The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-28
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL.
THANKSGIVING DAY NOT ORIGI-
NAL WITH NEW ENGLAND.

Establlshed In virginia In the Early Days
OF the Coiony--Genersl washington's
First Proclamation How II will be OBJ
served I'm Richmond.
Plymouth, New England, Is the place, and
the year 1921 Is the time selected for the
origin Of Thanksgiving Day. In the minds
Of many persons the harvest festive set by
Governor Bradford when he sent four men
to hunt wild turkeys that we might after
special manner rejoice together after we
had gathered the fruits Of our labors," grew
into the national Thanksgiving, with proc
lamation by the President Of the United
states, the Governors Of States and civic
authorities. But is this tho fact! The cele-
bration Of the Holy Communion by Robert
Hunt. in Virginia in 1907, the setting apart
of March. cd in 1924, by the Virginian As
sembly as holiday to commemorate the es-
cape of the col0nists from humiliation by
the Indians, were in their nature thanks
giyings on a par with the festival Of The
New Englanders.
AN UNIVERSAL INSTITUTION.
All were brief expressions If sentiments,
similar TO the Hebrew Feast Of Tabernacles,
the Denetria Of the Greeks, the Cenelia Of
the Romans, the Harvest Home Of
the English-Saxons, and the au-
tumnat feast Of the red men i'm this
country. Every branch OF the English
stock has some strong tendency to merry
making aud good cheer during the year.
Puritanism forbade many Of the pleasant
social features as heathenish, but even Puri-
tans could not repress the social instinct,
and hence, 10y natural process, the holiday
appcndages 10 Christmas were transferred
to Thanksgiving, though this was done
gradually. the custom not being thoroughly
rooted in New England until the middle Of
the eighteenth century.
SOUTHERN COLONIES,
particularly Virginia, were inhabited by
representatives of what was considered the
England of that day, and the great festival
OF the year, around which was grouped
everything characteristic Of English home
life, was Christmas. Moreover, the Church
Of England was the established church here,
and il had prayer-bOOk in which, in 1904,
had been inserted prayers Of Thanksgiving
for plenty, for rain, for fair weather, for the
restoration Of peace, for deliverancc from
plague and enemies, and one Of general
thanksgiving. The necessity, therefore, for
a special time for annual Thanksgiving was
somewhat obyiated. The English colonies.
as a whole, had one or two opportunities
for such custom.
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
observed the day on several occasions, and
in 1854 a general thanksgiving was had for
peace.
I'm the next year the first General COnyen-
ton of the Protestant Episcopal Church
met i'm Philadelphia, and it is rather re-
markable that though no diocese east Of the
Hudson river was represented, the convene
ton inserted in the proposed prayer-bOok
not only the thanksgiving prayer familiar
10 its members as communicates in the
Church Of England, but also forms Of wor-
ship for the Fourth Of July and the first
Tuesday in November, which were ordained
as days Of thanksgiving. This act was
resultant Of practice in the church directly
and indirectly of the custom of the govern
ment of the country which was doubtless
Influenced by what had become a distinctly
New England observance.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
appointed November Goth. 1883, as Il gen.
efal Thanksgiving Day, and in the same
year the General Convention Of the Protest
ant Episcopal Church ratified its prayer
book, i'm which the Fourth of July service
was omitted, but provision was made for
the observance Of Thanksgiving for har-
vest, &C., on the first Thursday Of Noyem-
Der, or on any day set apart by the civil
authorities.
THE CHURCH's ACTION
Thus the church which had its roots deep
est il the Southern cOlOnists set the exam
pie for the annual observance by the whole
country of Thanksgiving Day. But for
many years it was confined TO the North
and West, but eight Southern States adopted
it in 1853, and since 1862 the festival has be-
come national, though the predominence OF
a.. 81, Ia,
unpopular in most of the Southern country.
HOW THE DAY WILL BE OBSERVED HERE.
The day will be observed in the city gen
orally as legal holiday. The city, State,
and National Offices will be closed, and busi-
ness will be partially suspended. Thanks
giving services will be held in the various
churches, and Sunday hours will be observed
at the pOstOfiice, and the ietter-carriers will
not be on duty.
PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR.
Mayor ElIys0n issaed the following pro-
clamation Yesterday:
"ln compliance with the proclamation of
the President Of the United States and the
Governor of Virginia, setting apart Thurs
day, November 18th, as Il time for thanks
giving and PRAYER, and in order to enable
the officers and employees Of the city TO
properly observe the occasion, it is hereby
ordered that the city offices be closed on that
day. }. TAYLOR ELLYsON, Mayor"
THANKSGIVING NOTES.
A Thanksgiving tea and reception will be
given tonight at O'Clock, at the Women's
Christian Association rooms on Main street
between Sixth and Seventh. This will be
one of the most enjoyable events Of the
Thank Day, and tte public should literally
DatrOniZe the entertainment
The offices in the State Capitol, in the
custom-house, in the City Hall and all the
banks will be closed to-day.
No courts will be in session to-day eX-
cepting, of course, the Police Court
The post0fiice will observe Sunday hours.
The public schools will De closed until
Monday.