New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-02
! /.
THE FAST AND THANKSGIVING DAYS OF
NEW-ENGLAND. BY w. DeLoss Love- j.
Uoughton Mfiin & Co.

II Is a little more than twelvemonth since
Ma chusetts formally abolished the fast day
that for exactly 200 years had been observed in
that State as unfailingly as Thanksgiving. The
November festival. however. had grown from
local observance OF a single colony to great
National holiday, firmly .ntrenched in the affec-
tons of a whole people. The April fast had long
been merely day Of recreation. or local import
only 1t is still retained as such upon the legal
calendar OF one o, two c'her New-Engiahu
States The fast and the festival day represent
one of the most striking manifestations OF the
Puritan life and spirit in England and America
200 years ago, and study of their origin ana de-
velopment involves the study of the whole re-
ligious and civic system OF the puritan settle
ments on this Continent
| Such \ studv Mr. w De Loss Love has made in
the volume whose title is noted above. He has
| annroached his task with a seriousness and
lconscientiousness that are almost Teutonc and
has executed Il with n thOroughness that Is no
less suggestive Of the German scholars methods.
The discussion IS one that involves an intimate
familiarity with early New-England history. not
only Of the events that shaped 1t outwardly, but
Of the spirit and especially the deep ana pas
sionate religious feeling that formed It's under
current. To modern eyes the picture Is some
what gloomy one, austere in Its outlines, sharp
In its contrasts Although he is obviously a
partisan Of the Puritans and to some extent. OF
their ideals Mr.. Love has not softened these as
poets of his subject; on the contrary he has ex-
hibted them with fulness of detail that is some
times almost repeent.
The calendar Of the English Church was one Of
the points to which the most stubborn opposition
| OF the Non conformsts directed. The early
days OF the Reformation had brought many i'm
he ma " he r
ter OF the secular days of the year were fast
| days and nearly one-haf the year was set aside
as festival time. both to the great damage of the
Industry Of the land. In Elizabeths reign, the hole
| and festival daies." as Hohnshed puts 1t. had
! been "vere we'll reduced into Jesse number;
| but the trend OF non-co nformity had steadily
been toward the abandonment Of the whole sys-
| TEN and rejection OF al. holy days except the
! Sabbath; until by the time that the emigration
to America had begun the Church calendar was
under the strictest ban on the part Of the Puri-
tans.
| But there was another system to be erected In
| the place Of the they had overthrown They
had required with ever-ncreasng fervor TO Old
Testament usages. and in nothing else more than
| in the Jewish observances Of days of fasting and
| Thanksgiving. particularly such special observ-
ances as were ordered for special occasions The
| constant and direct supervision of God in the
| affairs OF men. AS consequence. they connected
every misfortune or deliverance, great or small.
| with their present sin or virtue. The acknowledge
ment of these manifestations Of Providence In
public observances Of fasting Of thanksgiving.
| according to the testimony God had given them of
His favor or disfavor. was OF cardinal import
ance in their religious system. 1t became OF man.
fold greater weight to the English exles in
America surrounded as they were by innumerabe
dangers and blessed. they regarded IT. by fire.
quent deliverances at the hands Of Providence.
From the November day of 1920 when "the first
encounter" Of land on Cape Cod was commem-
GRATED by 'solemne thanks and praise" the rec
ords. first of the Massachusetts Bay colonies.
then OF the settlements in the other New gland
States, are full Of their pous observances
The memorable autumn OF 1921. their first in the
New World, furnished the occasion Of their first
thanksgiving festival. when the Governor sent
| foure men on fowling. that we might after
more special manner reioyce together. after
had gathered the fruit Of our abours; they foure
in day killed much fowle as. with a little
hepe beside. served the Company almost a weeke,
at which time. amongst other Recreations. we
exercised Armes, many pf the Indians COM
Ing amongst U.s. and amongst the rest their
greatest King, Massasoyt with ninete
men, VnOm Tor tnree 0ayeS we entertained and
feasted. and they went out and killed five Deere
| which they brought tC the Plantation and be-
slowed on our Governor and upon the Captaine
and others"
So in Mounts Relation" is described the first
harvest festival in New-England. Mr. Love
dearly shows that. Interesting this occasion
was, 1t was not as it has often been called a
| thanksgiving day In the Puritans religious
sense. the origin Of continuous series OF
religious Thanksgiving observances. What seems
TO have been the real prototype, in form and
spirit. OF the Thanksgiving Of to-day, the day of
thanks and Of feastng combined, was observed
in the little Sctuate church. to celebrate the
SETTLING Of the State'-in other words the pas
sage Of the law authorizing the Governor to
"comand solemn daies Of humillacon by fasting
&c. and also fo- Thanksgiving as occasion shall
be offered" 1t important step in the de-
! velopment of the Puritan theocratic state more
SO than the devout Sc:tuate Congregation
could have believed. 1t established the system
that has been handed down to the present time
| I'm We Westinghouse" runs the record of this
rather cherries festival of December 90. 1923
"beginning some halle an hour before nine A.
continued till after twelve aclocke, ye day beeing
very cold, beginning VT short prayer. then
psalme sang. then more large in prayer, after
that an other Psalme, & then the Word taught.
after that prayer-& the psame-Then make
ing merry TO the creatures the poorest sort
beeing invited OF the richer"
II these early years brought occasions for CIV
ing thanks. they were still more prolific Of rea-
sons TO seek deverance from m.sfortunes The
drouth Of 1923 capped the climax OF year Of
m!sfortunes; wherefore a day appointed In
July for fasting and prayer 1t was the first
the colonists had observed and was notable one
In their eyes for the singular demonstration it
gave of Gods providence. The religious exer-
cises had been in progress some eight or nine
hours. in the stout OLD Puritan fashion, when
the clouds began to gather and. on the next
morning, according to Winslow's quaint nara
ton, distilled such soft. sweet and moderate