Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-11-29

| Y. NJ. &. A.. feW organizations take IL
up. Through Massachusetts, particu-
| larry, military coInpaniea are formed
into local. battalion. on even rcgimcntal
| leagues and the games are always
| Witnessed by large ami enthusiastic
| crowds. To some. basket ban may
| appear tame. but with skill is sure to
| come excitement enough for the most
no; -hiuodcl.
The curfew law is 10 joke over IN
Bangor. That il means what it says
is shown by the fact that a little girl
who could not pay her fine of 81 ana
, costs. is now spending 80 days in the
city house of correction Ion being
caught out later than o'clock.
The coming Of ThanksGiving Away;
calls up memories ana adds new joys.
We hail it with delight and bless our
wise foicfathcrs for this homo institu-
ton. And did you ever read the story
OF the first Thanksgiving day ever celc-
hratcd in New England? II Is a sweet
old tale. one of which Maine X partiCu-
| lariS proud since ii vas within her
boundaries that it was observed ON
| the cv. OF the last Thanksgiving day
Of the 10Th century. turn back the
! pages Of history to I6D. and read tn,
| story % tllat day OF days for us New
Engianders. /; is rrcor,icd in Eutus
King Scwall'S book entitled Ancient
Voyages To the Western Continent
and we quote from il as follows:
The rays of the morning sun. of
this memorable day in 1907. had started
to spread beams Of light on the tall.
grown thickets Of oak, beach and fir
when. Ted by the aged and godiy chiti
in command. Captain George Popha m
the colonists embarked. 10 land Il wor-
shipping congregation, with no doubt
all the usual incidents of a public
SUNDAY service Of the English church.
, from shipboard on shore. and with ali
the solemn and revrrcntiai fornaliticS
o! The worship of tina: church. The
scene must have been grand ana i'm
posing.
1t was the first Christian formal
Thanksgiving. at least in New Eng
land. and celebrated in Maine, the
Eastern part Of early New England
history. Nobicmen were in command,
in execution of a Royal State design
Royal naval routine duties and disci-.
plinc must have governed. to enforce
exact obedience 10 royal nautical
usage.
TIE SUNRISE gun had already
&aiuted the kine: Of day, as he rose out
of the mists Of the eastern sea. To she'd
cfulgent freshness. on the cliffs OF the
main and island environments OF the
ships anchorage. where. side o. side
they still lay. dressed in the gorgeous
draperies Of st. Georges Gross. for
Sabbath welcome.
The piping of the boatswain's mates
sent shrilI echoes from ship to shore
and through the oak and beach groves.
calling To man the boats ana all hands
to Worship God.
'Th,, officers in full uniform-iauSka-
tecrS without nlatchlocks. praWnv
tars in naval costume. colonists in
holiday attire, making congregation
of hundred and twenty souls, more. or
less. embark. and are boated TO land.
IeachiiG shore they form ana march
TO the old cross. and enclose il with q
hollow square.
The English Jack may lead the way.
Ii is formal, national, religious dem
onstratinn. for stat- purposes. in ccle-
hration of z national achievement.
Al the foot Of the cross. all are gath
crci III devote attitudes. and over all
no doubt the flag OF England waved
the sanction OF royal authority.
The sunlit branches of the old tree
tops are the canopy. and the corsc
wood surroundings of living green are
the wall to a natural sanctuary.
Rev. Richard Scymore. in caSsock
and in bands, with the bible and the
book Of common prayer in hand. pro
claims the word of God in the Wiids of
Maine, ana kneelinS before the cross,
for the first time on the soil of New
England, in tie English tongue. is
heard:
Almighty and most merciful Faith
or. wc have sinncd and straycd from
Thy ways like lost sheep.
o Lord, open thou our lips.
THE psalm OF Il hundred living
voices tunes the air. and rises in in
C-nsc Of praise to God
The groves and headlanls of Mon
hogan. and basal,ic crafs OF Mcnanas
Little Island in Indian lanruagc)
catch and repeat the echoes.
Thanksgiving songs break from thc
congregation. The cornct and drum
may take un the sacred refrain till
from shore and shipbOsrd. over the
placid sea. the praise of the
worship Of the Almighty God
is waited to the wilds OF Maine.
over the ragged shores OF icmaquid,
announcing the advent OF the Chris
tian civilization Of Europe for New
England planting.
'SeymOre breaches 4 sermon. The
benediction is announced and doxOlogy
sung. God is honOrcd.
THE soil of Maine at Monhcgan for
all New England becomes consccrated
ground. in this scene of God honoring
service and limited acts Of Christian
England homestead life and civilizr-