Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-11-30
r r II r UTIO N.

noon. being the 9Th of September, the text 70
be appropriate and the sermon TO be applicable
thereto.
Your reverence will please announce this
matter 10 the congregation next Sunday so
that they may have notice.
On which we rely.
Throughout the Revolution the annual
observance of Thanksgiving day wasduly
recognized by congress. After peace,
however. it was thought to be no longer
necessary till 1889, when the adoption of
the constitution was made a 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 1915. The first
Thursday in November was recommend
ed as a 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 20
years ago appointed a regular day, and
the other northern states quickly fol-
lowed, the southern states joining in aft
or the war.
The staid and chastened rejoicing with
which the honest but austere pilgrim
fathers observed the day may be learned
from the proclamation in 1857 of Petrus
S~tuyvesant, or rather of the council OF
the New Netherlands. in which he en-
joins thankfulness, but forbids certain
worldly pleasures in the following words:
In order that these services may be observed
with the greatest harmony the director gem
eral and council forbid during the exercises
on the said day Of Thanksgiving all such pleas
ures as playing tennis or ball. hunting, fishing,
driving, blowing, moving, together with all for
hidden plays, as dice, conviviality and such like,
under pain of arbitrary Punishment, and we ad-
monish at the same time all ministers of the
holy gospel within our Jurisdiction to formulate
their sermons and prayers accordingly. Given
in council held at Fort Amsterdam, In New
Netherlands, 9th Of February. 1851.
AS to the cause for national thanks
giving, no true American can say there
is not abundant reason for t~hankfulness.
This is the year of the commemoratiou
Of the centenary Of the institution,
greater liberty is enjoyed than in per-
haps any other country, and while there
always will be rich and poor, there are
less poverty and higher wages proper
tionately for workmen than in any other
country in the world. The chances Of
rising to wealth are open to all. The
laboring man Of today may possibly be a
millionaire 10 or 20 years hence. The
agricultural resources Of the country are
30 great that double the present popula-
ton of this country could be sustained
In the United States without increasing
the area of a single farm or adding one
to their number by merely bringing the
product up to the standard of reasonably
good agriculture. Besides this, there
might remain for export twice the guam
tity required for home use, which could
be sent abroad to feed the hungry.
The first Thanksgiving proclamation
OF Washington as president Of the United
States was made in New York on Oct.
3, 1889, setting apart Thursday, Nov.
20, Of that year Ito be devoted by the
people Of these states to the service of
that great and glorious Being who is the
Author of all the good that is, that was
or that will be-" etc.
His second Thanksgiving proclama,
ton was made in Philadelphia on Jan. /,
1895. the occasion to be one Of special
observance.
OF all the Thanksgiving proclama-
lions ever issued, that which caused the
bitterest comment was the one by Gov
ernor John Jay Of New York. 1t stands
conspicuous in the pages Of history by
marking the acrimony and enmity OF
his assailants in the way in which it is
worded. and is as follows:
Whereas, The governor Of the state of Now
York Is vested with authority o. appoint n day
for this purpose, and to require and enjoin the
observance Of IL Is q question which, circum-
stanced as It Is, 1 consider as being more an.
propriate Tor the Legislature than for me TO de-
eide But. as the people of this state have con.
stituted me their chief magistrate, and being
perfectly convinced that national prosperity
obtained and ought to obtain national graft
tude to the Supreme Ruler of all nations. /
mink II appropriate to recommend, and |
therefore do earnestly recommend. to the
clergy and others Of my fellow citizens through.
out this state to set apart Thursday, the sSth
OF oyember, for the purpose aforesaid and to
observe It accordingly.
The question why the turkey becomes
the national bird, as far as the table is
concerned. on Thanksgiving day has new
er been settled and probably never will
be. o likely it is because this g~allina-
fowl is in prime order for killing
at this time and posi- ,ly because most
OF the pilgrim fathers cried "Turkeyp at
their first Thanksgiving feast. The same
mystery prevails regarding the associa.
no OF cranberry sauce with turkey at
this time. 1t will probably never be re.
vealed. Let those who wish to lift the
veil beware lest their curiosity to see
what is hidden may reveal a cause SO
utterly prosaic as to take away some Of
the charms Of q feast consecrated by
over W centuries Of observance.