Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1920 — WHY GIVE THANKS [ARTICLE]

WHY GIVE THANKS

Manifold Blessings Accorded to This Nation. Surely One Needs Only a Few Moments' Reflection to Realize the Causes for Gladness. It is written of J|lato that, “looking through the dim spectacles of nature, he gave thanks to God for three, things: First, that he was created a man and not a beast Second, that he was born a Grecian and not a barbarian. Third, that he was born a possible philosopher.” If this represents the pagan Ideal of gratitude, It is in marked /contrast to the Christian ideal. A boastful spirit has no place in true thanksgiving to God. The Pharisee who went up to the temple to pray and thanked God that he was not as other men, was roundly rebuked by Christ for his presumption. The last place for one to display his egotism should be before the throne of God. “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister,” said Christ. It is a time for true humility of spirit Now that this nation has grown rich beyond the dreams of the austere pioneers, do Americans of today recognize the source of their manifold blessings, and will they with true humility acknowledge their gratitude to the giver of all good gifts, “forgetting not all his benefits?" America is today the richest and most powerful nation of the earth, and it is this very opulence that leads the people, most liberally blessed of all, to neglect to remember the source of good. In days of opulence and power men are prone to put their trust in themselves and to underestimate those Influences that have made them great. Ingratitude has been called the most popular sin In the world, because it Is the result of selfishness, Or egotism or ambition or whatever the case may be. Nations, being an aggregation of Individuals, in their days of power have a tendency to trust id themselves and to disregard the laws of God. — Pittsburgh Dispatch.