Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-11-15
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Its Origin, History, and Some or its
ObscrvRnCoA

day and its origin. From the papers
we learn that the earliest thanksgiv-
ing service was held by the Church of
England men. The Popham colonists,
who, August 8, 1907 GO. S. landed
upon Monhegan, near the Kennebec,
and under the shadow of a high cross,
listened to 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 a special manner, re-
joice 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 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 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 thanks
giving at Plymouth for nearly half a
| century. So far rs the colonial rec
ords 60, they indicate that the day did
not find a revival until 1868, when
there was some kind of thanksgiv-
ing. Again, June -, 1859, there was
a thanksgiving for the accession of
William and Mary. In 1890 IN au-
tumal 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 thanksgivings, as the people
at Barnstable observed thanksgiving
on December -, 1886, and Decem-
Der IL, 1889.
In the Massachusetts, colony the
first thanksgiving was held at Boston,
July s, 1880, it being special occa-
sion, having no reference to harvests
Again, in February, 1851, there was a
thanksgiving, 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 the
victories in the Palatinate, and in Oc-
tober another for the harvest. In 1857
there was thanksgiving for victory
over the Pequots, and in 1888 for the
arrival of ships and for the harvest.
The thanksgiving days from 1884
to 1854, numbered about twenty-onc,
or less than one in every two years.
The celebration of 1876 had special
reference 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
1742. Some of these days were APP
pointed by the royal governors, while
again they were ordered by the King
or Queen or 10y 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 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 flat
ter religious prejudices.
At an early period, also, the Mayors
of New York were accustomed to ap-
point day of thanksgiving, in accord
ance with the recommendations of the
council, and that Of December 16,
1799 appears 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
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