St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-27
THANKSGIVING DAY.

THANKSGIVING DAY.
Its Origin aud Observance fn OIden Times
The earliest Thanksgiving on record in the
colony OF Massachusetts was held on the 22d
Of February, 1881, under circumstances that
are recorded as follows in Young's Chroni-
| Giles:
''But now as the winter came on, provis
ions began to be very scarce, upon the
grounds aforesaid, and people were neeessi-
tated to live upon clans, and muscles, and
and ground nuts, and acorns, and these got
with much difficulty in the winter time.
! Upon which, the people were much tired aud
discouraged, especially when they heard that
the governor himself had the last batch OF
bread in the oven; and many were the fears
Of people that Mr.. Pearce, who was sent TO
ireland to fetch provisions was cast away or
taken by pirates. But God who
delights to appear In greatest straits, did
work marvellously at this time: for before
the very day appointed TO seek the Lord by
fasting and prayer, about the month of Feb
ruary or March in comes Mr.. Pearce, laden
with provisions. Upon which occasion the
day of fast was changed, and ordered TO be
kept as a day Of thanksgiving; which pro-
visions were by the governor distributed unto
the people, proportionable to their necessi-
ties"
In the first book Of records under the
"Court of Assistants of Massachusetts,
under date of June 9th. 1882, il is recorded
as follows: ''This court, taking into CON
sideration the great mercy of God vouch-
safed to the church Of God in Germany and
the Pallatinate, have appointed the 18th day
of this present month TO be kept as day of
thanksgiving throughout the several planta-
tons"
Ia June, 1888, the Court ordered as fol-
! lows;
''The 10Th day of this present month is
appointed to be kept as a day Of publique
Thanksgiving throughout the several planta-
tions
The Same year, October LIST, this is re-
corded:
SIN regard Of the many and extraordinary
mercies which the Lord hath been pleased
to vouchsafe of late TO the plantation, the
plentiful harvest, ships safely arrived with
persons of spetall use and quantity, ETC., it
is ordered that Wednesday, the 10th day OF
the present month, shall be kept as day Of
publique Thanksgiving throughout the sew
! eral plantations.
| LUIS WIS the ufsL IMAM ksgrlNlng IN
Massachusetts, which had reference 10 the in
gathering of the harvest. We find no-men-
ton Of any thanksgiving for the next three
years. In 1887, the Court appointed the 18th
Of the 4th month IJnne, TO be discovered as
day of Thanksgiving in the several
churches. In 1888, the record says-'lnti-
nation TO be given TO the elders Of our sew
eral churches of the desire OF the Court TO
keep the last Thursday of the Sth month
! [Octoberl q day of Thanksgiving for the
safe-coming of so many ships this year, and
the seasonable weather in the spring and now
TO ripen the harvest"
IN 1859, it was ordered, that the 2sth day
of this present month November should be
kept day of public Thanksgiving through
the Churches. Those churches that have kept
day already are left to their liberty.n
The records of the Colony show between
1881 and 1856 twenty-nine (or thirty orders
for Thanksgiving. ''several of which were for
specific, but most for general causes OF graft
tude to Providence
The following is the first Proclamation for
day of thanksgiving copied from "The
New England Weekly Journal" of October
21, 172s.
By His Excellency
WILLIAM BURNET, ESQ.
and over His Majcsties Province of MaSsa-
chusettS Bay, in New England.
Proclamation for General THANKSGIV-
ING.
In consideration OF the many undeserved
Blessings which it hath pleased Almighty
GOD of His great Goodness, to confer on us
in the Course of this year. more especially in
Preserving the Sacred Person of Our Sow
| ,rI n,,-
! QUEEN, the Royal Issue, and the rest of the
Royal Family, in giving Success TO His Ma
jesties Councils, for continuing the PEACE Of
Europe, in protecting the Government of this
Province, and in preserving to US Peace and
the Enjoyment OF Our most valuable Privil-
eyes, Civil aud Religious, in granting US so
good Measure of Health, and in giving us
such plentiful HARVEST, and in making
our Merchandise and Fishery TO prosper and
defending them from the Violence of merci-
less Pirates. with manifold other unmerited
Favors-All which lay us under the deepest
! Obligations of Gratitude IL Obedience to our
most Bountiful Benefactor.
/ have. therefore, thought lit, with the adj
vice of His Majestles Council. and at the De-
sire of the Represeu natives in the present
Session, to Order and Appoint, that Thurs
day, the Seventh of November next, be sol
emmy ODSerNeu as DAY OF fuDnc
THANKSGIVING throughout this Province.
Earnestly Exhorting both Ministers and Peo-
pie in their respective Assemblies, TO offerup
their most Unfeigned THANKS to Our
Most Gracious GOD, the author of all our
blessings, with their Fervent Prayers that we
may Fear the LORD and His Goodness, and
walk worthy of Him. And all Servile Labor
is Forbidden on the Said day.
Given at the Council Chamber in Boston,
the Fifteenth Day of October, 1928. In the
Second Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign
Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace Of
GOD of Great Britain, France and Ireland
KING, Defender Of the Faith, &c.
w. BURNETT.
By Command of His Exeellency the Gov
ernor, with the Advice Of His Majesties
Council, Josiah Willard, Seer.
GOD Save the KING.