The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1895-11-28
PURITANS' HOLIDAY.
Thanksgiving Inherited From
the Pilgrim Fathers
But the Fundamental Idea j.
as Old as the Israelites.

The earliest Thanksgiving psoela.
nation printed is now in the posses.
SION OF. the Massachusetts, Historical
Society, and bears the date Of 1871
Long before this. however, New Eng.
land knew the meaning OF Thauksgiv-
ing' and the pumpkin pie had been
discovered by the inhabitants OF Mas.
sachusetts and Connecticut. Gran.
berry sauce is Of less ancient origin.
Tor We find no mention OF il much BE-
fore the early part Of this century.
Days set apart for Thanksgiving
we're known TO the Israelites aud are
mentioned throughout tho Bible.
They were common in England be.
fore the Reformation, and were in
frequent use by Protestants afterward,
especially in the Church OF England,
Shere they were a fixed custom long
before they were in the colonies.
"Gyving God thanks" for safe ar.
rival and for many other blessings was
irst heard on New England shores
from the lips Of Popham colonists at
Monhegan, in the Thanksgiving SER
vice OF the Church Of England. The
irst Thanksgiving week-not dny-in
Plymouth was observed in December,
1921. This was a week OF feasting.
yenison was brought in by the Massa.
.oit Indians and dozens OF wild tur-
keys, rabbits and smaller game were
slaughtered for tho feast. The Iu.
iians were invited 10 Join the whites
in the merry-making, an invitation
which was promptly accepted. The
records make no mention of any special
religious exercises during this week
of feasting.
In July. 1923. fast day of nine
hours Of prayer was observed by these
same colonists, who were suffering
from the effects OF a prolonged
drought. which had scorched their
corn and stunted the beans. The rain
which soon afterward fell they be-
iieved could not have come but for
their united and public petition.
The next public Thanksgiving was
held in Boston by the Bay Colony on
FEBRUARY %, 1880. This was an e1.
preston of gratitude for the safe ar.
rival OF food.bearing ships from Eng
and.
From then until about 1854 there
we're about twenty.four Thanksgiving
Days appointed in Massachusetts,. bat
It was not regular biennial custom.
In 1875, time Of deep gloom both in
Massachusetts, and Connecticut on ac-
count Of the many attacks from fierce
savages, no days Of thanksgiving were
celebrated.
Rhode Islanders paid little heed to
the days set apart by the Massachu.
;etts authorities, and many Of them
we're punished for this lack OF con.
Formity. Governor Andres caused
William yeazie to be set in pillory
in tho market place at Boston for
blowing on the Thanksgiving Day Of
june Is, 1890.
In Connecticut the festival was not
regularly observed until 1716. The
earlier Thanksgiving Days we're not
always set on Thursday, nor we're they
always appointed for the same token
Of Gods benefcence. Days Of thanks
giving we're appointed in gratitude for
great political or military events,
for the safe arrival OF 'persOns Of
special use and quality" " for the "dis.
sipation OF pirates, for the abatement
Of disease, for victories over the In
diaus and for plentiful harvests; the
frequent appointments for the last
cause finally made autumn the Gus