Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-11-29
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Its Origin, History, and Some of its
ObseryanceS.

UDSefFanceS.
The Magazine of American History
gives US the history of Thanksgiving
day and its origin. From the papers We
learn hat the earliest thanksgiving ser
vice was held by the Church of England
men. The Popham colonists, who, Au
gust Q, 1907 %. S. landed upon MOnhe-
gan, near the Kennebec, and under the
shadow of high cross. listened to ser
mon by Chaplain Seymour, giving good
thanks for our happy meetings and safe
arrival in the country"
Nexs we pass to Plymouth, where in
1921, the autumn after the arrival, no.
table thanksgiving was held. The brief
accounts present joyous picture. As
we learn from Winslow, the harvest be-
ing 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 recreation, and the
great chief Massasoit was feasted for
three days with his ninety swarthy re
tainers.
Possibly on this first Plymouth
thanksgiving, there was more carousing
than we suppose, while there is not the
slightest indication Of any religious OBJ
seryance. Massasoit and his braves,
no doubt, enjoyed it all greatly, as the
thanksgiving idea was entertained by
the Indians before their contact with
the whites, and in their celebrations
there WAS much excess. How much
comfortable warm water" the grave
and reverend elders themselves con-
sumed during these three days of jolli-
ty, Bradford does not Say.
In 1922 there is no mention of thanks
giving, but in 1923 day 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 thanksgiving at Ply
mouth for nearly half a century. So
cate that the day did not find a revival
until 1868, where there was some kind
of thanksgiving. Again, June 27,
1889, there was thanksgiving for the
accession of William and Mary. In
1890 AN autumnal thanksgiving was
held, and the next year Plymouth colo
nv was merged 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 occa-
siOnal thanksgivings, as the people at
Barnstable observed thanksgiving on
December %, 1886. and December IL.
1922.
In the Massachusetts colony the first
thanksgiving was held at Boston, July
s, 1880, it being a special occasion, hav-
ing no reference to harvests. Again, in
February. 1851, there was thanks2iv-
ing as already noticed. In the October
following thanksgiving was held for
the safe arrival of MRS. 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
June 5, there was a thanksgiving for
fop the victories in the Palatinate, and
in October another for the harvest. In
1887 there was thanksgiving for vic
tory over the Pequots, and in 1888 for
the arrival of ships and for the harvest.
The thanksgiving days from 1884 to
1854, numbered about twenLy-One, or
less than one in every two years. The
of 1876 had special reference
to the victory over King Philip. From
this period until the revolution, a
of some kind occurred
nearly every other year, and even twice
in the same year, as ib 1742. Some of
these days were appointed by the royal
governors, while again they were order
ed by the King or Queen or by the home
board of trade.
After the close of the revolution
tendency to make Thanksgiving day a
regular institution ill New York, was
at once apparent, and Gov. John Jay,
in 1895, issued proclamation for the
18th of November. The act, however,
was seized upon by politicians, who
maintained that he was seeking to fiatter
religious prejudices.
At an early period, also, the Mayors of
New York were accustomed to appoint
"A day of thanksgiving, IN accordance
with the recommendations of the coun-
Gil, and that of December 16, 1870, ap- |
pears to have been the first so ordered. |
Yet the observance Of the day until
Gov. Clinton's time was more or less
broken. The festival was kept, however, |
by Episcopalians, according to the pro-
visions of the prayer-boOk, other relig-
ious bodies at the same time following |
their own preferences. Clinton's course,
like JAYS, excited criticism. AT the
east end of Long Island there was no
little murmuring because the day did
not coincide with the local custom. 1t
appears that the people of East and
Southampton observed thanksgiving on
the Thursday after the cattle were
driven home from the common pastures
at Montauk Point, the day of the return
of the cattle being fixed annually, with
due solemuity, at the town meeting.
Hence there was collision, and the
herdsmen were divided, striving as the
herdsmen of Abrams cattle streve with
those of Lot. But this was no case of
an immovable body opposed to an ire
sistible force, and therefore the oppo
nents of Clinton gave away, though not
without many xpOstulattons, Here
was the beginning of the movement
which led to the first Presidential pro-
clamation Matchmaking Thanksgiving
day.
How to Keep Cider Sweet.
Pure, sweet cider that is arrested in