Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-11-27
THANKSGIVING.

The person who cannot find some pretext
for observing the present holiday in good
faith must be a churl on whom the lavish
ed blessings of nature arc wasted. Ont
upon him, ye spirits that preside DER this
day Of Thanksgiving, Let none in com
planning mood enjoy the toothsome turkey,
or the suculent pumkin pie.
We like TO think Thanksgiving is being
celebrated by everyone. 1t is pleasant to
believe that while the low prices of ssme
Of our staple prodnsts have caused discom-
fort, thousand blessings are observed and
received with gratitude. If We have moth
ing else, let us be thankful for the dinner
which will come to most of us. III we have
not that, let US be thankful that the sim
plest fare builds mp muscular tissue better
than turkey and pie.
II we have not even the bread and wa
ter, let MS be thankful for the life to come,
The earliest account we have of a regu-
lar Thanksgiving Day in this country To-
Gates the celebration at Mohegan, near the
Kennebec River, Me-, where on August .,
1907, old style, it is stated in an old chron-
icle, Chaplain Seymour, minister OF the
Church OF En- gland, delivered asermon "on
giving God thanks for happie msetynge
and safe ARRIVAL into the countrie." The
example here set was followed by the Ply
mouth brethren in the autumn Of 162l,
when they had collected their first harvest
which consisted of twenty acres Of corn
and six of barley, oats and peas enough to
keep them supplied with food for the COM
ing year. Gov Bradford appointed the day,
and in order that the occasion shonld be
observed with good cheer sent hunters out
to forage the country to procure plenti-
iul supply of good things needful for din
ner. The men returned with water fowl.
wild turkey aud venison. The great Indi-
an chief Massasoit, and ninety OF his
warriors were inYited to the feast which
lasted three days.
The next Thanksgiving celebration of
which we have any authentic record was
two years afterwards, when however, 1t
was observed, not in autumn, but in July.
and the occasion was manifestly furnished
By the timely arrival Of ship from Eng
land laden with provisions, when the set-
tiers werc on the verge of starvation. Dur,
ing that same year a day of fasting and
prayer in the midst of drought was chang
ed 10 a day of thanksgiving by the coming
Of rain during the prayers.
In 1852 Gov. Winthrop, of the Masaschu-
setts Bay Colony, recommended a day of
Thanksgiving on account Of the favorable
action towards the colonies Of the British
Privy Council. During the revolution q
day of national thanksgiving was annually
recommended by Congress, and at the
adoption of the Constitution, 1850, wash
ington was strongly urged by Congress to
appoint day for thanksgiving In 1875
q proclamation of thanksgiving was issued
for the suppression of insarrection. Presi-
dent Madison in 1915 appointed day for
national thanksgiving.
1t is only within the last thirty years
that Thanksgiving Day has assumed the
character of fixed annual occurrence, its
origin being traced to the proclamation Of
President Lincoln, dated July Is, 1898.
The day chosen by President Lincoln on
this occasion for national thanksgiving.
praise and prayer" was August 6 of that
year. In the two following years the
date of the observance was left to the dis
erection Of the President but during the
past twenty five years the last Thursday
in November has been set apart for the
holiday