The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-25

INT only the elevation and perfection of
man whatever may be his condition or
birth.
In the cabin of the Mayfower we have
presented to us one of those small but sig
niflcant events, which influence the des-
tinv of man through all succeeding his
tory. When this compact was signed,
serving men-yillains-the slave class,
were accented as equals in political rights.
Circumstances forced the superiors to
what may have seemed to them an unwise
admission. The men of birth and educa-
ton among the Pilgrims did not intend
democracy They had no faith in it and
the social distinction between mfr" and
Goodman" continued long after the civil
had been ground to dust by the dynamic
force of their unrecognized and undevel-
oped principles of religious right and duty.
But the act was done and could not be uri-
done The light from heaven was forced
in upon men and they saw. With rights
come duties and the rights once admitted
and assumed, the duties must be done.
Their government was of the utmost sim
plicity-technically it was nothing, for
each man was free and his own governor.
There was room for self-development and
everyone naturally gravitated TO his own
place.
This, then, is the brief history of Fore
fathers day. The small seed dropped at
Plymouth has grown into noble tree, ana
the oppressed and fugitive from other
lands fnds shelter under its branches.
Ldus Dec.
The Sabbath was great and holy day to
these Pilgrims, and more especially God
time than Monday and other days. The
reverence of the Sabbath was SO intense
that not even physical suffering or their
greatest necessities could induce them to
sacriuce its observance The Sabbath was
thasr hAi Aoxy until Th4nkspIVInp
came TO be the annual festival.
There has been so much said and written
about Thanksgiving, with so little knowl-
edge of the small and accidental origin OF
this institution, this strictly New England
institution, that think a brief recital Will
be behtting the close of this article on Fore
fathers day.
In 1923. more than two centuries and a
half ago, Winsiow, writing to England,
mentions that after the gathering OF the
harvest, Governor Bradford, of Plymouth
colony. sent out company for game, that
they might furnish themselves more dainty
and abundant materials for a feast, and re-
joice together after they had gathered the
fruits of their labors. SO they got their
game. and they cooked it and they ate OF
it, and they Toasted Massasoit and ninety
of his Indians, and they thanked God with
all their hearts for the good world and the
good things in it. So they kept their first
Thanksgiving. This was kept up regularly
every year afterward Governor Bradford,
writing of Thanksgiving day in 1916,
twenty-three years after its hrst establish
ment, said Nor has there been any gem
eral want of food among us since to this
day."
The children of New England, wherever
they are, reverence the great Thursday, the
Thanksgiving of the year. 1t is proper
thing for these children of New England
to do. Pleasant memories of childhood
and youth are clustered round the annual
November time, and by kind OF magic
the past is made present.
The gradual spread of New England ideas
over the whole American nation has spread
this idea of an annual harvest feast, till
now it has become a recognized national
institution, this great Thanksgiving. Al
ter harvest, the governor of the state IS
sued his proclamation for day of thanks
giving and praise, and every spring, at
seed time, was day set for fasting, humil-
iation and prayer, and each day was religi-
ously kept by those early Pilgrims.
The government of Plymouth colony was
a religious democracy. Its doctrines and
practices were the outcome of the time, and
were decided upon or discarded by the
vote of the members as men. In theory
the majority ruled in the Plymouth
church. 1t is noticeable theory in the
history OF man, ana mas mao ltS influence
in New England both in church and state
The day had come when few brave men
could take this step in the advance toward
freedom, and not be swallowed up and
lost. The day had come when democracy
was possible in the church. foretelling its
coming in the state, a day yet certain to be
when the state shall assimilate to the
church, and the true religious spirit, per
vading all men of all classes, may leaver
even politicians, when church and state
shall be as one.
Not as the eonqueror comes
They the true-bearted, came
Not with the roll of the stirring drum
And the trumpet that sings of fame;
Not as the flying come,
In silence and in fear;
They shook the depth of the desert gloom
With their hymns of lofty cheer.
Az, call il holy ground,
The soil where first they trod.
They have left unstained what there they
found,
Freedom to worship God.
JAMES G.. SWAN.
Port Townsend, December p, 1890, Fore
fathers Day"