The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-28

B now regularly opened for special rell-
gous services, which always have particular
reference to the day and its grand objects. And !
teng one of the great events of the year, the |
ministers Of all denominations have been ac-
customed to deliver iof their Thanksgiving SER
mons the ablest productions Of their thought
and study.
This universal prevalence of its observance |
however has only been gained at the EXPENSE
of compromise on the part OF its orishai
founders. Christmas, the very INSTITUTION 10
supplant which it was established, mas hKeW'se
come into good repute with the descendants OF
the Puri,ane. and is now almost as generally
observed throughout New England as 1t Is In
Old ENGLAND. and in the other sections OF the
Union.
The Anomalies of Thanksgiving-Day.
The festival as originally established, was
almost distinctively of religious character.
pnt this was soon changed, The occasion, even
in early times, was considered an appropriate
one for family reunions-a custom which has
long prevailed in New England and in other
portions of the country, The children of the
household, who have been scattered here and
there by that emineRtly American spirit of
family disintegration by the prevalence of which
alone has the vast extent of our territory been
80 thoroughly settled in so short a space of
time, embrace this occasion, in preference to
all others of the year, to gather around the
parental table, and there recall in social con-
verse the Joys and sorrows of bygone days.. From
this custom, more than from any other, per-
haps the modern Thanksgiving has derived the
some what irreligious character which now dis
tinctly marks it. Fun and frivolity, instead of
devotion and sobriety, are the only aspects
which it assumes to many minds. To enable
such to celebrate the event in a manner in
accordance with their tastes, places of amuse-
ment Of all kinds and characters greet the.
| denizens of the city with open doors. Double,
| and even triple bills, are favorite schemes, by
| resorting to which theatrical managers AMI
| showmen in general have found it easy to re-
| plenish their purses. Hence we have the For
sahen Hen1iette, the Little Barefoot, the Pro.
| team Paul Family, the Black Crook, His Last
| Legs, and a host of other oddities served up az
matinees and repeated in the evening; while
| wizards, acrobats, and magiclaltern showmen
perform for the benefit of the public and them
selves, in the morning, In the afternoon, and
| at night.
| We have thus far considered THANKSGIVING
| Day as an institution of the different States in
their individual capacity. OF late years, how
| ever, the occasion has received. and in all pro-
liability it will fol- many years retain, national
| character.
The First National Thanksgiving, De-
| cember rs, 1777.
The first national Thanksgiving dates back to
the third year of our Revolutionary War. On
Friday, October 81, 1777, Congress adopted the
| following resolution
| " ResOtred That a onnnnnaitnn Of three he
| appointed to prepare recommendation to the
several States TO set apart day for thanksgiv
| ing for the signal success lately obtained over
| the enemies OF these United States"
As Washing ton was then on his dreary march
tovaley Forge, it might have been thought that
the Iebellious Coonists had bat little in the way
| of success for which thoy conld reasonably be
expected to give thanks. Yet Trenton and
Princeton had been fought and the enemy held
at bay, if nothing more; while at Saratoga, the
! army of Burgoyne had surrendered to man.
| And such was the faith of those heroic men in
the righteous cause which they upheld, that
even such faint glimmers of light were viewed
as heralding the coming dawn. So Samuel
Adams r. H. Lee, and Mr.. Roberdean were
| duly appointed on the committee for drafting
| the document, and by them Thursday, the 18th
day of December following, was recommended
to bel set apart "for solemn thanksgiving and
| praise.n
By further order of Congress, duplicates of
this recommendation, signed by their Presi-
| dent, were forwarded to the several States, and
| to Generals Washington and Gates, the latter Of
| whom at that time held the chief command in
| the Southern army. Henry Laurens, then Pre-
| sident of Congress, in transmitting this recon
| mendation to the Governors, officially requested
| them to secure the adoption of such measures as
| would cause each State to Join heartily in the
| celebration. ~
The observance OF the day in the main army
under Washington was particularly impressive.
The Commander-in.Chief halted his Who'll
column, and requested every officer and soldier
'to attend with reverence the solemnities
OF the day." Thechaplain of each brigade con-
| ducted religious services which were fully
attended; and thus The world was presented
with a scene which, for moral grandeur, has but
| few counterparts in history.
| The Second National Thanksgiving.
| December 80, l77s.
About year subsequent to this event, Con-
| gress adopted similar measure, recommending
that Wednesday, December 80, I77s, be set apart
ito be observed as a day Of public thanksgiving
and praise, that all the people may, with united
hearts, on that day express a lust sense of
GODS unmerited fsvors, particularly that it has
pleased Him, in His overruliug Providence to
support us in just and necessary war Tor the
defense OF our rights and liberties, by affording
us seasonable supplies for our armies, by dis
posing the heart of powerful monarch to enter
into an alliance with us and our cause, by de
feating the counsels and evil designs of our