The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-24
ORIGIN OF rHE OBsERvANCE.

ORIGIN OF THE OBSERVANCE.
The origin Of appointing day Of thanksgiving thus
given-when New England drst planted ths settlers
met with many difficulties and hardships, necessarily
the when q civilized people attempt 70 esiabnsh
themselves in wilderness country Being piously dis
posed they sought relief from Heaven by laying their
and dsesses before the Lord frequens ses days
Of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation and Discourse
the subject Of their dcuy keps their minds gloomy
and disconented and, like the Children Of Israel, here
many disposed the land which psrsecu-
ton had determined them TO abandon At length when
proposed in the Assembly TO proclaim another fast,
farmer Of plain and remarked that the in
convenenccs they suffered and concerning which they
had often wearied Heaven with their complaints were
not great might have been expected, and d.
minshing every y the colony strengthened that the
earth began reward their labors and TO furnah hbe
rally for their sustenance that the and rivers
full Of fish, the air sweet the climate whoesome above
all, they in the full enjoyment Of liberty, civil and
religious He therefore thought that rejecting and
versing these subjects would be comfortable,
tending TO make them contened with their sitaton;
and that IL would be more becoming the gratitude they
owed TO the Divine Being, IT, instead Of fast they would
proclaim thanksgiving. His advice TAKEN and from
that day this they have every year observed srcu
of public happiness sufficient furnish employ
ment for a thanksgiving day.
Thanksgiving Day the counterpart of the ancient Sun
day, md Of Sunday as it is kept by the whole Chris
tan world except the Pui.ans and those who have f,l
lowed their example, is curious fact that the
which originated gloomy and sad Observance Of Sunday,
making it hke the old Jewish Sabbath, and more
like fast than feast, should have been tho
fret Christians in this country to celebrate Thanks
giving Day. But, Ike their Sabbath, this holiday
is borrowed by the Puritans from the Jews, DR..
Cheever substantially admits this. In his Journal Of
the Pilgrims At Plymouth" he says-' The fettivl Of
annual Thanksgiving original among the Jews, and Of
| Gods appointment, in like manner oo-
served among any Gentle nation, that Of,
| till our Pilgrim Fathers renewed ii in New England
The third Of the great festivals Of The Jews was
Feast Of TAbernaces the other being the Feast
Passover and the Feast Of Psnecost corresponding
Christian Easter and Whsunde. At the Feast TAber-
pacles tens every Jewish male obliged appear
before the Lord jerusalem called the feas. of
tents because kept under green arbors in
memory Of the dwelling in tents by the sraetes during
their passage through the wilderness was celebrated
after harvest and ts design thanks 10 God
for the fruits Of the earth then gathered h II continued
for eight days. during which labor permitted and
sacrifices offered The people marched in process
sion, with branches in their hands, crying Hosana Is
they did at Chrsts entry into Jerusalem With this feast
corresponded the saturnana Of the ancient Romano.
Thanksgiving was observed by the Pilgrim Fathers
the first year after their arrival Il is referred 10 by
Mr. Winsow. It was after the gathering in Of harvest
and towing expedition for the occasion by
the Governor that for their Thanksgiving dinners and for
the festivities Of the week they might have more abun-
dant and dainty materials than ordAary That week
they exercised in and Hospitality eased the Indian
king, Aassasot, and ninety The Governor is re-
lated to have appointed the game hunt after harvest that
SO the Pilgrims "might after q special manner re-
oice together after they had gathered the fruit OF their
labor" The custom has since extended from New Eng
land the whole United Sates and a special occa-
sion for the reunion Of relatives around the family hearth
1t s after ALL but the "Harvest Home of Great Britain
and Ireland with the religious observances Of the Pur
tans added Thanksgiving, with the Indispensable turkey
means now for the most part, day for good eating
and drinking and plenty Of fun 1t regulated by the
proclamatons Of Governors, and observed on difs-
rent days in different States Nowhere enjoyed with
more gusto and hiarty than in New England. is day
consecraed against the eathered tribes Types OF
the American Thanksgiving be found the English
Hallow Eve, and in the customs of all nations Pagan
Jewish and Christian
The first Thanksgiving proclamation which we can find
printed is that Of his Excellency Francis Bernard ap-
tain General and Governor Chief in over his Ma
jesys province Of the Massachusetts, Bay in New England
and vice Admiral Of the same in the year 1857 is in
the following words
A PROCLAMATION FOR PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
AS the Business Of the Year drawing Con-
cluson we reminded according the audable Usage
edgement Of the manifold Merces Of the Divine Provi-
dence conferred upon De In the passing Year. Wherefore
have IL . and % with n ,vcs y Of Of
December next, to be day Of public Thanksgiving, that
We may hereupon with Heart and Voice return our
Dnpensaous Of His Providence the last religious
Anniversary Of this kind and especially fonas he nan