Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-07
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Its pr gin, History, and Some OF It's
ObseryBnCes,

W. leu III Illdt UHe tuiIlcHI lIldhh'SN-
iTtg service was held by the Church of
England men. The Popham colonlsts,
who, August 9, 1907 60. S. landed
upon Monhegan, near the Kennebec,
and under the shadow of a high cross,
listened to a sermon by Chaplain Sey-
mour, giving good thanks for our
happy meetings and safe arrival in the
country"
Next we pass to Plymouth, where in
1921, the autumn after the arrival, a
notable thanksgiving was held. The
brief accounts present joyous picture.
AS we learn from Winslow, the har-
vest being gathered, the governor
"sent four men out fowling, that SO
we might, after special manner, re-
ioice together" and the traditional
turkey was added to the abundant
venison. The people gave themselves
up to recreation, and the great chief
Massasot was feastcd 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 enter
tanned by the Indians before their con-
tact with the whites, and in their cele-
brations there was much excess. How
much "comfortable warm water" the
grave and reverend elders themselves
consumed during those three days OF
jollity, Bradford does not say.
In 1922 there is no mention of
thanksgiving, but in 1923 aday was
kept, not, however, in the autumn as
a harvest festival, but in July, upon
the arrival of some provisions. After
this nothing more is heard of thanks
giving at Plymouth for nearly half a
century. So far as the colonial rec
ords go, they indicate that the day did
not find Il revival until 1868, when
there was some kind of a thanksgiv-
ing Again, June q, 1889, there was
a thanksgiving for the accession of
William and Mary. In 1850 an au-
tunal thanksgiving was held, and the
next year Plymouth colony was merg-
ed in Massachusetts, and so passes out
Of the story. If any festival can be
said to have been established, it was
established in imitation of the Gus
toms across the sea- Distinct religious
societies, however. may have kept oc-
casional thanksgiyings, as the people
at Barnstable observed thanksgiving
on December %, 1886, and Decem'
Der II, 1889
In the Massachusetts, colony the
first thanksgiving was held at Boston,
July s, 1880, it being a Special 'occa-
sion, having no reference to harvests.
Again, in February, 1851, there was q
thanksgiving as already noticed. In
the October following a thanksgiving
was held for the safe arrival Of "Alrs
Winthrop and her children" In these
appointments we do not find the
thanksgiving that we know to-day
nor do we detect any fell design
against Christmas. In 1852, on Junt
), there was thanksgiving for tho
victories in the Palatnate, and in Oc-
tober another for the harvest. In 1851
there was a thanksgiving for victory
over the Pequots, and in 1888 for the
arrival of ships and for the harvest
The thanksgiving days from l63:
to 1854, numbered about twenty-one
or less than one in every two years
The celebration of 1876 had specia
reference to the victory over King
Philip. From this period until th'
revolution. a thanksgiving of SOM
kind occurred nearly every other year
and even twice in the same year, as il
1742. Some of these days were ap
pointed by the royal governors, Will
again they were ordered 10y the Kin!
or Queen or 10y the home board o
trade.
After tile close of the revolution
tendency to make Thanksgiving day
regular institution in New York, wa
3 at once apparent, and Gov. John Jay
, in 1895, issued proclamation for tn
, 18th of November. The act, however
was seized upon by politicians, VIII
q maintained that he was seeking to flat
q ter religious prejudices.
At an early period, also, the Mayor
g of New York were accustomed to ~
, point a day of thanksgiving, in accord
9 ance with the recommendations of tht
. council, and that of December lt
!, 1899, appears to have been the first 5
ordered. Yet the observance of tn
| day until GOV. Clinton's time wa
a more or less broken. The festiy;
d was kept, however, by EpiScopalian.
n according to the provisions of tn
J. prayer-book, other religious bodies a
q the same time following their ow
G preferences. Clinton's course, lik
n JAWS, excited criticism. AT the eas
:, end of Long Island there was no littl
;. murmuring because the day did nc
n coincide with the local custom. II ~
;, pears that the people of East an
g southampton observed thanksgivin
. 80, +Lo rLurc1oy' n or thp rnttln UpF