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THANKSGIVING NUMBER f - NOV The Presbyterk^ -?f the South Vol. 97. No. 47. RICHMOND, VA. NOVEMBER 22, 1922 Thanksgiving should be a part of the very nature of every Christian. When we once realize that we are continually the objects of God's love and mercy and providen tial care, our spirits should be in a perpetual attitude of thanksgiving. All that we have comes from God, the life that sends the heart blood coursing through our veins, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food that sus tains our bodies, the clothing that makes us comfortable, the homes that furnish us a haven of quiet rest and peace, and of love, the loved ones ami friends who brighten the jour ney of life and inspire us to press on to better things. These are some of the temporal bless ings we are constantly receiving, but the spir itual blessings which God bestows on us far outweigh all others. He has given us His measureless love, He has given us His own Son to be our Saviour, through His death an infi nite salvation has been provided for us, His Holy Spirit has been given to comfort, sanc tify and guide us as we go along the way that God intends us to go. And then we are as sured that the blessings of God's love shall not be limited to this life, but that they are to con tinue into the unlimited future. The new life given us through Christ Jesus begins here, but it will run on through eternity. We have the promise of our Saviour that we shall dwell for ever in the Father's home, and be continually in His presence, and that we shall have the joy of being with our loved ones, where there shall be neither sin nor separation nor sickness nor death. We should indeed render continual thanks to God for all His benefits toward us. But it is well to have a special time set apart, when we should take an inventory of God's blessings and render to Him special thanks. This is the reason why a special day has been set apart as Thanksgiving Day. The promi nent feature of this day should be thanksgiv ing to God for His goodness to us and to oth ers. JAPANESE women have recently gained a victory that will mean a great deal, no doubt, in coming years. In that country girls of from six to twelve years of age are often sold by their p^ents to men who train them to become what is known as Geisha girls. They are held in absolute slavery and can only secure their release by paying back to their masters all that they claim that the education of the girls has cost them. This money, in most cases, must be saved out of the very limited wages paid them by their masters. This means that practically very few are ever able to secure their freedom. Recently a girl of twenty years of ago wanted to leave her slavery in order to be married. Her master refused to release her. The ease was taken to the courts where it was decided that the bondage in which this girl was held was real slavery and that it was contrary to the law of the land, and she was set free. It will mean a great deal to the wom anhood and to the morality of Japan. It is sincerely to be hoped that steps will be taken at once to release the thousands of these Geisha girls and that provision will be made for tak ing care of them and training them for useful lives. With sufficient means supplied no doubt our missionaries could do a good work in this connection. STEWARDSHIP is not a new idea nor is it a new term, but in recent years it has taken on an enlarged meaning in the minds of many of God's people. We are beginning to realize that all that we have belongs to God, and is to be used as He wants us to use it. This applies to our material wealth, of course. It means that we are to use as much of it for our selves and those immediately dependent upon us as is necessary to fit us best for God's ser vice, and the remainder is to be used for the benefit of others as God shows us how He wants it to be used. But stewardship has a far wider meaning. God has given us many things that LET US QIVE THANKS Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: For His mercy endureth forever. Oh, give thanks unto the God of gods: Por His mercy endureth forever. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord of lords: For His mercy endureth forever. To Him who alone doeth great wonders: For His mercy endureth forever. To Him that by wisdom made the heavens: For His mercy endureth forever. To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters: For His mercy endureth forever. To Him that made great lights: For His mercy endureth forever. The sun to rule by day: For His mercy endureth forever. The moon and stars to rule by night: For His mercy endureth forever. "Who remembered our low estate: For His mercy endureth forever. And hath redeemed us from our enemies: For His mercy endureth forever. Who giveth food to all flesh: For His mercy endureth forever. Oh, give thanks unto the God of heaven: For His mercy endureth forever. What shall I reader unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. are of more value than our material wealth. He has given us bodies, minds and souls, but He has only intrusted these to us in order that they may be used for His glory. Every talent that we possess, no matter how little it may seem to be, can be and should be used for the advancement of the kingdom and glory of God. What better time can we have for re newing our consecration to God of ourselves and all that we have than at this thanksgiving season? WHY do young people neglect religion, is a question that is often asked. We be lieve the answer is very simple. Of course there is the natural tendency of a sinful na ttire to make evjry one neglect religion, but this is no greater in the young than in others. The special cause which affects the young is the neglect of older people. When a boy finds that very few men go to Sunday School or church, he naturally feels that there is no rea son for his going. If his father does not show his religion in his life, if he does not hold fam ily worship, if he does not attend upon the ser . vices of God's house, he need not expect hi? boy to do so, nor to take religion as a matter of serious importance. A Christian man, who had been the superintendent of a Sunday School, and whose children had always attended very regularly, on one occasion said, "I do not be lieve in sending children to Sunday School." When surprise was expressed that he should make such a statement, he added, "I believe the parents ought to take their children with them to Sunday School." Young people are very apt to be interested in what older people are interested in, though the interest may be shown in a different way. When older people cease to neglect religion, the younger people will not neglect it either. ORPHANS' HOMES have been established in many parts of our Church to take care of the fatherless little ones, who have none to look to for help and protection save the Church. Every one of these institutions is overcrowded and yet each one is constantly obliged to de cline to receive little ones that need its care, because there is not room to receive them. For their care and support the orphans are depend ent upon the liberality of God's people. Some times those in charge are hard pressed to find the means to provide food and clothiagr This is not due to any inability on the part of God 's people to supply the needs, nor is it due to a lack of sympathy with these helpless ones, but usually it is due to a lack of information on the part of those who ought to be well in formed, and because so many do not realize a personal responsibility in the matter. At this time of the year, when we have our attention specially directed to the many blessings that God has given us, we cannot do better than to think of the wants of these fatherless ones, and divide with them some of the blessings we have received. UNTON of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches of Canada, which has been under consideration for a long time, is still verv vigorously opposed. Recently a meeting of 700 Presbyterians gathered from all over the Dominion was held in Toronto in opposition to the union. It seems that the union cannot become effective until it has been acted on by the Canadian Parliament. A strong ef fort is to be made to prevent such action. The "fruit of the Spirit" means another honest man in the market place, another long filled life in the workshop, another man with the sin of the city under his feet, another breath of prayer and reverence and godliness going forth to sweeten the life of the factory, the school, the homee, the study, and the street.