The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-11-30

Thi' ~ an annual religious festival
observed in the United States, and
particularly in New England, suggest
ed by the Hebrew feast of tabernacles,
or feast Of ingathering AT the end OF
the year.
The occasional observance Of u day
OF thanksgiving formally recon-
mendrd 10y the civil authorities was
not universal in Europe, and such
day wac observed in Leyden, Holland,
October ., 1915 the first anniversary
of the deliyerance Of that city from
siege. In 1908 the Pilgrim church,
exiled from England, went to Hol'
land, aud remained there until 1920,
when 1t sent of the Mayilower colo
ny to New England.
After the first harvest of the colo
nists, at Plymouth, in 1921, General
Bradford sent four men out lOwling
that they "might after n n ore special
manner rejoice together" In 1923 "A
day Of fasting aud prayer was appoint
O on account Of drought. Rain came
abuudantly while they were praying
and the governor appointed day OF
Thanksgiving, which was observed
with religious services. The Charles
town records show similar change Of
fast day into thanksgiving in 1881, on
account of the arrival Of supplies from
Ireland
In Juue, 1862, Governor Winthrop,
Of the Massachusetts, Bay Colony, re-.
commended day of thanksgiving on
account of the action OF the British
Prlvy Council favorable to the colo.
nists, and invited tho governor of Ply.
mouth Colony TO unite with him.
There is record ~ the official appoint
ment of days Of Thanksgiving in Mas
sachusetts bay in 1888 34.37.3S and 80,
SulhNbllINS VI HiNiN YUAN uNC hhJ III VIC
same year, and IN Plymouth in 1861 +,
1865 1850 whore ihe form Of the recon-
mendation indicates that IL had be.
come an annual custom in 1889 and
1890. The earliest OF these appoint
ments were at different seasons OF the
year and for special reasons, particu.
larry for the arrival Of ships with pro,
visions and new colonists out the
latter were nose generally for the har
vests and We're in the late autumn or
early winter.
Occasionally thanksgiving days were
appointed by the Dutch Governors OF
New NetherNnd in l64l 45'55-'64,
and by the English Governors of New
York in 1906 and 1860.
During the Revolution, Thanksgiv-
ing Day was II national institution, be-
ing Annually recommended by Con-
gress; but after the general thanks.
giving for peace in 1884 there was no
national appointment till 1889, when
President Washington, by request OF
Congress, recommended day OF
thanksgiving for the adoption of the
Constitution. Washington issued a
second thanksgiving proclamation in
1913 on account of the suppression OF
insurrection.
President Madison, by request OF
Congress, recommended thanksgiving
for peace in April, 1915. But the
Official recommendation Of Thanks
giving Day was mainly confined to
New England, when regular annual
proclamations were issued by the Gov
ernors of the States, and the day was
observed almost universally with re-
ligious services, aud was the principal
social and home festival of the year.
The prayer book of the Protestant
Episcopal Church ratified In 1889 rec
ommends for day of thanksgiving
the first Thursday in November, I'M
less another day be appointed by the
civil authorities. Custom has since
fixed the time for the last Thursday in
November.