The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-12-20
OrLrln af Tha aksgIrlnE DaI.

y +
a writer in the Chicago Tribune, ie as
old asthe human race. 1t Is part Of
natural religion. In connection with
the fruits of the earth the thanksgiv-
ing festival has been celebrated from
the remotest antiquity. We end II in
the seventh Idyll Of Theocritus where
Simichidas saws: "Now, this is our
way to the Thalysia; for our friends.
In sooth, are making feast to Deme-
ter (Ceres) of the beautiful robe, Of
fering the FIRST fruits of their abund-
ance. Since, for them, in bounteous
measure, the goddess has piled the
trashing floor with barley" Plutarch
tells of the emperor who, after his re-
turn to Rome from q disastrous
campaign, concealed the facts
and proclaimed "Thanksgiv-
ing which was duly observed
explaining, when the facts came TO be
known, that he did not wish to de-
prive the people of day of enjoy
ment. Under the Hebrew dispensa-
ton thanksgiving was observed as the
Feast of the Tabernacles, or of the
Ingathering; earlier in the season
there being the festival Of first fruits,
In connection with which the people
were reminded of the giving of the
law. The idea Of law was also con-
nected with the feast of Demeter OF
Ceres and the analogy between the
classic and the Hebrew festival is sig
nificant and worthy Of investigation.
But the ancient thanksgiving did not,
as some have fancied, skip down over
the ages to find an exclusive home
in America. In one way or
another it was always observed
on the continent, as in parts of Eng
land, it occurred at Martinmas. In
deed, it was a popular institution in
England before it fairly had foothold
in Massachusetts. Butler, who wrote
in 1851, gives better idea of the true
state of things in few lines than
could be given by any formal history:
For Hudbras who thought he 'ad won
The field as certain as a gun,
And having routed the whole troop,
With victory w6s cock-a-hoop;
Thinking he lad done enough to purchase
Thanksgiving day among the churches.
When we 60 back to the century be-
fore Butler it is found to be filed up
with fasts and thanksgivings, especially
during the time of Elizabeth, as the
publications of the Parker society prove.
Under Elizabeth it was expressly
ordered that on Thanksgiving days no
serYile labor should be performed, and
severe penalties were attached to the
violation of the order. The New
England .worthies adopted the prin-
ciple. In4569 Thanksgiving entered
into Rogation day, and it was ordered
that thanks should then be offered
"for the increase and abundance of
His fruits upon the face Of the EARTH"
In the seventeenth century the custum
was continued; and in the year 1749,
when Massachusetts was dumb, Henry
speaks, in his published sermon, of the
"Te DeumS, proclamations, forms Of
prayers and thankgivings, sermons"
. ETC., that abounded. Such, then, was
the state of things in England. Indeed,
just before the Plymouth colonists came
over, the special Thanksgiving had
!, been incorporated into the prayer
ebook; while Copeland's "Virginia's God
be thanked" preached before the Vir-
ginia company in Bow church, illus
trated the tendency of the times, he
being followed by DR.. Dome. The
early settlers brought with them ira
ditional respect for days of thanksgiv-
ing. Nevertheless false notions ON this
subject abound, and Thanksgiving day
is popularly supposed to have been es-
tabhshed first at Plymouth, and con-
tinued without interruption from the
. landing until now; while supple
mental theory declares that the So
called originators of the festival in
tended thereby to suppress Christmas,
In the first place, it must be stated
that the earliest service of this kind
was held by the Church of England
;men, the Popham colonists, who, Au-
gust 9, 1907 GO. s.. landed upon Mon
hogan, near the Kennebec, and, under
the shadow of a high cross, listened to
a sermon by Chaplain Seymour, also
"gyving God thanks for our happy
meetinge and safe aryval into the
contry" Next we pass to Plymouth,
where, in 1921, the autumn after the
arrival, notable thanksgiving was
held. The brief accounts present
joyous picture. AS we learn from
Winslow, the harvest being gathered,
the governor "sent four men on fowl
ing, that sohwe might, after a special
manner, rejoice together" and the ira
ditional turkey was added tQ the abun-
dant yenison. The peShle gave them
selves up to reereatiosS and the great
chief Massasoit was feasted for three
days with his ninety swartiy retai ers.