The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-21
THE HISTORY
AND HABITS OF
THANKSGIVING
CBy Rev. S. T. Willis, A. NJ


strong hold upon our affections, nor to
wear out the welcome which the sue
ceSsive generations of our fOrefathers
have given it. The roots of this thanks
giving custom are sunk so deeply in the
home life of large sections of the coun-
try that its vitality is almost ineXhaus-
tible. In the New England annals we
find the earliest record of an American
Thanksgiving Day. In the autumn of
1G21 the good Governor, William Brad
ford, proclaimed a day of special thanks
giving to God for the crown of goodness
He had placed upon that first year of
the white mans life in the New World.
Though these pioneers had laid many
of their comrades to rest on the barren
hill near by, they were not sOured, nor
refused to recognize the wisdom and
goodness of God. In the following year,
after abundant harvest, another day of
rejoicing and gratitude was set apart.
In fact, this festival continued three
days, and among them Massasoit, chief
of the friendly tribe, and his fill coun-
Gil of braves, were present by special in
vitation, making merry and glad. The
first public official Thanksgiving Day
| did not come, however, until the year
| 1851. 1t had been proclaimed as a
| day of fasting and prayer for relief"
| because the colonists were in sore dis
| tress; the perils of famine were immi-
nent: vessel laden with provisions for
| them, and long at sea, had not reached
the port. But just before the appointed
| day arrived the ship landed safe and
sound with plenty, so by official author
| ity the nature of the services on that
day were changed rom sorrow and fast
ing to feasting and Thanksgiving. This
seemed to have been the first great
Thanksgiving Day with the American
people. Occasionally afterward days of
special gratitude were observed more or
less generally, but in 1914 Governor
Kieft, of New Netherland Colony, Off
cially proclaimed "a day of general
thanksgiving" for their then recent vic
tory over the Indians; and again, at the
conclusion of peace, the following year
another Thanksgiving Day was pro-
claimed. The Continental Congress set
apart number of Thanksgiving Days
at various times for special purposes,
among them July 20, 1875: May II and
December II, 1876; April %, 1873; May
6, 1873; April 6, 1880; May 3, 1871, and
April -, 1882. The Congress suggested
these days to the Governors of the sew
| lamation setting forth the special rea-
/ son for gratitude and calling upon the
/ people to render thanks to God. Beside
| these days General Washington issued
/ orders to the Colonial Army directing
/ that December IS, 1877, and May Z,
/ 171S, be observed as general Thanks
giving Days. The first national Thanks
giving Day observed by the free Ameri-
/ can people came ON Thursday, Novem-
! Der 20, 1880, and tue honor of the sug-
/ gestion belongs to Representative Elias
Boudinot, who asked the House to re-
| quest the President to recommend "a
| day Of THANKSGIVING and prayer, to be
! observed by tne people of the United
! States, and so keenly conscious were
some OF the representatives of the bitter
bondage from which the country had
so recently freed herself that the meas
ure was opposed on the ground that
such a day might lead to the imitation
of friyolities and pomps of Kingdoms,
and to other huStful things. The House
passed the measure, however, and the
day was appropriately observed.
The. custom has been observed an
nually in New England for more than
century and has extended to other
States one by one until now there are
but three sections in which Thanks
giving Day is not officially recognized.
These States are Alabama, Louisiana
and Mississippi. That the custom is
growing is shown by the fact that with
in the past four years the States of Ar
kansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia,
Oklahoma and Utah have introduced
the national Thanksgiving Day.
And yet, even with all this interesting
history back of it, there is danger that
the religious significance of the day may
be forgotten. We so soon grow accus-
toned to our blessings that we accept
them as part of the general order OF
things and naturally become ungrateful
by pure fOrgetfulness or Indifference.
But as a matter of fact most things
which come to us come by the pure ia.
vor or courtesy OF others and how un-
worthy do we consider the migrate! He
is one of the most contemplate charac-
tiers with which we meet. We consider
him even uncivil who does not sponta-
| neously say or write Thank YOU for
the favors and kindness shown him by
his fellow man. And this word of CRATE
full appreciation is never lost Even il
1t may seem to have no effect upon him
for whom it was given, it will not be
lost upon those who hear, nor will its
influence be powerless upon him who
bestows it. A cultivation of the thanks
giving habit will make to grow the
sense of appreciation, and as result
our spirits will be sweetened, our souls
enlarged and the whole horizon Of life
beautified. Then the ordinary affairs of
| life will never more be commonplace:
our conditions and surroundings will al
ways appear in a fresh light. This is
| significant. The man whose family find
| in him a source of endless delight and
| JOY is one who does not suffer the COM
mon relationships and the daily inter
| course to become coorlcss and arid.
! Such man keeps love alive by culti-
| waiting the sentiment Of affection. His
| face, his voice, his deed makes the old
courses of life brim and sparkle with a
! full current of tenderness and feeling.
So it is again with the great artist who
| sees the common in an uncommon light
and clothes the most ordinary objects