The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-22
THANKSGIVING DAY.
TH0reHrs SUGGESTED nv ruE An
NAL HARVEST FESTIVAL
ifs Ort9tn snA Ancient Manner 81
Oeservsn~e - Its NeArrn Siwsta-
esnce - The Cesasry Feast "A
Teopting Danas<s-The Perfces
Fern ~ Givinx Thanks-

esnce - The Cesasry Feast - \
Tespting Danas~s-The Ferfces
Fern ~ Gising TAanks-
eising has been ky no means peculiar 10
fnas country or eve. TO modern ages. rn-
deea tne Hebrews had their harvest fes-
ufais. fhe principal one hxing the autumn
seass az ingAthertnx sfesst OK the Taser-
nasless. THANKSGIVING Tor ;h- whole
produce o. the wire press. CT The fruit
cfcnsrds and corn aeids. similarly too.
the cFeSks aad Romans had festival sea-
sens IN honor OF nemetsr. or Ceres. the
goddess OF agriculture All these were
sanctioned by religious rite games and
joyous indulgence in The pleasures Of the
'ante. So our Thanksgiving day has a
noble descent in history, ard The PNri-
tsrx OF Massachusetts rot only showed
4nsir pi~ts. but their scholarship. in some
OF the cid sermons still extans. A dis
course OF the celebrated DR.. Cotton Ma
Their on Thanksgiving 10 curious in It's
learning eoacerning the prototypes Of the
Puritan festival among the nations of the
past II shows how we'll the fathers
knew they had linked themselves with a
great historic Observance
However the day has become shorn Of
! masses. who sxcrsciy enjoy the Thanks
giving turkey. lie connection With wor-
ship Is always earnestly entcined by state
and federal procie nations. Ii is indeed.
/ the sole religious festival observed in the
/ United States by virtue OF civil author
I ity- The annual practice in New Eng
land during colonial times WAS initiated
/ after awhile BY the Dutch and English
/ governors Of New York. and the CONT
/ mental congress proclaimed the festival
annually during the great war struggle.
IL remained afisrwArd, however, q pure
/ iy State affair. TILL In 1853. President Ian
/ coin began the practice OF proclaiming
an aufumnal Thanksgiving annually.
/ In tho earlier time Thanksgiving day
was the most important or American fes-
/ tivais. for Christmas MAS looked on with
| moro or less suspicion b. she rigid Puri-
| fana. Aside from chwengo.ng, shooting
with the rife at turkeys WAS the most
/ widespread habit OF the day. This Ia still
/ practical 10 some extent in the purely
rural communities. .,owadays. however,
! the overshadow.ng feature of the holiday
Ia the way OF amusements 10 tho preva-
4 lence Of the great football and Other
| games salectsd for that date. Our uni
| versities mako il the occasion Of their
| most brilliant athlet.c contests. Out OF
| the cities where tho more important OF
/ these friendly battles would naturally oc-
| cur local games are arranged which per-
haps evoke as much interest among tho
| spectators. II IL curious TO observe that
among eli the strong and vtrile nations
| this tendency TO connect national festi-
| vais with athletic contests has been all
but universal. Among the Americans.
| Engiishmen and uermans OF today, the
/ cognate branches of the Teuton family.
| this Ia specially noticeable.
/ The religious exercises OF Thanksgiving
nearly always look In some way toward
| matters Of national gratitude rather than
| those OF individual thanks. 50 We expect
/ the church addresses to oe largely OF po-
\ lit.cxi character. dealing with topics OF
/ public morals. Our ministers naturally
! avail themselves OF this escape valve TO
| discharge views OF political questions once
| q year. and many 4 good stump speech. as
| well as some poor ones. have been thus
| shot from the battery OF the pulpit. Not
a few of the most powerful ana eloquent
| addresses Of Henry Ward Beecher. Rev.
| DR.. Etorrs, DIR. Hall, DIR. 4. H. Chaplin
| and other preaching celebrities have owed
1 themselves 10 this occasion. \ sermon DC.
| liycred by the Rev. Or. Palmer. or New
| Orleans on Thanksgiving day. 1850 IL said
| to have aroused and crystallized secession
/ sentiment scarcely less than Mirabeaa's
oratory did The revolutionary sentiment
/ at the convocation OF the French states
| general n lfS9. So. while most OF the
| Thanksgiving pulpit talking may lack
| pith and fire. 1t sometimes becomes
| p-ojectiIs OF nontrous force ana eHect-
But, after all Is said, one must confess
! that the true modern significance OF
| Thanksgiving is that of the feast day
! the family feast day. II gathers the scat
tered branches together from Tar and WIDE
| TO sacrifice at the altar OF family love.
| where are enshrlned the LAres and Penates
| Of the old home. There ID something OF
| this feeling, too, at Christmas. but X
| chiefly touches the individuals OF each
| family branch. Thanksgiving seeks the
| gathering OF the clan and becomes IN
many cases perhaps the most beautiful
ard delightful occasion of the year. full
| Of the purest soy ana sweetness. ver1ta-
| bic fountain OF refreshmert. The specta-
Gle Of three or four generations or a family
assembled together from distant dwelling
places under the ancient family rooftres
~ charged with the hearts truest poetry.
THE significance IL not that IL surfe.ts the
belly with toothsome and succulert Gain
ties. but that 1t fits the soul brirnful or
love and sympathy effervesciug anew at
ter long absence This is the truest relig~
fous sacrifice Of the day. and 30 the din
ner table becomes perhaps the most con-
secrsted shrine Of ali. though no blood OF
the grape is poured out Fl, Eoation there.
Of Thanksgiving are found. They 30 with
turkey and pumpkin pic, not with terra
Pin and canvssback: with sparkling apple
Juice, not with champagne. The crisp.
pure air. the association OF rural life re-
vived again with exhilarating freshness,
the warming of family ties. the homely.
sppetix!ng dishes into whose connecting
the cook has poured the purcsf love and
10Y OF the keart as well as fragrant spice,
and sweets. make I'D something which no
banquet OF Lucuiigs could equal. Many u
worl6acrn spirit has found IN such an oe
caslon new sense flaming out OF the ash
- OF ennui and WEAKNESS. that. after all.
lsfe ss well wcrsh living Ard 50 may IL
be always.
We have said nothing IN this article
about the giving OF thanks. which tire
name Of the day emphasizes. Well. per-
hsps the Indulgence Of love and Innocent
JOS and the new birth Of all the best SYM
pathlss OF ones nature are a. perfect
form OF thanks giving 20 TIRE great Creator
% all as prayer and psalm singing within
the walls OF the cha pei without the FIRST
named all else Is but as sounding brass
AMI sirkiing cymnsi.'