Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-30


by the wolf at the door, when, lat that in
stant they spied ship arrived Mt the harbor's
mouth laden with provisions for them ALL" A
day of fasting and prayer for relief had been
appointed for the next day, but now the day
is changed, and on the 22d of February, 1--WE
held day of thanksgiving for this ships ar
rivalry order from the governor and coun-
Gil, directed to all the plantations"
So you see, there were sometimes Thanks
giving Days in spring.
On the Sth of July, 1880, when the colony
had first well landed I'VE kept day of
Thanksgiving in all the plantations.
On the 23d of February, 1851, thanksgiv-
ing was again observed. This was changed
from fast.
On the I'd Of November the governors fam
lily arrived from England on the 4th they
landed divers of the assistants and most
of the people came to welcome them.
and brought and sent, for divers days, great
store Of provisions as fat hogs, kids, venson,
poultry, geese, partridges, etc, so as the like
JOY and manifestation of love had never been
seen in New England" And on the 18th" ."
adds the governor, 1--WE kept day of thanks
giving in Boston,"
The next winter was sauother winter of
scarcity but since that time there has been
no famine in Massachusetts,
Every year, | suppose, without an eXcep-
ton, the Christian people of Massachusetts,
have thank J God in public service, for fill
ing the granares of the husbandman." But
this feast has never been simply Il harvest
feast Those who founded it believed that
God was in all the affairs of men, and praised
him for all the tokens of that presence.
The fourth Thanksgiving in the Bay Colony,
was on the 18th of June, 1852. '"The Gener-
al Courts taking into consideration the great
mercy of God youchsafed to the churches of
| God in Germany and the Pallatinate, etc.
and for the safe arrival of all the ships, they
having not lost one person, nor one sick
among them, appointed the 18th day Of this
present month to be kept MS a day of pub
lique thanksgiving throughout the several
plantations"
Slight is the mark which battles leave after
two ceuturi Is, but yet Gustavus Adolphus, the
hero of that New England Thanksgiving,
lives in mems memories. The Thanksgiving
was for his victory over Tilley and Wallen-
stein, and his entry into Munich and who
over follows the tale in Schiller, must inter
weave with his reading the memory of a New
England Thanksgiving Day. The 'Pallatin-
ate, alas has not Jared so well of late.
The custom was not yet fixed which always
appoints Thanksgiving in the autumn, but on
the 10th of June, in 1853, was another: in
the autumn, however, of the same year. was
yet another: In regard of the many and ex-
traordinary mcrcies which the Lord hath been
pleased of late to vouchsafe to this plantation,
viz. plentiful harvest. ships safely arrived
with persons of special usc and quality, etc, +,
it is ordered that Wednesday, the 10th oct },
shall be kept rs day of publique thanksgiv-
ing" These persons of special quality were
John Cotton. minister of the first church !;
Hooker, who was afterward Cromwelrs chap
lain: Haynes, atterward governor of Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut.
The next year, the safe arrival of shiIs and
passengers is again the reason assigned for
the thanksgiving on the 20th of August.
In 1857, victory in war comes in again.
October 18th is thanksgiving to God, for his
mercies in subduing the Pecoits bringing the
soldiers i'll safety the success of the Confer
ence, and good news from Germany. On this
occasion some of the Church in Boston
would not be present at the public exercises" 1"
1t is to be regretted that some of their de-
scendants initiate their practice without their
excuse they refused to attend because dissat-
isfed with the assembly of the Cambridge
synod the Conference" alluded to. The
captains and soldiers who had been i'll the
Pequot war were feasted and, after the ser
mon. the magistrates and elders accompanied
them TO the door of the house where they
dined." In the next year the elders of each
| church are notified of the desire of the Court
to keep the last Thursday of October day of
Thanksgiving for the safe comeings of so ma
ny ships this year. and the seasonable wealth
er in the spring, and now to ripen the har-
vest" Thus begins the custom still preserved
| by which the governor and council send their
| proclamation to each church in the common
wealth.
In the the next year it is fixed on the 2sth
of November, with the proviso that those
churches which have kept day already are
left TO their liberty.
In 1859 dec. -, the Thanksgiving was ap-
| pointed for the comfortable harvest, the
health of the country generally, and for our
| preservation from the destructive desires of
that pestilent company the Quakers for the
healing of the great breach at Hartford, and
| for the peace of the churches and the COM
| monwealth."
Sept. %, 1864, is a Thanksgiving for the
hopeful establishment of government in our
native country in that way and in those of
| whom we have great cause to expect that the
Lords kingdom and people will be cherished,
the peoples liberties preserved, and the peace
| of the nation settled"
That is, they thanked God for Oliver Crom-
wells establishment in the Protectorate.
In 1860 (July - the Thanksgiving was
Gods goodness to us in the loving letter of
Charles the Second, just returned-for our
long peace, health and plenty" So we thanked
| God for Oliver Cromwelps doath-and Rich
ard Cromwells overthrow
With that record closes the history of the
| Thanksgiving Days of the first generation in
New England. E. z. HUE IN The AIdine.