Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-11-23
Christine's Crystals.
Thanksgiving Day in We olden Time.

the fold, and we must In particular
manner set a watchiul guide over the
devil, that old black bull that has done
SO much damage among us" All now
perceived the wisdom and fitness OF
Mr.. Buckley's advice, and resolved to
be governed by II AS consequence
all animosities subsidized and perfect
harmony was restored to the long dis
sentiment church. What was contained
IN the church letter sent to the farmer,
and what elect II had upon him, ! am
unable to say.
Strict as the old Puriians were, they
Were not opposed to certain games
particularly those OF an outdoor char.
acter. Bowls and Backgammon we're
permitted, and the young men and
maidens were not restricted, at least in
the colonies Of Plymouth and Mass.
achusetts Bay from participating In hem
upon Thanksgiving day, after they had
devoutediy attended to meetings"
Some OF the old English fire side games
were also permitted, and many bevy
OF Puritan lads and lasses participated
IN snap dragon and blind mans buff, on
Thanksgiving night. This custom OF
making the occasion one ior family and
social reunion. and devoting 1t largely
to Innocent amusement, Is still one u
the most honored In connection with
Thanksgiving day, and no where more
so than in New England.
The Puritans and their descendants
for many years after them were strong.
ly opposed to the introduction OF any
musical instrument at divine worship.
But IN 1879 member OF the choir con.
nected with the bingham, Massachus.
stts, meeting house"-the Oldest
church in this country, having been
built IN i6SI-had learned to play upon
the violin cello, was anxious to display
his skill, aud according brought his big
hddl into the singing gallery on
Thanksgiving morning. While the
hymn was being read he ventured to try
his strings to ascertain II the instrument
were in tune, and thereby attracted the
attention Of the pastor The good man
paused, laid down his hymn book, and
proceeded with his sermon as though
singing formed no part OF his public
worship, and finally dismissed the con.
gregaton without vote or comment.
The members OF the choir were indig.
nant. The young men and girls re.
solved not to 20 into the singing
seats at all In the afternoon, and the
elders who did go there wore a look Of
stern resolution. The pastor read a
psalm and sat down No sound TO-
lowed. After a long silence he read the
psalm again, with flushed face and stern
man er, looking interrogately at the
gallery. The choir leader-my gr at
grandfather, by the way, from whom
the story has been handed down to sue.
eeeding generations-could bear Il no
longer and called out decisively,
'tthere'll be no singing here this Thanks.
giving"
Then ,here'll be no preaching" said
the pastor, and taking his cooked hat
from its peg he marched out OF church,
leaving his congregation paralyzed with
asionishment The big fiddle did not
again appear in the singing seats"
The general observance OF an annual
Thanksgiving day spread very slowly
outside OF New England An American
edition of the Episcopalian Prayer
Book dated 1889, strongly advised IL,
but the recommendation was not then
acted upon. Thanksgiving day was not
regularly proclaimed by any state gov.
ernor outside of New England I'LL 1877,
and II is only within a. years past that Il
.ias been customary for the President OF
The United States to proclaim It.
GEorFRBY WILLIsTos CHRISTINE.