The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-30
THANKSGIVING.
History of the Day and It's 0bservauces.

gives us the history OF the day we are
soon to celebrate and its origin. From
the papers we learn that the earliest
thanksgiving service was held by the
Church of England men. The Pop
ham colonists, who, August 8, 1907, (O.
S. landed upon Mohegan, near the
Kennebec, and under the shadow of II
high cross listened to sermon by
Chaplain Seymour, "giving good
thanks for our happy meetings and
safe arrivals in this country"
Next we pass to Plymouth, where,
in 1921, the autumn after the arrival,
notable Thanksgiving was held. The
brief accounts present a joyous picture.
AS we learn from Winslow, the harv-
est being gathered, the Governor sent
four men out fowling, that so we
might, after a special manner, rejoice
together" and the traditional turkey
was added to the abundant venison.
The people gave themselves up to re-
creation, and the great Chief Massasoit
was feasted for three days with his
ninety swarthy retainers.
Possibly, on this first Plymouth
thanksgiving there was more carous-
ing than we suppose, while there is
not the slightest indication of any re-
ligious observance. Massasoit and
his braves, no doubt, enjoyed it all
greatly, as the Thanksgiving idea was
entertained by the Indians before their
contact with whites, and their celcbra-
tions there was much excess. How
much "eonlf Portable warm water,n the
grave and reverend elders themselves
consumed during those three days OF
jolity Bradford does not say.
In 1922 there is no mention ofthanks.
giving bul.in a. 623 day was kept, not,
however, in the autumn, as a harvest
festival, but in July, upon the arrival
ofsome provisions. After this nothing
more is heard of ofthanksgiviuga at Plym-
outh for nearly half century. So far
as the colonial records go. they indi-
cate that the day did not find revival
unit 1868, whensthere was some kind
of a thanksgiving. Again June 27,
1853, there was a Thanksgiving for the
accession of William and Mary. In
1890 an autumnal thanksgiving was
held, and the next year Plymouth
Colony was merged in Massachusetts,
and so passes out OF the story. If any
festival can be said to have been estab-
fished, it was established in imitation
of the customs across the sea. Distinct
religious societies, however, may
have kept occasional thanksgiving, as
the people at Barnstable observed
Thanksgiving on December %, 1886,
and December IL, 1859.
In the Massachusetts colony the first
thanksgiving was held at Boston, July
8, 1850, it being special occasion,
having no reference to harvests. Again
in February, 1851, there was thanks
giving, as already noticed. In the DC
tober following thanksgiving wa,.
held for the safe arrival of Mrs. Win
throp and children" In these ap-
pointments we do not find the thanks
giving that we know to-day. nor do
we detect any full design agains!
Christmas. In 1892, on June 5, there
was n Thanksgiving for the victories
in the Palatinate, and in October
another for the harvest. In 1857 there
was thanksgiving for victory over
the Pequots, and in 1888 for the ar.
rival of ships and for the harvest.
The Thanksgiving days from 1854 to
1884 numbered about twenty-one, or
less than one in every two years. The
celebration of 1916 had special refer
ence to the victory over King Philip.
From this period until the Revolution
a thanksgiving of some kind occurred
nearly every other year, and even
twice in the same year, as in 1912.
Some of these days were appointed by
the royal governors, while;again they
were ordered by the home Board OF
Trade.
After the close Of the Revolution a
tendency to make thanksgiving day a
regular institution in New York was
at once apparent. and Governor John
Jay. i'm 1905, issued proclamation for
the 1lth of November. The act, how
ever, was,setzed upon by politicians,
who maintained that he was seeking
to tiatter religious preiudices. At an
early period, also the Mayors of New
York were accustomed to appoint a
day of thanksgiving, in accordance
with the recommendation of the
council, and that of Dec. Is, 1899, ap-
peared to have been the first so order
ed. Yet the observance ofthe day until
Governor Clinton's time was more or
less broken. The festival was kept,
however, by Episcopalians, according
to the provisions of the Prayer Book,
other religious bodies at the same time
followed their own preferences.
Clintoa's course, like jays excited
criticism. At the east end of Long
Island there was no little mupmuring,
because the day did not coincide with
the local custom. 1t appears that the
people of East and southampton OBJ
served thanksgiving on the Thursday
after the cattle were driven home from
the common pastures at Montauk
Point, the day of the return of the cat
lie being fixed annually, with due sol