Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-28
HOLIDAY MESSAGE
IS GIVEN BY BISHOP
PreIate Discusses Two Texts
at Special Services at
Cathedral Here.

Only when the Nation is affected by
an extensive misfortune or calamity do
we realize how intimately and vitality
our lives are bound together" Bishop
James E. Freeman declared today in
Thanksgiving day message at the Wash
ington Cathedral. Bishop Freeman spoke
at services at IL o'clock in Bethlehem
Chapel, and his message was broadcast
program also was rendered.
Speaking from the texts whence
shall We buy bread that these may eat?"
and Man shall not live by bread alone"
the speaker declared that "ThankSgiv-
ing day is designed to turn our thoughts
away from our common everyday pur-
suits, our personal concerns and inter-
est, and to afford us fresh opportunity
for considering the extent of Gods gifts
to US, individually and as q people. It
is the Nations family day. More than
any other day in the calendar it en-
phaSizeS not only our common depend
ence upon God, but our interdependence
one upon another"
Purpose Of Holiday.
ITO be selfishly intent upon our own
place of advantage" warned Bishop
Freeman, "or to think only in terms of
our individual prosperity is to misin-
terpret the real meaning and purpose
of this day. It is unfortunate that
there are so few days in the calendar
that emphasize our oneness and soli-
darity If Thanksgiving day did nothing
more than remind us Of the dangers Of
cleavages and provincial ways Of think
ing and living it would have q distinct
and sufficient value"
The bishop asserted the bread prob
lem is the basic task Of life. LET any,
thing affect our source of supply, let
crops be impaired or the farmers Of the
Nation fail in their duty" he added,
land we are confronted with q stu
alton that Is grave and perilous, indeed,
We can survive the depression of stock
values or the suspension of those things
that we call our luxuries; we cannot
survive the curtailment of our food
supplies.
IA situation arose in the ministry
OF Christ where great multitude had
come to Him in q remote plate 10
d near sTr His i,r. message They had been
wholly unmindful Of their physical
needs. In this situation His disciples
came to Him, reminding Him of the
urgency of the situation, the poverty
Of their supplies, declaring that they
had but a few loaves of bread and but
a few small fishes.
Conscious or Needs.
THE problem presented was SEEM
ingly an insuperable one, but, undis-
couraged and unembarraSSed, the Mas
ter readily met it. He took the loaves
and, when He had given thanks, He
distributed to the people, He was ever
conscious Of mans physical needs. His
ministry to men was full and COM
prehenSive one. It took cognizance Of
bodies as well as souls"
Rewriting to the financial situation,
Bishop Freeman asserted "a whole ma
ton loses its poise because q period
Of unrest, uncertainty and panic seizes
the stock market, and irrespective Of
recognized values and q stable indus
trial situation, condition is precipi-
tated bordering on hysteria. Tracing
all these to their legitimate sources, we
discover the same old anxiety as ex-
pressed in the query of a confused
disciple, Whence. shall be buy bread
that these may eat? The form of ex-
preston changes, the motive largely
remains the same
Thanksgiving day affords us an
opportunity for appraising' the worth
OF our own Individual assets and for
a fresh examination of those things,
the value Of which bears witness to our
stability as nation. While we meas
ure our estate in terms Of resources,
productivity and bank balances, we are
stngularly given to sudden changes in
our method of reckoning and without
rhyme or reason experience periods Of
eXaltation and depression.
Days OF continuing prosperity we