The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-11-29


cesSors in that it
was proclaimed as a fast and not as
feast, it terminated in feStiyity. Sup
plies lad run short, the ships expected
from England were delayed, and eX-
tinction threatened the governor and
company Of Massachusetts Fay in New
England" Winthrop and his council
decided to hold a day of prayer and alb
stinence, 80 th;S ye Lorde be pro-
pitiated and locke upon his servants
with favor in that they have humbled
themselves before him" Accordingly
a crier was sent about the primitive
settlement at Charlestown, and the
colonists were each and all invited to
take part in the fast. Their sacrifice
met with speedy reward.
had the noon hour Of the al
lotted day arrived when the long hop
ed for ship made its welcome appear
ance in Massachusetts,, Lay, the cargo
was landed, and the fast was succeed
ed by banquet Of sort which must
exiles so recently plunged in hunger
and hardship. On the threshold Of
dreaded winter Winthrop and his fol-
lowers found what had been a pros
pect Of fear and peril changed into one
of happiness and hope. Such was
Americas first Thanksgiving as cele-
brated 2GO years ago. Thereafter each
succeeding November was marked in
the annals of the colony by similar
festival Of gratitude.
But Thanksgiving in the early days
Of our history was not confined to the
New England pioneers alone. Just -
years after Winthrop's proclamation
i. e., in 1G4j-Govcrnor Kieft Of the
Dutch colony, then known as Nieuw
Amsterdam. but now as New York, Or
1cred the observance Of a day Of re-
joicing and thanks for the rest and
peace which God had been pleased to
bestow upon his servants
The next notable Thanksgiving day
in history fell in lbs. On that date
the British and colonial army, COM
manded by General Forbes, attacked
and captured from the French, after
a fierce struggle, Fort Duqucsne, at
the junction of the Allcghany and Mo-
nongahela rivers. The name of the
place was changed TO Fort Pitt and
burg. THUS in special sense the his
tory Of the great capital Of the coal and
iron industries is connected with the
celebration Of Thanksgiving day.
But meanwhile in New England what
had been begun as an occasional day Of
pious rejoicing had assumed the pro-
portions Of Il fixed national holiday.
In Massa chusctts and New Hampshire
it was especially popular. There was
at first great latitude in regard to the
day selected for the feast. Governors
proclaimed the chosen date arbitrarily,
and no effort was made to keep the an
nivcrsary Of Winthrop's proclamation.
Sometimes Thanksgiving ocurrced in
July, sometimes in midwinter. At
length, through the efforts of the prcsi-
dent and professors Of Harvard col
lege. it was practically fixed upon the
last Thursday in November.
In the south Thanksgiving as an an
nual festival remained practically un-
known until in 1876 the curious Viz
ginia controversy on the subject was
precipitated. This controversy, which
is not generally known, deserves brief
notice. The governor Of Virginia at the
time was one Johns, patriotic and
broad minded gentleman, who had al
ways entertained q reverence for the
Puritan anniversary which was by no
means common below Mason and Dix
on's liue. Governor Johns, in letter
to the state legislature, urgently rec
commended the recognition Of Thanks
giving in Virginia and offered. in case
his recommendation proved satisfac-
tory, to at once issue proclamation.
But the legislature Of WashingtOn's
state did not look upon the New Eng
'anh holiday with favor. Governor