The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-27
THE OLD NEW ENGLAND THANKS.
GIVING.
BY REV. GEORGE BACHELDER.

1t is becoming each year more diff
cult for us to understand the fashion
and form of the old New England life,
than which none was probably ever
more sane, sound, dignifed, and fitted
to nurse wisdom and virtue in ordi-
nary life. The old village life is broken
up. The Catholic cross takes the place
of the Puritan steeple. The strong men
and wise women who once abounded in
country towns re,dead and their chill
dren have sought the city Or the West,
and the New England of history is fast
passing into an unlike phase of evolu-
ton. Once, distinguished families lived
and continued to live in rural towns.
Men of knowledge and power were con-
tent to be prosperous according to a
modest standard of prosperity. The
rage for money making was not yet an
epidemic. If any man grew too great
for the local life, and was appointed to
higher station in the State or the ma
ton, still he retained his home among
his kindred and friends, and, when he
died, was gathered to his fathers, as
one should be who has home.
When Thanksgiving day came, all
the scattered members were assembled.
In spite of themselves, nature had her
way with them, and on this day the af-
fections were allowed to rule. Christ
mas they left in Old England. Christ
mas was festival of the heart. Ont
of the heart come festival days. Hence
came Thanksgiving day. Sons came
home to fill their mothers hearts with
joy. Daughters brought their broods
to the old hearthstone. Broken ties
were reknit, and so many tender mem
cries were awakened that, spite of them
selves, a softer mood ruled the hour
and the festival Of the family estab-
lished itself where once had been only
ceremony of religion. The gentler
spirit welcomed then spread itself
through all the year, softenipg many a
prejudice, Tightening many burden,
casting light into many dark corner
of superstition, until at last new day
dawned, and liberty and light blessed
the land together.
Up to the time of John Hancock, the
Thanksgiving proclamation closed with
the words, "God save the King" John
Hancock wrote in place thereof, "God
save the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts." The clergy of the old time were
shrewd, practical, autocratic, and did
not hesitate to speak their minds.
Rev. Mr.. Ashley, of Deerfeld, read
ing John Hancock's proclamation in
church, said This proclamation says,
God save the Commonwealth of Mass
achusetts.' But 1 say, God save the
King or we are an undone people,"
The people were not undone then, nor
are they now, nor will they be, until
the great imaginations of the Fathers
of the Republic have fulfillment in es-
tablished fact. Elbridge Gerry was the
author of the famous Gerry mander
and he, being governor, issued his proc
lamation, which read, in closing, as
usual,-given by advice and consent of
the council, Elbridge Gerry, governor.
But Parson Oliver, of Rowley, read it
otherwise, thus, saying, with accents of
surprise, "Elbridge Gerry, governor
God save the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts.o
The old fashioned Thanksgiving was
an occasion of genuine gratitude. 1t
looks sometimes to us, when we see how
bare and hard their lives were, that
they had little to be grateful for. But, if
you would find genuine gratitude, look
for it among those who know what hard
times are, who have to put forth
strength, and maintain their courage in
hand-to-hand fight with adversely.
If you would find one who says that
Providence is a blunder and the uni
verse failure, one who is thorough
going pessimist, look for some man who
is sleek and prosperous,-on of the
kind described twenty-five centuries
ago,-"those whose eyes stand out with
fairness, and who have more than heart
can wish"
Out of trial, storm, and stress comes
the sense of divine powers. Often, it
comes not out of the answering of
prayers, but by denial of them.
Had the Pilgrims spoken in the spirit
of prosperous men of our own time,
they might thus have entered their pro-
test to the Almighty One;
80 Lord, in thy name and in the
name of Christ, we set out in summer
days, ON smiling sea, to find a new