Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-29
GIVING OF LFTHANKS
Festival Dating Back Over Two
Hundred Years.
THE CUSTOM HAS BECOME NATIONAL
Day Regularly Proclaimed by Pres
ident and State Governors.
FAST DAYS OF THE PAST

The custom of publicly observing a day
of prayer for Gods blessings upon the
people is not a new one by any means, for
il, some parts of the country Thanksgiving
day has been a feature for over two centu-
rles, and it is regarded yet as one of the
most important of holidays. The pilgrims
appointed day of fasting and prayer be-
cause of their straits. but when relief ar
rived from England 1t turned the fast to a
feast, and it was so joyful an occasion that
not only have the New Englanders kept it
up but gradually the observance of day
for prayer and thanksgiving spread to all
the states and territories in the Union.
The old custom was that the day should
be designated by the executives of the sew
eral states, and usually these selected the
same day-the fourth Thursday in Novem-
Der. From time to time in the early days
of the republic Thanksgiving. as well as
fast days, were appointed by the President
as the exigencies of the times seemed to
demand: but as rule the issuing of such
proclamations was left to the governors
of states and other local officers
When the seat of government was located
in New York, Washington, in compliance
with a resolution of Congress, by proclama-
ton of October g. 1888, set apart November
26 following as a day of thanksgiving and
PRAYER by the people for the many and
signal favors of Almighty God, especially
by affording them an opportunity to peace
ably establish form OF government"
In January, 1898, Washington designated
Thursday, February 10. as a day to thank
God for our exemption from foreign war
and the internal tranquility of the nation
secured by suppressing instruction.
This, as the date indicates. did not con-
fiict with the usual New England thanks
giving in November, and was observed as
national occasion.
Proclaimed by President Adams.
A national thanksgiving was decreed by
President John Adams in his proclamation
of March %, 1893 ny which he urged the
people to assemble in their places of wor-
ship on Wednesday, May 8, and to ac-
knowledge their dependency on Providence
and return thanks TO COO Tor his dressings
upon US as a people
The November Thanksgiving was regu-
Iarly observed in New England and in some
other parts of the country, and the next
rational occasion was totally different from
a thanksgiving. In June, 1872, during Mr..
Madison's first term war was declared with
Great Britain, and instead of thanksgiving
Mr.. Madison. in compliance with a resolu-
ton of Congress, set apart the third Thurs
day in August as a day of humiliation and
prayer for the welfare Of the country. and
that 1t be the object of Gods peculiar care.
The following year, 1918. the second Thurs
Gay in September was set aside as day Of
humiliation and pray r on which to beseech
Gods blessings upon the American arms
MT. Madison S DTDcI;t nation OF november,
1914 set forth that the time of calamity and
war was the season for humiliation. fasting
and prayer; he therefore set apart January
II, 1915, for such purpose.
The day was so observed throughout the
country, only the people in the neighbor-
hood of New Orleans being aware of the
defeat of the British below that city, and
the news of the treaty of peace signed at
Client December 81 not having reached
here 1t then required weeks for news to
travel. otherwise this would have been
day of rejoicing. The following. March 4.
the glad tidings of peace having been as
sured Mr.. Madison issued a proclamation
for real Thanksgiving for the restoration
of peace, to be held the second Thursday
of April, which was the occasion Of joyous
demonstrations.
Day of the Pilgrims.
The Thanksgiving of the Pilgrims was
regularly observed as the country opened
up, the custom travelling westward at a
much more rapid gait than southwark.
Finally some of the families from the north
regularly observing the day in compliance
with the usageS of their home folks at the
north, it obtained fOothOld, at least SO
far as the proverbial dinner of turkey and
pie was involved, even among some of the
extremely southern families who had set
tied in Washington. In Maryland and Nir
GINA the Thanksgiving sentiment took root
and the day for its observance was named
by the governors.
adopted a resolution recognizing with CRATE
full hearts the merCies of Providence by
which the blessings of life health and every
necessary comfort had been bestowed. and
requesting the mayor to set apart the 18th
day of the month by proclamation to give
thanks and praise to God for His blessings.
Mayor SeatOn on November II issued his
proclamation. and the day was to some ex
tent observed Tie churches Were open and
the banks and most of the business houses
were closed. Half OF the day was of sea-
sonable Thanksgiving weather, with brac-
| ing air and a series of fiurries of snow in
| the morning; but the afternoon was a
! bright, genial one, none too cool for prone
| made, in which thousands of ladies and 9TH
ers engaged. The theaters and other places
| Of amusement were literally patroniZed,
| both afternoon and evening.
| RMS was a precedent for the succeeding
mayors ana councils. and though the Pres
| fcent al that period issued no proclamation,
an executive order closed the departments
and the government employees enjoyed the
holiday.
President Taylor Declines.
BY 1919 to great d proportion of the peo-
pc had become accustomed to the observ-
ance of the fourth Thursday of November
as day of Thanksgiving that some of the
religious bodies and associations suggested
that 1t be made the subject of a procla,na-
ton by the President President Taylor
VINO spent but one such day in the White
recognizing the custom. he declined, pre-
ItrIlhs TO leave it with the respective state
authorities.
AS succeeding seasons rolled around, the
THANKSGIVING days were more generally
observed although the numbers attending
1ie StlUi cfieS We're never great. At first in
diNldual churches held service. but suisse
duehuy several churches of the same de-
NJ mnauon, or those of diverse belief in
the same section of the District, would hold
union services. The numbers who took ad-
vantage OF the day to hunt in the adjoining
county small at first, greatly increased
ana IL was the belief that the city gunners
Gutnuhlpefed all the game (quadruped and
feathefed) they saw in their travels
With the lovers of the dance for several
years before the war the day regarded
as one OF rest after the fatigue of a night
OF pleasure at Thanksgiving eve ball. On
thitt date balls We're given in almost all the
halls in the District. and there We're also
numerous large parties given.
w men the otninous mutterngs gave notice
OF the approach of the civil war in the fall
OF lnGo, there We're many who looked
THANKSGIVING as out of place. The Presi-
aeht, Mf. buchanan was appealed to by as
sociatlohs and individuals to appoint day
hat adv oit,.,t