Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-11-22
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Thcfirstpublic Thanksgivingin Now
: England was held in December, 1921,
about a year after the landing OF the
Pilgrims, Tho harvest having been
gathered, and the severcst labor Of the
year having ended, the Governor sent
:. out four men, with guns, to procure
material for q feast, that in special
manner they might rejoice and give
thanks. The day was, as its name
would indicate, a day OF thanksgiving
tc God for his many mercies. II was
also day Of general rejoicing. In
short, it was a areiigious festipal, without
the iormality and restraint of the ordi.
nary Puritan Sabbath-a festival in
which religiondid not exclude sociality,
but in which the two were happily
combined. ittII.It
! As the colonies grew ia size and in
numbers, and friends become scattered,
| Thanksgiving gradually came to be a
day Of reunion Of families, day when
all the children returned TO the old
homestead TO meet familiar faces and
exchange friendly greetings. Still il
maintained the same general character
1t was pre-eminently day ofpuJhc
thanksgiving, day when all united to
praise the Lord and to return thanks
for blessings, special or ordinary, for
peace and prosperity, for abundant
harvests, for freedom from any public
calamity.
II was customary also TO remember,
at this time, Gods goodness to US as
nation, His providential guidance of
the Pilgrims TO our shores, and His
merciful protection Of their interests
They acknowledge also the blessings
of good government, of free schools,
and of liberty, equality and justice to
all mankind-which blessings they
fully enjoyed, as they supposed. 1t
was also day of private thanksgiving,
when individuals called to mind what.
ever mercies they had received, aud
expressed their gratitude for the same.
All hasten 10 the village church,
where the pastor directs their thoughts
above, and urges upon them the duty
of obedience TO the "Father of all
mcrcies." Then comes the dinner
the old New England dinner so famed
in song and story the table filed with
good things and surrounded by happy
faces ;--ior u moment all voices are
hushed, while the aged sire, with
beautiful simplicity, lnvokes the Divine
blessing Again, at evening time, after
the pleasures of the day, the whispered
secrets, the delightful little chats, the
romps and games Of the children are
ended, the grandfather calls them all
together and, taking the old familiar
Bible, reads therefrom a chapter, and,
all kneeling, he pours out his soul in
praise TO God for this Thanksgiving
day and all its privileges.
Such was the day 10 our fathers--a
day of Thanksgiving and rejoicing.
Now what is that TO us? Has its
character changed? Yes, TO some OK
tent. 1t is still season OF religious
and social iestivity, but the order is re-
versed. Ii is no longer thanksgiving
and rejoicing, but rejoicing first and
thanksgiving as something secondary
and Of less Importance. Thanksgiving
day is gradually losing its old religious
flavor. All the sociality is retained, as
It should Lc; but the religious element
is being slowly crowded out. Public
services ale, it is true, held in our
churches; but too often the preacher
makes it an occasion for expressing
his political views or displaying his
knowledge of the principles Of govern
mcnt, all of which is entirely out of
place in the pulpit, and the tendency
Of which is, not to awaken gratitude
in the hearts OF his hearers, but to en-
gender strife among thcm. Further
more, the custom of attending public
services on this day is rapidly becom-
ing thing Of the past
Again Thanksgiving day is getting
TO be more OF a name than a reality,
on the part Of individuals As the
comforts OF life have increased with the
progress OF civilization, we have learn
ed TO take them as q matter OF course,
without considering from whom they
come, not that we are less grateful
than our fathers, but that the day of
gratitude is less faithfully observed by
us than it was by them. Now the
question arises, which is the better
way, the original way in which thanks
giving predominated, or the modern
way in which sociality prcdominates ?
| am sure all right-mindcd persons will
approve the good fashioned way of
keeping Thanksgiving
Let us, as we enjoy the good things
Of life, remember those whose means
prevent like enjoyment; those whose
wants are so numerous that they seem
to have little to be thankful for. lie
who is truly grateful himself delights
to confer favors upon others. Let us,
then, prove our gratitude to God by
caring for bis poor children here below,
let us make other hearts glad, and wc
shall surely please Him who pi,ieth
the poor and hath compassion upon
all men. "I'or the Lord Is good to all,
aud his tender mercics are over all his
works" blessed be the Lord, who
daily loads us with benefit - CORES.
pondent Nelc York Observer.
A WirE's PowEn-A good wife is
to II man wisdom, strength, and cour-