspi-
cion that this day nothing at all to you?
II there is turn back the pages OF history to
the first Thanksgiving Day just three hundred years
ago to the little gathering Of Pilgrim Fathers who
bowed their heads in grateful prayer that they
were saved from famine from starvation and that
they had found a refuge where they might live as
free men free 20 think for themselves. free TO
worship they wished.
Compare your lot with theirs They had braved
what was then a very dangerous journey. sailing
across the Atlantic in a ship which today would
scarcely venture on Of the smaller lakes; had
been tossed by storms and driven by the winds;
had landed on a coast that stern and forbid
ding and hack of which the unbrOken forest.
The crors they planted had produced harvest.
There would be not plenty. but sufficient. until
another spring should furnish a chance for more
fUod.
They gave their thanks t. the divine guidance
which had brought them TO this land and estab-
lished what is now a national holiday.
While the proclamation of GOV Bradford Of
Massachusetts, in 1921 was the first, there were
others during the troublous days which Civ
ing you the chance to live your life with freedom
and liberty
Congress. during the days Of the Revolution, rec
commended it as a national holiday and each year
brave men and courageous women gave thanks that
they were not crushed by the kingIy power against
whose tyrannies they fought and that they had
maintained their protest for one more year.
Washington in 1879. set aside this day
joice in the drafting and adoption of the Constitu-
tion which should shelter all time the liberties
and rights Of
Again in 1895 ne proclaimed such a holiday be-
cause under liberty the nation had prOspered and
had passed through The early days of stress and
doubt by which It was assailed-for be it remem-
bered that there were sceptics who did not think
that a republic could endure
It was not until 1863 that Thanksgiving became
by custom a national holiday. set aside each year
as a day Of gratitude for national blessings.
this been a 'Foor year" with you? Think OF
the Pilgrim Fathers whose hearts were grateful for
the fact that they had enough to last through
a winter.
Does the burden OF taxes. the sacrifices they en-
tail. bear down upon you?
. Recall those early Thanksgiving days called by
the Continental Congress TO give thanks that they
had been beaten in their efforts to throw aside
the shackles of tyrannical power.
Men were glad. less than $50 years ago that the
right OF self government was theirs and that they
had established the power OF man 10 work out his
own destiny
Today civilization has reached a pinnacle higher
than before.
Be grateful that there IS a demand. worldwide.
that wars end and that the crudities and barbara
ties that have been handed out of the centuries
are fading before the light of reason and OF gem
eraI understanding
BE glad that the world tomorrow Will be better
than it is today and that your childrens children
will live under conditions splendor beside which
the conditions Of today will seem as inhospitable
as the rrivatons OF the early Pilgrims seem to
those who live IN homes lighted by electricity.
warmed 10y furnaces and furnished with foods in
generous bounty.
Be glad that you have the chance 10 bring about
this change and TO make the world better.
BE glad that the Constitution for which thanks
were given In 1889 stiu endures
BE glad thar the liberty OF which the soldiers Of
The Revolution dreamed in their chill camps is a
reality
BE glad above all that YOU have the power to be
THAT YOU wish 90 be-