Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-28

ly while the people were praying, and the
Governor in recognition of the proyiden-
tial intcIposition appointed a day Of
thanksgiving which was observed with
religious services. BY looking over the
/ Charlestown, Massachusetts,, records 1t
shows a similar change of fast day into
Thanksgiving in 1881, because of the
arrival of much needed supplies from
Ireland. There does not appear to have
been much virtue in the fasting on that
occasion, inasmuch ~ there was nothing
10 car, nor get boz the thH KS for nothing
would come moro natural than for one TO
be thankful while engaged in the deglu-
tation ofthe food which stood between
him aud enforced Tannerism. Thereafter
thanksgiyngs were appointed at irregular
intervals, sometimes more frequently than
once year. The earlier of these APP
pointments wcrc at different seasons of
the year, and for special reasons, particu
larry for the arrival of ships with pro-
visions and new colOnists, which probably
led to the feature of the elaborate dinner
on such occasions, still in vogue, inasmuch
as the revictualed PIONEERS would aatur-
ally indulge in a big feed after perhaps
months of privatiou. subsequently the
moving cause would be a good harvest,
aud then the day invariably fell in the
late autumn or early winter, as at present.
The Governors of other Colonies also APP
pointed thanksgiving, and thus in time
they became quite peculiar to America.
During the Revolution Thanksgiving day
was a National institution, being annual
~ recommended by the Continental Con-
gross, but after the general Thanksgiving
for peace in 1884, there was no National
appointments until 1859, when President
Washington, by request of Congress, rec
commended day Of thanksgiving for the
adoption of the constitution. Washington
issued second thanksgiving proclama-
tion in 1895, on account Of the suppression
of the whisky instruction which occurred
in the Pittsburg region. 1t isevdent very
little praying was done on that occasion
for the suppression Of the insurecton for
hot whiskey on subsequent Thanksgiving
days.
Next, President Madison, by request Of
Congress recommended Thanksgiving in
April 1915, for the peace which closed the
war with Great Britain. But the official
recommendation for thanksgiving was
mainly confined to the New England
states, whore regular annual proclama-
tions were issued by their respective Gov
crnors, and the day was abserved almost
universally with religious services, and
was the principal social and home festival
of the year. The Protestant Episcopal
PRAYER book, ratified in 1859, recommends
for day of thanksgiving every first
Thursday of November, unless another
day be appointed by civil authority.
The day was not regularly recommended
in New York by the Governor till lsl7.
Throughout the North, however, it had
become an institution befose the Southern
States adopted it. In 1850 Governor john
son, of Virginia, issued his proclamation,
aud in 1857 Governor Wise declined to APP
point a day on the ground that he was
not authorized to interfere in religious
matters In l-5s the Governors Of eight
Southern States issued proclamations.
During the late war President Lincoln
issued proclamations recommending spec
ial thanksgiving for victory in 1862 and
1863, and a National proclamation of the
annual Thanksgiving in 1853 and ls6i.
since that time proclamation has been
issued annually by the Presidents (thc last
one being by President Arthur fixing in
variably the time for the last Thursday OF
November This is a legal holiday and is
well observed in this State.
GRAPHIC.