The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-11-30
AFEW POINTS ABOUT ITS EARLY Oh.
SERvANCE.
Some Old Proclamations-Orig Of the
Festival-Tsecosnition by Congress No
Reason Why the Turkey Should BE Com
Cerned In It.
H "A N K SGIv-
ING day dates
back to the times
when the Puritan
fathers sought
liberty Of con-
science on the
shores of New
England, whittier
they were driven
to take refuge
from the intoler-
ance and persecu-
49, -

| iRINVk;\yAHhh&lT, to take refuge
N Iy1Sl hkHtXW from the intoler-
! 'vaTEnV1nnrl>NM' ance and persecu-
ton of state
church. landing in this country-as ev-
cry intelligent schoolboy can tell-on
Monday. Dec. 81. 1920. Tho first cele-
bration Of the kind in modern times was
in October. 1876, at Leyden. where there
was Il Thanksgiving celebration of the
first anniversary of the city's deliverance
from siege. Forty-six years later, in the
fall of 1921, Governor Bradford, after
the first harvest Of the Plymouth colony
in New England, proclaimed day of
thanksgiving and sent out four men in
search of game to enable them to observ.
it better.
These Puritan fathers, whose suffer
ings had impaired to their devotion a
certain degree Of sternness, were very
thankful for bountiful harvest after a
period Of sore distress and looked upon
the first fruits of their toll in their new
home as symbol of blessings to come.
The four sportsmen came back stagger-
ing under a burden of turkeys and other
wild fowl enough to provision the colony
for week. The commencement of the
festival was announced by the roar of
one of the great guns on the hilltop, and
the day was Thursday. Oct. "a, rather
less than one year after their arrival in
Cape Cod bay.
There was solemn procession first to
the meeting house. the men marching
three abreast, with the sergeant in COM
mand and Governor Bradford following
behind, while Elder Brewster, in his
preachers cloak, walked alongside bear
ing the Bible and looking as grave as
the occasion demanded. Miles Standish,
the warlike military chief, was there,
and clad in the dress of the times would
cut strange figure if present among us
now. No doubt that Thanksgiving din
ner was enjoyed keenly and was the big
gest thing in the way of family party
that has occurred since. Most of the
game was cooked in the open air, and
the thrifty Puritan housewives concoct-
ed dishes that were tempting and ingen-
ious. The dinner was followed by the
singing of psalms and of favorite songs
that they had often sung around English
firesides.
In the midst of their rejoicings an In
dian shout was heard, causing momen-
tary panic, and every man grasped his
weapon, but twas only a hundred friend
ly savages, led by Chief Massasoit, who
had come to thank the white man for
assistance rendered and to share in the
festivities. They brought contribution
to the test in the way of venison, and
while it was being prepared gave an ex-
hibition Of their war dances. causing de-
mure Puritan maidens to scream and
their lovers to look gallant and fearless
as they treasured them. Captain Stand
ish in turn gave the Indians a start by
putting his troops through a military
drill, the savages being alarmed by the
rafting of the musketry and the roar of
the ordnance. The feast continued three
days amid prayers, psalm singing, In
dian dances and warwhoops and roaring
artillery, after which the Indians were
escorted short distance from the set
Element by Captain Standish and his
troops, who gave them parting salute.
Days of thanksgiving were officially
appointed in the Massachusetts Bay col
ony for several years prior to 1889. The
New Netherlands Dutch rulers also set
apart regular days of thanksgiving be-
tween the years 1914 and 1865, and 100
years later on the English governors of
New York followed their example.
The proclamation of the New Neither
lands council, sitting at Fort Amster-
dam in 1916, was as follows:
Whereas, 1t has pleased Almighty God in his
unbounded clemency and mercy. in addition
to many previous blessings, to suffer US to
| reach the long looked for peace with the In
| dams,
Therefore is It deemed necessary to proclaim
| the fact to all those Of New England to the end
that in all places in the aforesaid country
where Dutch and English churches are estab
praised and blessed on next Wednesday fore
noon. being the 9Th Of September, the text to
be appropriate and the sermon to be applicable
thereto.
Your reverence will please announce this
matter to the congregation next Sunday so
| that they may have notice.
On which we rely.
Throughout the Revolution the annual
observance of Thanksgiving day was duly
recognized by congress. After peace,
however. it was thought to be no longer
necessary till 1850, when the adoption of
the constitution was made national
thanksgiving by the appointment Of
President Washington. Like rejoicings
took place in celebration Of the suppress
sion Of instruction in 1895 and the
restoration of peace in 1916. The first
Thursday in November was recommend
ed as day Of national thanksgiving by
the prayer book Of the Protestant Epis-
copal church in 1889, since when other
denominations have made similar provi-
sions. The governor Of New York 70
years ago appointed regular day, and
the other northern states quickly fol-
lowed, the southern states joining in aft
-