Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-27
The Time Dishonored Fast by.


About all that remains of the once
IGNORED and faithfully observed New
England Fast day. is the proclamation
# the Governor setting apart the day.
even this proclamation is now made
mere matter Of form. as is seen in an
,ther column, without the use of a
word rot actually necessary in desiS-
hating the day. The time procla-
nation was much after the fashion Of
1 sermon or a prayer, and the purposes
# the day We're most carefully enumer-
ated. Fast day has become time dis
honored custom As far as its original
purposes are concerned it has become
4 farce day. Massachusetts,. where the
early settlers first observed the day III
solemn fasting and in prayer for the
seed about to be put into the ground.
has abolished Fast day. Its abolish
ment in Maine would no doubt be ac-
complished with little or no opposition
if ANYBODY took enough interest in the
matter to push it before the Legisla
ture. Several times this has been sug-
eested. but nothing has been done.
Thanksgiving day which likewise had
its origin with the Puritans. has suf-
fered a happier fate. 1t is now, as It
was two centuries ago. the great au-
tumn festival of New England and it
is observed III its original spirit. But
Fast day has been outgrown. 1t is an
anachrOnism. The spirit of the Puri-
tans which sought to eliminate cheer
fulness from life and which taught
that pleasure is opposed to Christianity
is not a factor in the life of their
grandchildren. To the Puritans, whose
memory we revere, the observance Of
Fast day was sacred custom. 1t is a
dissertation to observe it as it is now
observed Better far were the day
abolished. than to maintain a holiday
that is now utterly meaningless and
useless.
OF course those who appreciate a
holiday, and most people not in the
active business world do apprecia &c
them thoroughly, maintain that Il holt
day for the simple sake of a holiday Is
worth having. But there are two sides
% this matter, and with Arbor day and
Memorial day following within a few
weeks. the need of such a spring holi
day is not pressing. Massachusetts in
abolishing Fast day established Pa
triots' day, the anniversary of the bat
ties of Lexington and Concord 1t has
been suggested that if this State is
willing to cease the farce Of pretending
to observe Fast day it can Wen make
a holiday of May day as a substitute.
be a most proper day. May day comes
Just when the woods ana fields ami
woodland roads are becoming acces-
sible and attractive. when the trees are
budding ana the early flowers are
blooming when the air is sweet and
balmy and when all are disposed 10
make merry in celebration Of the ad-
vent Of spring. \ day then in the open
air would do more not only physically
but morally for the workers than any
day spent in sombre exercises. May
day, too, is an historic feast day with
our race, a jolly. Anglo Saxon holiday
which it would be especially fitting to
revive. Moreover, it is the anniversary
of Deweys immortal victory. and as
such will always be a great day tc
Americans. Several states have al
ready made it a legal holiday for this
reason.
Governor Rollins of New Hampshire
in his recent Fast day proclamation
made a profound sensation and gave
all Of New England much undesirable
as TO the decline of religious life in tn,
rural sections Not only are his state
ments not supported by the facts. bu
it is not easy to see how the observ
ance of Fast day would remedy tn,
conditions which he assumes. If TIL
rural communities are losing religious
interest, it shows the need of HON,
missionary work and not the mainte
nance Of an ancient holiday with whcl
the spirit of the times is no longer il
| harmony.