The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
PULPIT And PEW.
Our Special Days Of Fasting a Surviving
Custom Of the Past.
THANKSGIVING DAYS IN new ENGLAND.
Tho New England Fast Day a Local Institu-
tion-Extension Of the Meaning
OF the Day-NOtes.

Special days Of Thanksgiving. or Of fasting
and prayer, are peculiar 20 no age or country
They are not even confined to Jewish or
Christian communities In Christendom,
however. the dominant tendency is in the di-
rection of a complete separation OF Church
and State. and hence we might expect IN our
own country. above all others. that religious
demonstrations on the part Of National and
State Governments would be very infrequent
The Continental Congress, during the reyo-
luton and several of the early Presidents, is
sued a good many calls both 10 public
contrition and thanlfulness, and during
the war Of the rebellion similar admo-
nitions were far from infrequent since
the death of the ConfedeTacy, we believe.
the nation has recognized no religious or
se1nirehgious observance except that OF
THANKSGIVING Day This was originally q
New England institution. founded, in part,
Ut least. to supercede Christmas, but 1t has
now been accepted bv even the Roman Catho-
lie Church rs seemly exhibition of gratitude
70 the Lord Of the harvest, and as q pleasant
combination of religious and social duties IL
il no longer substitute for the Christmas
festival Both are duly honored among the
descendants of the Puritans. while, IN assuIn-
ing nationality, the day Of Thanksgiving has
In its modern observance il has retained
the more cheerful features of its original OBJ
servance Formerly Thanksgiving keepers
combined attendance on two long church ser
vices with q dinner Of unusual excellence II
Is hard b see how the female part OF the
household could thus harmonise dining with
devotion, but the problem seems 10 have
been solved TO general satisfaction. Still, the
fact that two services were gradually consoll-
dated into one. and the dimlnution OF attend
ance on that which remained. may be thought
70 indicate that the early practice was some
what inconvenient
The New England Thanksgiving has become
n national festival but the New England fast
day has remained local institution. IL Is
celebrated III the spring, and Is more honOred
in the breach than in the observance, save IN
the procanatiOns of the Governors. and even
they have usually become liberalized and sec
ularized in tone When the population was
homogeneous. and when nearly all reputable
people of adult age were members of the Con.
greeational Church, it was the most natural
thing in the world for the Chief Magis-
trate TO counsel the people TO observe
day Of fasting humiliation and prayer.
Now however. when fully one-thlrd OF the
population is attached TO the Church of Rome,
which recognizes no pOlltlcally-advlsed devO-
tions. while many more are EpiscOpalians, or
of no special faith. the GubernatOrial procla-
nations are likely 10 fail upon many inatten-
tive ears. In Connecticut il has long been The
custom for the Governor 10 designate Good
Friday as Fast Day. thus procuring for II, at
least the tacit and indirect favor of Roman
Catholics and Anglicans In the other States
this has sometimes been tried. but it has not
met with favor. The orthodox day Is the first
THURSDAY in April This year that Thursday
comes lust six DAYS after Good Friday, and
four days subsequent 10 the beginning of
Easter reioicings. II is more than can be eX-
pected that those who have been notifying
the flesh for forty days should at the bidding
of civil magistrate, strike out one day from
the period allotted 10 a return 10 secular ways.
OF late years. as we have said. the proclama
tons of the Governors have assumed semi
secular tone. Strict church members have
complained that the penitential element has
been omitted. They can make no such criti-
cism, however, on the utterances of Governor
futile. of New Hampshire. He has repro
duced with singular fidelity the manifestOes
of his predecessors in the last or in the early
wears of the present century. and probably
called in the help of minister in composing
Lis appeal. On this account 1t may be quoted
In full:
"a PROCLAMATION.
'By His Excellency, Governor Hiram A. Tut
tie. for day of Fasting, Humiliation and
Prayer
in compliance with the custom which
originated in the profound realization Of the
relation OF the creature to the Creator, and
which has hitherto been recognized by the
Executive and people Of this State, !. with
the advice of the Council, do appoint Thurs
day. the ID day of April next, as a day of
fasting. humiliation and prayer throughout
this State. Abstaining from our usual vOca-
lions let us all observe the day with due
decorum and solemnity. In the congregation
of wOrshipers, at the family altar and in the
closet let us with sincere contriton
acknowledge our transgresslons before. Al
mighty God. who has been so fully
rpVpOleH IN Heavenly Fat her
by the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour
With due sense of our entire dependence on
Divine Protection for life, health and all good
things, may we invoke Gods blessing on the
government of the State and its institutions
of religion, learning and benevolence, and de
voutly implore a continuance of the loving
kindness and tender mercy which He has so
abundantly favored us with in the past
Given at the Council Chamber in Concord
this 10th day Of March, in the year Of our
Lord 1891, and the independence of the United
States the ll5th. HIRAM A. iUrTLE.
by His Excelency the Governor, with the
advice of the Council. G. b. RASDLETT.
Deputy Secretary of State"
In the olden times Fast Day was a real OBJ
servance. There were two religious services
and If families had any dinner at all it was
meager lunch Now there Is but one service,
and 10 insure an audience several congrega-
tons ordinarily unite. Ii is a favorite day for
an address on temperance or some other fea-
ture of social reform. For of least half q GEN.
fury past, and long before the beginning of
the modern athletic era the afternoon of Fast
Day has been utilized by the boys in games
of ball or football. II has gone further than
this now From q holy day Fast Day has be-
come holiday with cid as well as young
The church-goers are few and far between.
but the excursionists are numerous. In and
around Boston Fast Day is the chosen period
for engaging tenenents or rooms for the sum-
mer at the neghboring seaside resorts. Nan
tucket, Swampscott and other points are
crowded that day by lodging hunters. For
the stay-at-homes the theatres offer on in
creased number Of performances and addi-
6onal Observation-Disclosures Commercial
Gazette
The Bible ms an Obstructive Instrument.
For the Holy Scriptures rs the oracles of
God, as source Of light and help, an inspira-
ton 10 individuals and nations. as q record of
the most marvellous divine manifestation of
love, compassion and purity for the salvation
OF the human race we have a profound rev
erence: Mhlle. nj the same firnn we are n,,i.a