Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-11-28
Thanks giving Day.

American people. Other nations recognize
certain events il their history as afTortiing
Seasons each Of which is to be regarded with
especial reverence on the annual recurrence
of its corresponding day Thas it happens
tina: the fifth OF November is marked in the
English church service as an occasion for
public thanksgiving, in c0mmemorationuf the
discovery CT the gGnpowder plot in 1906 and
;he twen:y-ninth Of May for the restoration
Of Charles II. in 1860 Bat the expression
Of gratitude which lis Nation emphasizes in
its observance by Unanimity o: time and
manner is of Il character differing from the
recognition OF these special occurrences.
Thanksgiving has come to be National
holiday, a day when the Government of the
Nation-the people withits rulcrs-acknowl-
adges the guardian protection of Him who
dominates the universe and who. in pursu-
ance Of His great designs, unrecognized by
man, 'incrcasCth the Nations and dcstroyeth
them :" vino "enargcth the nations and
straiteneth them again"
HE FiEsT THANKSGIVING.
The foundations Of this Republic were
rating with joy and hope and a strong reli-
gious faith The Maynower, that blossom
Of the spring-time and emblem Of juvenes-
ceuce, carried within it the seeds Of plant
which should take root in the hard soil of a
new world and whose growth should over
spread with lis branches the most valuable
portions of continent. Landing on that
wild New ENGLAND shore in the gloomy De
cember, the men and women Of faith began
the settlement which has became the historic
cradle Of nation. Through the rough win
ter, already begun, they laborcd, and toilcd,
and loved and prayed, and died. In the more
kindly spring hope revived with the buds and
flowers, and the sunshine melted the SHOWS
in the forest and enabled them 10 explore the
country. They established friendly relations
with the Indians and planted, and watched,
and worked and waited for the result. By
and by they began To gather in the small
harvest " The huShandry Of the year"
says DIR. Palirey, had proved a pros-
porous beginning The rivers sup
piled manure in abundance, and the
weather had hem not unfavourIble. All
the summer there Vas no want The
peace turned ont not worth the gather
ing the sun parchcd them in the bios
som : but the barley was indifferent good
and there was a good increase Of Indian
corn They had about a peck of meal Il
week 10 person, or now, since harvest, In
dian corn to that proportion. The cod and
bass fishing had afforded ample supplies
Seven substantial dwelling houses had been
built; and four for the Use of the plhnta-
ton, while others were in progress. Fowl
We're 20 abundant in the Autumn, TINT -four
men in one DAY killed rs much as, with a lit
Tie help beside, served the company almost 4
week There was great store OF wild tur-
keys, of which they took many, besides
venison The fOwlcrs had been sent out by
the governor, that 50 they might after a
special manner. rejoice together after they
lad gathered the fruit of their labOrs the
first celebration of the National festival Of
New England. the Au'umnal Thanksgiving.
On that occasion OF hilarity, they exercised
their arms, and for three days entertained
and feased' Nasslsoit and some ninety of his
people. who made contribution Of five deer
to the fcstivitv."
Such was the first Thanksgiving kept by
the Pilgrim fathers, in the fall OF the year
1921, just after the ingathoring of their little
store of grain and vegetables and within
less than u year after their arrival on this
bleak and barren and forbidding coast.
| They had arrived, one hundred and two
in number, hut in the very month in
which they first D.a,le the rocks Of Ply
mouth sacred ly their foot touch, the
labor of providing hahitations had scarcely
begun, when sickness set in, by reason Of
| exposure and Lad food, AMI six OF their
number died. In January eight were
carried of, seventeen in February and
thirteen in March. At one time during
the winter only six or seven had strength
enough left TO nurse the dying and bury the
dead Meantime, courage and fidelity new
er gave out. The well carried out the dead
| through the cold and snow, and then hasten
| cd back from the burial to wait on the sick ;
! and as the sick began to recover. they took
the places Of those whose strength had been
exhausted. And so, when the day of
| Thanksgiving had come, their hearts were
still in unison with the Divine benefcence,
and their voices were raised in laudation and
gratitude, although in the wisdom of the
All-knOwing, one-half Of their whole number
had been removed by death, twenty eight
out of the fifty-oHe being adult men, of
whom number were the props and support
of the enterprise
THANKSGIVING DURING TIE REVOLT TON.
Intelligence Of the surrender of Bursoyne
was announced in the Continental Congress
on October 81, 1s.7. Thereupon Samuel
Adams Of Massachusetts,, Richard Henry
Lee Of Virginia and Daniel Rober-
deau Of PENNSYLVANIA were appoint
ed a committee TO prepare = recommended
ton to the several States TO set apart 4 day
for thanksgiving fer the signal success lately
obtained over the enemies of these United
States" Full of gratitude in view Of the
success that had followed our arms these
gentlemen, in drafting the first proclamation
of Thanksgiving that emanated from the
Congress of the United States, gave full
scope TO their devotional nature in the in
strument which they reported. But in DO
ing 50 they knew well the temper of the
Congress. The proclamation was reported
by them on November /, 1:,1, and was
adopted without amendment. As the proto-
proclamation OF the Government and rs Il fit
ting mcmento of the illustrious men who
framed it, it is here inserted:
i
men 10 adore The experimenting providence or Al
mighty God 10 acknowledge with gratitude thel.
obligation TO Him for benefits receIS ed AMI 20 i'm
pnre such farther blessings aS they stand IN need
of and II having pleased Him In his abundant mer-
cy not only 10 continue 10 US the innumerslhle
bouniies OF His cpmmua providence hut also 10
smile upon Us in the prosecution OF just and nee
essary war, for the defence and establishment OF
our unaiienabe rights aud,berte=; particularly in
that He hath been pieasc, IN 50 great 4 measure 10
prosper The Means USa'l Tor the support OF our
troops amt 10 crown our arms with most signal sue
cess. II IS therefore recommended 10 the leg,>!a-
i've or executive powers OF these nitci States, 70
SCI apart THURSDAY, the 18TH day OF December next,
for solemn thanksgiving AMI praise that with one
heart and one voice the good people NAV express
the grateful feelings al their hearts, and cOnsccrate
themselves 10 the service Of their divine henciec-
tor and that together with their sincere ackuOwl-
edgrlnenlS and offerings they may JON the pcnt-
ent confession OF their manifold SINS whereby they
had forfeited every favor. and their huluhr AMI
earnest supprati0n that /. mAy please God through
the merits 81 Jesus Christ. megciiuiiy Ia iur-
give and blot them out Of Remembrance
that II EIIy please Him Erdclousiy L. uf-
ford Ills blessings On The Government OF these
States respectively and prosper the public council
Of The whole to inspire oUr commanders both h5
land and sea, and all uu'it. tayni, with that Wt=-
dom and inr;iiutr which MAY reader them NJ III
strhmehis' uiief lhc providence vi AimlsEtl H"i,
10 secure fni these nltrd states the greatest 81
all blessings. Independence amt pc3cr; tlai II uiay
please liin 70 prospect the trades AMI manufactures
of the people amt the labor "t the Lu-hJGtiaIIn,
that our Hand may yield its increase; 10 take
schools and semlnarlts of education, 81 Necessary
Tor cultivaug the principles Of true liberty vIr,ue
and piety, under His nurturng hand. ami To pros
per the means OF religion for the promotion and
enlargement of that kingdom which cnnsistcth IN
righteousness peace and JOY in the Il0l, Ghost.
And II Is further recommended. that servilr la
Dor, and such recreation ~, though IL other times
innocent may be unheromlng the purpose oI tu!s
appointment, be- Omttei oa 50 solemn IN oceI-
sion
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING
Similar recommendations Were made by
Congress ITO the legislative or executive ALL