Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-27
THANKSGIVING DAY.
The Great Home Festival.

This is the day set apart for returning
thanks TO Almighty God for the wide
spread blessings we enjoy, and will be
generally observed throughout the
United States and particularly in New
England. 1t is perhaps suggested by
the Hebrew feast OF tabernacles, or
''feast OF in-gathering at the end OF the
wear" The occasional observance OF
a day of thanksgiving, formally rec
commended by the civil authorities,
was not unusual in Europe, and such a
day was observed in Leyden, Holland,
on Oct. 3, 1915, the first anniversary OF
the deliverance OF that city from siege.
In 1908, the Pilgrim Church. exiled
from England, went'tO Holland and re-
manned there until 1920, when il sent
off the Mayflower colony to New Eng
land. After the first harvest OF the col
onists at Plymouth, in 1921, Gov.
Bradford sent Jour men out
fowling, that they Knight rejoice
after a more special manner together. i"
In July 1928, a day of fasting and
prayer was appointed on account OF
drought; rain came abundantly while
they were praying and the Governor
appointed day of thanksgiving, and it
was observed with religious services,
much after the manner OF the present
day. The Charlestown records show a
similar change of fast day into thanks
giving, in 1851, on account OF the arrival
of supplies from Ireland.
In June, 1852, Gov. Winthrop, OF the
Massachusetts, Bay Colony, recommend
ed day Of thanksgiving on account OF
the action of the British Privy Council
favorable to the colonies, and invited
the Governor of Plymouth Colony TO
unite with him. There is record of the
official appointment of days for thanks
giving in the same colony in various
wears before 100, and the form
of recommendation indicates that
| that it had become an annual custom.
The earlier Of these appointment were
at different seasons of the year and for
special reasons, rs, the arrival OF ships
with colonists and provisions, and sue
cesSful harvests.
During the Revolution, thanksgiving
dav was national institution and was
annually recommended by Congress
but after the general thanksgiving for
the peace of 1874 there was
no national appointment until 1889,
when President Washington, at the re-.
quest of Congress, recommended a day
| for giving thanks for the adoption OF the
Constitution. Within the next twenty
years several similar proclanations were
| issued by Presidents, but the official re,
commentator of Thanksgiving was
mainly confined to New England, where
regularannual proclanIatiOns were issued
by the Governors OF the States, and the
day was observed almost universally with
religious services, and was the principal
social and home festival Of the year.
The prayerbook of the Protestant
Episcopal church, ratified in 1883, rec
ommends for day OF thanksgiving, the
| first Thursday in November, unless an
other day be appointed by the civil au-
thorities. There was occasional recon-
mendation by other religious bodies and
various local customs prevailed III differ
ent parts OF the country, but
the day was not regularly set apart,
until about 1920 in New York and
several years later i'll more Southern
States. During the civil war President
Lincoln issued several proclamatiOns,
and since that time such proclamatiOns
have been annually issued by the Presi-
dent, the Governors and the Mayors OF
the principal cities; and custom has
fixed the time for the last Thursday in
November.
Therefore, President Hayes and GOV.
Mathews, having by proclamation an
nounced to-day as the day set apart for
returning thanks, it will be duly observ-
ed in this city. Congress has declared
it legal holiday, and it will accordingly
be observed by the banks, which will
remain closed. The courts will also
hold over, and special hours be observed
at the DOstOfliCe,