The Portland daily press., 1874-11-26
The Family Festival.

The good thing about Thanksgiving is that
it has more Give wood" about it than any
other holiday observed in America. The
keeping of Fast Day accords so poorly with
its design and ostensible meaning that it has
become rather a matter Of jest to the world
at large, and, being so, it is dead ceremon-
ial, however much it may mean to the few
who still observe it in its original spirit The
early glories ofthe Fourth of July have faded
Since our second war of independence it
seems invidious to celebrate the events OF the
first with quite the wealth of ceremony and
enthusiasm recommended by the elder
Adams. Christmas is observed chiefly in
cities and large towns, where the Church of
England or of Rome has many representa-
tives. But the Thanksgiving holiday is cele-
brated in every hamlet and household of New
England, and very largely in all parts of the
nation. 1t is American in its origin and
spirit, and has not only been kept alive but
has grown rapidly without the persistent eff
fort and continual cultivation which are nee
essary for prolonging the existence of so many
institutions that have lost their hold on the
popular heart Thanksgiving sheds its good
cheer everywhere and upon everybody. Even
''cvzed heathen'' may say with Swim
burne, .-l I..........-.t IL. ..ta
We thank with brief thanksgiving
Whatever gods may be- ,-f-- ..t -1...-..
Originally provincial festival Of a strictly
religious character, it has now become ma
tional, aud in fact worldly, non-religious
holiday. Is it not well to recognize its secu-
larization, instead of adhering to the old ver-
bal forms in use among our Puritan ancestors
who ate good dinner with shuttle and ut
tered pious CALCULATIONS between the mouth
fuls OF turkey and plum pudding? Their
Thanksgiving was genuine expression OF
their feelings and entirely in harmony with
their principles, vital traditions and the cir
cumstances of their lives. But with us, not
withstandirg the stale religious formulas still
incorporated, in conformity to usage, by pro-
fame magistrates into their proclamations Of
the feast, the day is not, as matter Of fact
observed as a religious festival. 1t
OF family -rerasting and good companionship,
modern devotional spirit 1ssx-making. The
kinds OF Journalism. Feasting and fasrrnsall
The glory of God are no more in accord with
the spirit of the times, than tithing mint
anlse and cummin, or offering sacrifice on
the altar II will have mercy and not sacri-
hce," is maxim that men have learned very
thoroughly, and, in general, if people have a
deliberate purpose to be good, they take the
gospel method and do good, INSTEAD of sitting
down in their houses either to feast or to fast.
The consequence is that the religious element
in an American holiday is either speedily out
grown or else it destroys the holiday.
The clashing of the religious and worldly
in the Thanksgiving festival leads to curiou:
embarrassment in regard to the proclama-
lions of the state and national authorities
A Western Governor probably. did the best
thing possible to an irreligious magistrate.
He merely said, SIN compliance with custom
Isuggest Thursday, Nov. 20, as q day of,
Thanksgiving" He left no chance for the
critics toset at naught his attempts at fine
writing. No one could find anything like
plagiarism in this bald statement. An elo-
quent proclamation from an illiterate Gov
ernor always brings him into dsrepute,
Somebody always discovers that he stole it
from volume of old sermons. This West.
ern formula has also the advantage of avoid
ing curious absurdity. A free-thinking,
free-living magistrate feels the impertnence
OF recommending day of deliberate self
indulgence in the language of intense relig-
ious feeling and exalted piety. In short, the
matter is so environed with difficulties that a
Governor may more safely write ten addresses
rnan one proclamation. The latter is so
short tnat everybody reads it and spies OUT
its mistakes and inaccuracies. The Presi-
dent and the Governor of our own state have
this year surmounted the perils of the situa-
ton in couple of proclamations which are
models OF brevity, simplicity and good taste;
but some of the Western proclamations are
marvels of oyerstrained and turgid rhetoric.
Worship is good and feasting is good, each
in its place. 1t is good to render to God the
things that are Gods, and to Caesar the things
that are C@sar's. But to give to Cesar,or to
crafty ourselves by INDUCING Our appetites or
lEclinations. under pretence that we are Civ.
ing to God is likely to lead to moral confl-
sion. Nevertheless, whatever may be the
theory OF each one as to the proper pur-
pose OF the day, the fact remains that it is
the great family holiday of the naticn; tina.
in millions of households to-day there will
be reunions of those separated during the rest
of the year; that the story of early life and
associations will be repeated and incidents of
child-life recalled, with all their refreshing
balm to the world-weary soul; that kinsfolk
who are in danger of drifting apart in the
absorption Of their several avocaiions will
Z renew and STRENGTHEN the bonds Of mutual
interest which belong to the ties of blood
and, in general, that there will be asoftening
and repression of all selfish, harsh and un-
kindly feeling and an awakening of the tue
Christian spirit which leads tosthought Of
and care for each other. Yes, Thanksgiving
is festival to the honor of God in the truest
and highest sense-its whole tendency is to
maze man Oe''er. l1lklR gBT I3k