Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-29

! idea was entertained By the Indians
| before their contact with whites, and in
| Their celebrations there was much ex-
! cess. How much comfortable warm
! water" the grave and reverend elders
/ themselves consumed during those three
| days of iollity, Bradford does not say.
Ia l62Z there Ii no mention of
Thanksgiving. but in 1873 dav WAS
kept; not, however, IN the autumn. az 4
! harvest festival, bat In July, upon the
arrival of some provisions Alter this
nothing more is heard of Thanksgiving
At Plymouth for nearly half century.
! 50 far as the Colonial records @, they
indicate that the day did not lind re
vlybI until ltb7, when there was some
KIND of a Thanksgiving. Again, jane
I, 1863, there WAS some kind of
thanksgiving for the accession of
William and Mary. In 1880 an au-
tumnal Thanksgiving was held, and
next year Plymouth Colony was mereed
IN Massachusetts,, so passes out Of the
story. II any festival can be said to
have been estaS Slished, II WAS esta slish-
ed in imitation of the old customs across
the sea. Distinct religions societies,
however, may have kept occasional
Ihanksglvings, as the people at Barn
stable observed Thanksgiving Decem-
Der -, 1896. and December IL. 1888.
HOLIDAYS IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
In Massachusetts colony the first
thanksgiving was held at Boston, July
s, l''3J, 1t being special occasion. hav-
ing no reference to harvests. Again, in
February, 1851. there was thanksgiv
,.... all a -
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 today, nor do we detect any
fell design against Christmas. In 1852,
on June 9Th. there was thanksgiving
for the victories i'll the PAlatinate, and
In October another for the harvest. In
lG3T there WAS a Thanksgiving for vic
tory over the Peguots, and in 1893 for
the arrival of ships and for the harvest.
The Thanksgiving Days from 1884 to
1854 numbered ABOUT twenty one, or
less than one in every two years. The
celebration of 1876 has special reference
to the victory over King Philip, though
there were those in Church's expedition
who had much doubt, then and after
wards seriously inquired whether burn
ing their enemies alive could be con-
sistent with humanity, and the benevo-
lent principles Of the Gospel" That of
1861 WAS for stopping the bottles of
heaven" and restraining the ''exces-
slve raIgns.'
ROYAL PROCLAMATION.
From this period until the Revolution
A Thanksgiving of some kind occurred
nearly every year, and even twice in the
same year, as III l742, as We learn from
the manuscript records at the State
House i'll BOsten, which have been
searched with reference To establishing
the position taken III this article. Some
of these days were appointed by the
roy.l Governors, while again, they were
ordered by the King or Queen or by the
Home Board of Trade. The people
were ordered to give thanks when an
heir to the throne WAS expected, and
when the royal stranger arrived Massa
chusetts tried to be thankful again.
Thus they filled up the tale of feasts,
such as they were. the matter not being
III the hands of the people, as poauiariy
supposed, and not being an exhibition |
of local gratitude.
Thursday, July II. 1862, we find bill
apart day for solemn thanksgiving for |
the preservation of their Maiestes, the |
continuance of peace within the three |
kingdoms, the safe arrival of his Excel |
lency the Governor. etc. 1t WAS read |
and consented to by William Phips.
Thursday. June 1S, 1886 A bill was |
ordered to be drawn up appointing Il |
dav OF Thanksgiving for tho early dis |
covery of horrid and detestable plot |
and conspiracy to assassinate the royal |
person Of his sacred Majesty, and for |
tho preservation of his Majesty and his !
kingdom from Insurrection and inva- |
sion. and accordingly presented, read |
and agreed TO.
Coming into the reign of Queen |
Anne, we find her making thanksgiving |
compulsory. like Elizabeth and others. |
In 1913 Anne speaks as follows i'll the |
Massachusetts records:
"Whereas, by our Royal Proclamation |
bearing date the 18th day of May last, |
We did appoint and command that a |
general Thanksgiving to Almighty God |
for the peace should be- observed |
throughout England. Wales and the
town of Burwick upon Tweed, Oh Tues |
day the sixteenth day of June. instant,
which time having been humbly Rep
resented TO us to be TOO short for max |
ing the preparation for so great so
lemnity. We have thought fit by the
advice of our Privy Council to issue oar
Royal Proc, hereby declaring, that
Gen. Thanksgiving shall be observed IN
England, the Dominion of Wales. and
the town OF Burwick upon Tweed, on
Tuesday. the 7th day OF July, to be
strictly observed on pain of suffering
such punishment as We can justly IN
tict on such AS shall contemn or neglect
the performance of 80 religious duty.
Given in Court at kensinoton June s.
l7l3, God Save the Queen"
From this proclamation in particular
We see how little reason there is for
creditine the New Englanders with
having made the observance obligatory
apd repulsive. as often charged.