The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-29
Not a Mere Holiday

Not Mere Holiday
For those who do not have it in their hearts, this
day of Thanksgiving will mean little.
To some, perhaps it will be the opportunity to
visit the theater athletic fields, more sumptuous
meal, the shadow of indigestion and yawn
To others it will be red date in the calendar,
day upon which work is demanded.
It is probable that no amount of exhortation, no
editorial or pulpit appeal would change the attitude
of those who have this view of today and its meaning
But even they will be interested in the origin of
the day, and if thoughtful, they may be led into
greater understanding of the real meaning OF this
nation and appreciation of the fact that it owes
its greatness of it's power to sacrifice and struggle.
little band of pilgrims had faced the perils OF
the sea and travelled across an ocean to find land
where they might worship as they pleased to live
their lives free from the official shopping by powers
that were quite intent upon searching out heresies
of thought and belief.
Only the ocean is the today as it was
when they sailed in their small vessel through the
storms and waves.
1t was not a trip of two days in Zeppelin, nor
a week in the luxurious rooms of ocean liners with
broad decks and food glass sun parlors protection
from the gusts and spray.
They sailed for months before they found the
rocks of New England and steered their ship into
friendly river haven.
Indians not customs officers, stood guard on their
arrival.
Forests, not skysc aper hotels, met their eyes and
from those forests they set about the stern task of
building their log cabins protection against ele-
ments and unknown dangers.
At the end of the first summer, during which
every member of the family had labored eacn and
every day. the little community, in taking stock, dis
covered that it had raised enough corn to last until
friendly spring should again make earth productive
Because the menace of hunger had been lifted,
they met their simple meeting place to give thanks
to the God they had come to worship in a new land
for their deliverance from death by starvation.
To the sacrifices of these men and women the
world owes much of its debt for liberty. For from
these men and women were born the ideals and the
purposes which finally found their way into the writ
ten laws that guarantee to the people of this country
those rights which are now so calmly accepted as
commonplace but which really represent the struggle
of the centuries
The comforts of today, the many convenienees,
the uxries of fe the culture and the colleges are
the inhertances Of the generations which have con-
trbuted to progress because thought and conscience
were freed and man had brushed from his shoulder
the stern hand of an authority which insisted upon
carving life to single image and thought to a
particular groove.
To those who, In spirit OF cynclSr say TO Chenl-
selves that today means nothing and that they have
nothing for which be thankful that they have not
won by their efforts, it nigh the said that there
should be thankfulness that there is freedom to
think, freedom to worship not to worship, free
dom to direct the individual life to any path of either
fame or infamy and that it comes as heritage from
brave men who found reverence well as gratitude
in their souls.
Those who have inherited the spirit as well as
the benefactions of those early pioneers will give 10
all of greater growth in
spiritual and material things.
Just as the most primitive Of necessities today
would have appeared as miraculous luxuries to the
Pilgrims the uxuries Of today will appear sordid and
inconceivaby squalid to the comfort which will be
enjoyed in very few brief years
But all luxury all comfort all progress is mean
ingess there be lost in any degree the light which
guided the founders OF this nation in their quest
for liberty and freedom from shackles of the soul
This is not mere holiday not merely a playtime,
not just another day of ease from labor.
1t is day, when those who have searched
themselves in vain for of gratitude may finally
turn to the outstanding fact that they are heirs
to sturdy souls who had visions and dreams and who
were willing to sacrifice to bring them to reality.