1900
Thanksgiving day is unique in one respect at least in that it is our only National holiday to which a distinctly religious character is given by official utterance. Christmas day, because it recalls the birth of Christ might be supposed to be the more religious occasion of the two, but Christmas long since has lost much of its religious significance as also indeed has Thanksgiving, but it is still true of the later that its celebration is ordered by official proclamation.
This at first thought may not mean a great deal, for we know in what terms of stale conventionality these annual proclamations are issued and that they come sometimes from executives to whom the name of God has no sacred import. But it is very significant that there has never yet been a Governor or President, however much of an unbeliever he might be, who was willing to offend the religious sense of the nation by failing to appoint a day of prayer and Thanksgiving.
It has often been observed that the name of God does not appear in our federal Constitution, but what matters it so long as year by year our chief magistrate and the magistrates of our nearly half a hundred mighty commonwealths call upon the people to remember God on this day of prayer. It matters little and especially so if the people themselves will but preserve this day and observe it in a manner consistent with its traditions. It need not be altogether spent in prayer and fasting; praise and feasting are quite as much in place.
Above all it should be a day when family ties are strengthened, when family hearths are ablaze and when father and mother, son and daughter should bow together before our Father's God, acknowledging all his blessings, and seeking his forgiveness for our sins. They who dedicate Thanksgiving day to mere sport and dining betray a sacred institution, and dishonor a noble ancestry who held God in faithful remembrance.
—The Ram's Horn, Nov. 17, 1900, p. 6.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Monday, March 31, 2008
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Today is St. Patrick's Day
1910
Dedicated to Saint Who Instituted Christianity in Ireland
There are several different legends concerning St. Patrick, the most popular of which is the one that tells of his driving the vermin from Ireland. These are only legends, however, and a summary of the facts of the life and works of St. Patrick is as follows:
St. Patrick, the tutelary saint of Ireland, was born about the year 372 at Kirk Patrick, and came to be a distinguished missionary of the fifth century. When a boy he was taken by pirates and sold to an Irish chief. He escaped after six years and went to France, where he became a monk. In the year 432 he was sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine as a missionary. He sailed north with the hope of converting his old master, but the latter killed himself when he heard of St. Patrick's approach. Diehu, a chief converted by St. Patrick, gave him his first church, called Sabhall, and it is still a church bearing the same name. St. Patrick is said to have founded 365 churches, baptized 12,000 people, and consecrated 450 bishops. The date of his death is disputed, the latest date given being 490, which would make him about 120 years old.
Certainly the most marvelous of all the miracles ascribed to the saints is that recorded of St. Patrick: "He swam across the Shannon with his head in his mouth!"
There is one legend relating to the time when St. Patrick cleared Ireland of its vermin. It tells how one old serpent resisted, and how St. Patrick overcame him by cunning. He made a box and invited the serpent to enter. The serpent insisted that the box was too small, and so fierce did the contention grow that the serpent got into the box to prove that he was right, whereupon St. Patrick slammed down the lid and cast the box into the sea. This tale sounds suspiciously like that one entitled "The Fisherman" in the "Arabian Nights."
"St. Patrick's Breastplate," the earliest Christian ode of Ireland, is said to have been composed by St. Patrick. It is sometimes called the guardsman's cry, and is recited as a protection against evil. The assured chronology of Ireland dates from the institution of Christianity by St. Patrick.
Dedicated to Saint Who Instituted Christianity in Ireland
There are several different legends concerning St. Patrick, the most popular of which is the one that tells of his driving the vermin from Ireland. These are only legends, however, and a summary of the facts of the life and works of St. Patrick is as follows:
St. Patrick, the tutelary saint of Ireland, was born about the year 372 at Kirk Patrick, and came to be a distinguished missionary of the fifth century. When a boy he was taken by pirates and sold to an Irish chief. He escaped after six years and went to France, where he became a monk. In the year 432 he was sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine as a missionary. He sailed north with the hope of converting his old master, but the latter killed himself when he heard of St. Patrick's approach. Diehu, a chief converted by St. Patrick, gave him his first church, called Sabhall, and it is still a church bearing the same name. St. Patrick is said to have founded 365 churches, baptized 12,000 people, and consecrated 450 bishops. The date of his death is disputed, the latest date given being 490, which would make him about 120 years old.
Certainly the most marvelous of all the miracles ascribed to the saints is that recorded of St. Patrick: "He swam across the Shannon with his head in his mouth!"
There is one legend relating to the time when St. Patrick cleared Ireland of its vermin. It tells how one old serpent resisted, and how St. Patrick overcame him by cunning. He made a box and invited the serpent to enter. The serpent insisted that the box was too small, and so fierce did the contention grow that the serpent got into the box to prove that he was right, whereupon St. Patrick slammed down the lid and cast the box into the sea. This tale sounds suspiciously like that one entitled "The Fisherman" in the "Arabian Nights."
"St. Patrick's Breastplate," the earliest Christian ode of Ireland, is said to have been composed by St. Patrick. It is sometimes called the guardsman's cry, and is recited as a protection against evil. The assured chronology of Ireland dates from the institution of Christianity by St. Patrick.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Each Day A Thanksgiving
1912
Thanksgiving even for the supreme spiritual gift does not find its source in a sense of what we hold as our own, but far more in the knowledge that we who are so easily bewildered by empty and alluring aims are held, if we are willing, by the risen, living Lord, in balanced sanity and service through his indwelling. Not what we have in our keeping, or have not, but the blessed fact that Christ has us in full eternal keeping, quickens us to proclaim each new day a day of thanksgiving, in abiding confidence and joy. — The Sunday School Times.
It Is Easy To Be Thankful
For One Thing You Can Be Thankful You Are Not a Turkey
Thanksgiving Day is the day when every one says he is thankful, and wants to eat turkey to prove it. If you haven't anything else to be thankful for, you can be thankful you are not a turkey.
Thanksgiving Day was first observed by the Pilgrims, who were thankful that they had five grains of corn apiece. In these extravagant times a man wouldn't be thankful if he had ten grains of corn — which shows conclusively that we are too prosperous. The trusts are doing a noble work in remedying this evil condition.
People have various unreasonable reasons for being thankful on Thanksgiving Day. Some men are thankful they took a wife, and some are thankful they didn't take two. Bachelor maids are thankful they are not "horrid bachelors," and a married woman is always thankful that her husband has a good wife. It is easy to be thankful if you go about it right.
But the thing people are most thankful for is their money — even though they came by it honestly. The more a man has, the more thankful he is that it isn't less; and the less a man has, the less likely he is to be thankful because it isn't more. Be thankful, therefore, that you haven't too much to be thankful for. Turkey tastes all the better for coming but once a year. — Lippincott's.
Thanksgiving even for the supreme spiritual gift does not find its source in a sense of what we hold as our own, but far more in the knowledge that we who are so easily bewildered by empty and alluring aims are held, if we are willing, by the risen, living Lord, in balanced sanity and service through his indwelling. Not what we have in our keeping, or have not, but the blessed fact that Christ has us in full eternal keeping, quickens us to proclaim each new day a day of thanksgiving, in abiding confidence and joy. — The Sunday School Times.
It Is Easy To Be Thankful
For One Thing You Can Be Thankful You Are Not a Turkey
Thanksgiving Day is the day when every one says he is thankful, and wants to eat turkey to prove it. If you haven't anything else to be thankful for, you can be thankful you are not a turkey.
Thanksgiving Day was first observed by the Pilgrims, who were thankful that they had five grains of corn apiece. In these extravagant times a man wouldn't be thankful if he had ten grains of corn — which shows conclusively that we are too prosperous. The trusts are doing a noble work in remedying this evil condition.
People have various unreasonable reasons for being thankful on Thanksgiving Day. Some men are thankful they took a wife, and some are thankful they didn't take two. Bachelor maids are thankful they are not "horrid bachelors," and a married woman is always thankful that her husband has a good wife. It is easy to be thankful if you go about it right.
But the thing people are most thankful for is their money — even though they came by it honestly. The more a man has, the more thankful he is that it isn't less; and the less a man has, the less likely he is to be thankful because it isn't more. Be thankful, therefore, that you haven't too much to be thankful for. Turkey tastes all the better for coming but once a year. — Lippincott's.
All Should Give Thanks
Nov. 1912
Every Life and Every Heart in the Land Has Some Occasion for Gratitude
In their proclamations designating tomorrow as Thanksgiving day, the president and the governors of states have set forth in dignified and due order reasons why the people of this country should give thanks.
But every life and every heart in all the land has some occasion for special utterance of gratitude. Formal, official proclamations from the highest executive authorities may furnish suggestions for equally formal prayers in churches tomorrow, prayers in acknowledgment of divine favors received by us as a people and as individuals.
Cruden condenses the teachings of New Testament writers into his definition of thanksgiving: "An acknowledging and confessing, with gladness, the benefits and mercies which God bestows either upon ourselves or others."
As "every heart knoweth its own sorrow," so every life knows its own occasion for gratitude. And no heart has so great sorrow and no life so sad mourning but reason for thanksgiving is manifested in just those "benefits and mercies."
Every Life and Every Heart in the Land Has Some Occasion for Gratitude
In their proclamations designating tomorrow as Thanksgiving day, the president and the governors of states have set forth in dignified and due order reasons why the people of this country should give thanks.
But every life and every heart in all the land has some occasion for special utterance of gratitude. Formal, official proclamations from the highest executive authorities may furnish suggestions for equally formal prayers in churches tomorrow, prayers in acknowledgment of divine favors received by us as a people and as individuals.
Cruden condenses the teachings of New Testament writers into his definition of thanksgiving: "An acknowledging and confessing, with gladness, the benefits and mercies which God bestows either upon ourselves or others."
As "every heart knoweth its own sorrow," so every life knows its own occasion for gratitude. And no heart has so great sorrow and no life so sad mourning but reason for thanksgiving is manifested in just those "benefits and mercies."
Monday, May 28, 2007
No Funerals on Sunday
Indiana, 1906
Cemetery in Muncie, Ind., Will Bar Burials on Holy Days and Holidays
Muncie, Ind. — Heeding a popular cry against Sunday funerals, the trustees of Beach Grove cemetery, in Muncie, have issued an order forbidding any burial in that cemetery on any Sunday, on January 1, May 30 or December 25, of any year except in cases of great necessity or contagious diseases. This order is not to take effect, however, until the first day of next year. After that time, therefore, if there be Sunday funerals in Muncie, the burials must be made in some country cemetery or in some other town.
The cemetery trustees give the following as their reasons for this action: The Sunday funeral disturbs the quiet of the Lord's day, as it is frequently attended by bands of music and by hundreds of curiosity seekers, and is "often accompanied by an evident desire for display on the part of the supposed or real mourners;" if funeral services are held in a church, they frequently disturb the regular service of that church; cemeteries are most often visited on Sundays and a funeral serves to excite morbid curiosity and causes visitors in the burying ground to trample upon graves and to "disregard the decorum that should attend such occasions;" the Sunday funeral is in violation of the decalogue which says: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," because it necessitates work on the part of the cemetery employes.
Muncie ministers are heartily in favor of the plan and it is believed the public will be, also.
Cemetery in Muncie, Ind., Will Bar Burials on Holy Days and Holidays
Muncie, Ind. — Heeding a popular cry against Sunday funerals, the trustees of Beach Grove cemetery, in Muncie, have issued an order forbidding any burial in that cemetery on any Sunday, on January 1, May 30 or December 25, of any year except in cases of great necessity or contagious diseases. This order is not to take effect, however, until the first day of next year. After that time, therefore, if there be Sunday funerals in Muncie, the burials must be made in some country cemetery or in some other town.
The cemetery trustees give the following as their reasons for this action: The Sunday funeral disturbs the quiet of the Lord's day, as it is frequently attended by bands of music and by hundreds of curiosity seekers, and is "often accompanied by an evident desire for display on the part of the supposed or real mourners;" if funeral services are held in a church, they frequently disturb the regular service of that church; cemeteries are most often visited on Sundays and a funeral serves to excite morbid curiosity and causes visitors in the burying ground to trample upon graves and to "disregard the decorum that should attend such occasions;" the Sunday funeral is in violation of the decalogue which says: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," because it necessitates work on the part of the cemetery employes.
Muncie ministers are heartily in favor of the plan and it is believed the public will be, also.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Lammas Day in England
1914
Lammas, as August 1 is popularly called, was formerly our national festival. It remains an important date, not only in Scotland, where this is a quarter day, but in many parts of rural England, where the pasture of "Lammas lands" belongs after August 1 to all parishioners who draw smoke, not through pipes, but chimneys.
"The word "Lammas" is a corruption of Loaf Mass, so-called because on this day it was once customary to present at church a loaf made from the new corn. Perhaps some relic of this custom still lingers among Sussex farmers, who try to get a loaf baked from the new wheat before the end of Goodwood week.
During the eighteenth century the Dissenters of London kept high festival on Lammas day to commemorate the death of Queen Anne. If she had lived they would have been deprived by the "Schism Bill" of the liberty of educating their own children. — London Chronicle.
Lammas, as August 1 is popularly called, was formerly our national festival. It remains an important date, not only in Scotland, where this is a quarter day, but in many parts of rural England, where the pasture of "Lammas lands" belongs after August 1 to all parishioners who draw smoke, not through pipes, but chimneys.
"The word "Lammas" is a corruption of Loaf Mass, so-called because on this day it was once customary to present at church a loaf made from the new corn. Perhaps some relic of this custom still lingers among Sussex farmers, who try to get a loaf baked from the new wheat before the end of Goodwood week.
During the eighteenth century the Dissenters of London kept high festival on Lammas day to commemorate the death of Queen Anne. If she had lived they would have been deprived by the "Schism Bill" of the liberty of educating their own children. — London Chronicle.
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