West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-12-12

IN grave and formal manner IL
lacked the hilarity and license of the
Harvest Home, the iocund laughter and
merry frolicking Of the men and maid
ems, and the pranks of the Lord of Mis-
rule, and perhaps they would have been
out of place among those sturdy pio.
neors' on foreign and hostile shore.
surrounded by savages and wild beasts.
and hardly having tho means of living
from year - year.
The early Colonial records. which are
by no means perfect. speak OF no OBJ
servance of Thanksgiving until 1868,
and IN this year the 25th of November
was observed. The records are silent
again until 1850, when the 20th of Octo-
ber was appointed by the Court ns a
day to be celebrated by all the inhabit-
ants of the Colony. November 26,
1920, was also observed, and the next
year the Colony was merged and lost
ats separate existence.
The celebration of Thanksgiving Day
had been observed in England on spe-
ciaI occasions long before the Pilgrims
landed. When the Spanish Armada was
defeated Queen Elizabeth ordered n day
OF praise and thanksgiving. 1t was OBJ
served with bontires and merry
E"e ThANNNN0 NlOMuN luIOnHRI the
streets, and all London was alive with
merry music and enlivening sounds. On
the discovery of the gunpowder plot i'm
1908. at least sixteen wears before the
Pilgrims landed. Thanksgiving was
ordered, and the day was observed as a
sort of gala occasion, and still exists ms
Guy Fawkes' Day. When George III.
recovered from his insanity grand
procession of dignitaries marched
through the streets of London and n
thanksgiving service was celebrated in
St Pauls Cathedral before the recov-
cred monarch. When the Prince of
Wales recovered from the wcll-nigh
fatal illness in 1872 like services were
held
There were occasional Thanksgiving
Days appointed by other Governors out
side of New England. In 1914 and
1868, William Kieft, the Dutch Gov
ernor OF New Netherlands, ordered
day OF Thanksgiving to be observed,
and Peter Stuyvesant did the same in
1860, on the occasion of the annexation
OF the Swedish Colony. Perhaps they
derived the idea from that of Leyden,
IN l495. for that city had observed "A
day in October ever since the city was
delivered from the SpaniardS
During the Revolutionary War
Thanksgiving Day was National in
stitution. 1t was recommended by
Congress, but after the Peace Thanks
giving in 1884, there is an interrcgnum
of Thanksgiving until 1889, when Presi-
dent Washington recommended a day
OF thanks on account of the adoption
of the Constitution. In 1895. when the
insurrection in several of the States
was crushed out, "a second Thankspiy-
ing was held, and i'm April. 1915. ut the
end of the second war with England.
President Madison, at the request of
Congress, appointed Il National
Thanksgiving for Peace Generally
the Pilgrim Governors recommended
the observance of the day, and some
religious ceremonies were observed.
In New England it is especially the
day OF family reunions. The PRAYER
book of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, ratified in 1889, recommends
Tor a day of Thanksgiving the first
Monday in November, unless the civil
authorities appoint another day. In
1917 De Witt Clinton, Governor OF New
York, appointed day Of Thanksgiving,
and the custom has been observed ever
since. Governor johnson, Of Virginia,
issued a proclamation for one in 1855,
but Governor Wise, his successor de-
clined appointing one, saying it was
religious matter he had no authority TO
meddle with. In 1853 eight Southern
States appointed thanksgiyings. Dur
ing the civil war. when disaster came to
the Union arms, days Of fasting were
appointed and observed Then when
victory perchcd on our banners. in 1862.
President Lincoln issued proclamation
recommending a special Thanksgiving.
In the following year fresh victories and
an abundant harvest furnished further
opportunity for the Nation 90 pour out
ITS thanks, and since this time the Presi-
dent has each year issued proclama-
ton appointing a day usually the last
Thursday in November as a day Of
Thanksgiving. The Governors of the
several States and MAYORS Of the princi.
pal cities generally follow suit and is.
sue similar prOclamations to that OF tine
President so that the day may now be
regarded as much of holiday as the
Fourth Of July or Christmas. n is "A
day Of happiness and good nature. Of
good feed and social intercourse. 1t is
day when OF all others the mind should
go back TO the early struggles of the
brave Pilgrim pioneers, and the people
should celebrate IL in the same spirit
that Macaulay claims ruled in the Golden
Age:
"Ihon none wcrc for party,
But all were for tho state:
Thcn tho rich man helped the poor.
And tho poor man loved the great"
-- --CtHctHndtt EH1Utrcr.