The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-12-04

1Do0081v110 80ooteoao0AoGs Wo0140
day Evsaing. Nevsnbsr s4th.
In accordance With time honored Gus
tom, Thursday, November 3sth, Wa ~
! apart by the President and Governors o
our respective states to b observed ~
National Thanksgiving. A day to b
dedicated to prayer and fsasting. For ~
to render thanks tor benefits receive<
during the year, and supplications for |
continuance of our blessings. II 10 ,
beautiful custom and breathes the splri
of . festival, whose story carries % bach
| through the vistas Of time, to the old Co
Ionial days-back to the very threshold
Of our country-to the days Of the Pill
grim Fathers ct Plymouth, two hundred
aud seventy six years ago. There, in the
autumn Of 1881. amid tho bound!ess vii
derness of new world, the 6rst Thanks.
giving vas celebrated. On the wild New
England coast, In their little settlement .,
Plymouth. the band Of Pilgrims. grateful
that providence had smiled upon them
after many weary months Of trials and
su1ferings. reJoiced in . feast Of thanks
giving.
The story Of the Pilgrims II time worn,
but it never leses interest BY repetition.
History tells ~ that in the early part Of
the seventeenth century there was . great
deal of religious persecution in England,
and among those who suffered the most
were the people who were called Pilgrims,
because they were wanderers. They were
members Of tho church of England, but
rejected some of its forms and ceremonies.
Many OF the Pilgrims exiled themselves
into Holland, where they escaped further
persecution. But they did not feel 1t
home in this strange land among people
who spoke strange tongue. They pinned
for some other land where they might
live in peace and esfablish for themselves
= new state in the wilderness. With >
view of promoting this project, John Car.
yer and Robert Cushmsa were sent to En-
gland a commissioners before the king
and his Minister, but King Jaaes was
opposed to everything that would tend to
favor heretics, - tho Pilgf3ms Wero called
BY the church of England. Not discour-
aged by the failure Of their commissioner
the Pilgrims resolved that whatever the
consequences might b. they would seek
. new home in the wilds Of Amsrica, where
they could worship ct their 'faith'a pure
SHRINE" With King James permission
or without it they determined to 60 and
New World.
x Two vessels, the Spesdwell and May
flower, were secured for their voyage
across the Atlantic. o. the 9Th Of Aug
ust, 1920, the two ships put out to sea
with band of one hundred and two Pill
grims on board. Soon after setting sail
from Plymouth, England. the Sreedweli
proved unit for the dangerous voyage
and put back to the English port, tue
emigrants having crowded together on
the Mayfower to brave the dangers OF
The stormy deep, in the hope Of finding
peace and happiness across the waters.
On the 21st of November. 1890, the May
flower with its company of Pilgrims came
to anchor at Cape Cod, after tsmpestu
Gus voyage Of over nine weeks, during
which the over. burdened little bark had
several times been threatened with de-
struction.
The night was dark and stormy, the
lightning flashed and peals Of thunder
rent the heavens, when tho tsmpest tossed
aydower, with its band OF exiies, cast
anchor on the bleak shores Of MAssachu-
,etts.
The following beautiful lines from the
pen of Mrs. Hemans, the Eoglish poetess, 10
! graphic picture of that memorable event
the landing Of the Pilgrim Fathers.
The breaking waves dashed high
IN a Sfn~u nd Pnnk cOasf
And the woods against stormy sky
Their giant branches tossed.
And the heavy night hung dark
The hills and waters Ger
When q band Of exiles moored their bark
On the wild New England shore.
A midst the storm they sang,
And the stars heard, and the sea;
And the sounding aisles Of the dim woods
To the anthem Of the free.
The ocean eagle scared
From his neat by the white waves foam
And the rocking pines OF the forest roared
This was their welcome homei
When dawn came the storm had sub
ided and the Pilgrims crowded on deck to
ook upon the land where they had hoped
o find . home. Separated by the vast
,cean from friends and dear ones and from
III the civilized world, there was now only
n unbroken stretch Of wilderness min
rled with the gloom of cold November
ky that met their gaze. Il it wonder
hat they turned their heads to shut out
he drtary picturei 1t was . scene 70
,leak, ESQ barren that they could not re-
oncile themselves to leave the vessel and
ast their lines In such % un;nviting spot.
I Was decided to send out an exploring |
,arty to seek \ more favorable haven.
Miles Standish, the sturdy soldier Of
ne com pauy, with few brave men under
,is command started out to explore the
cast. sometimes ON foot through the
rsckless forest and again sailing along |
he bleak shore in An open boat exposed
0 the cold blasts Of winter and IN danger
f being massacred By the savage lodians. |
kt last, ON the 2lst day of December,
$50, notable day in the history OF our
ountry, they reached The harbor ct Plym-
,uth, and stepping from their boat upon
he rock that the American people viii
yer cherish - the emblem Of their foun- |
lstion. they landed on the spot destined
or the settlement Of the first New Eng
aad colony. Upon that historic rock
hose brave men planted the seeds Of the |
principles Of liberty and self government
hat one hundred and 6fty yesrs later
ave to the people Of America their glori,
'us Declaration Of Independence.
"a K AA~ GOnH