The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-20
History Of THANKSGIVING.

Mrs. R. G. Hoyt, in Baptist Courier.
THANKSGIVING Day is a religious festi-
val observed particularly in New Eng
land. The occasional observance Of q
Thanksgiving Day was not unusal In
Europe ip olden days, and such day
was observed in Leyden, Holland,
October 3, 1876, first anniversary Of the
deliverance of that city from slege.
The custom was brought into this
country by the Pilgrims who left
Holland in 1920 OH the Mayhower.
After The first harvest of the colonies
at:Plymouth in 1881, Governor Brad
ford sent four men out fowling that
they might after a more special
manner rejoice together" In July,
1923, day Of fasting and prayer was
appointed OH account Of drought.
Rain came while the colonists were
praying, and the governor appointed
q day off Thanksgiving, which was
observed with special religious SER
vices.
The Charleston records show SINH
lar change of fast day into q Thanks
giving in 1851, on account of the arrival
of supplies. The next day Governor
Winthrop, of the Massachusetts Bay
colony, recommended day of thanks
giving on account of an action of the
British privy council favorable to the
colonies. The governor Of Plymouth
colony was invited to join in this
THANKSGIVING. About this time the
recom mendation indicates that
Thanksgiving had become an annual
custom in the Massachusetts Bay
colony. An annual Thanksgiving
does not appear to have been observed
in the Plymouth colony until about
1850. Sometimes more than one day
in the year was appointed for thanks
giving.
The earlier of those recommenda-
tions were at different seasons of the
wear and for special reasons, particu-
larly for the arrival Of ships with
provisions and new colonies; but the
latter were more generally recon-
mended for the harvest and were held
in thefall of the year or early winter.
Occasional days of Thanksgiving
were appointed by the Dutch governors
of New Netherlands In 1914 up to 1854
and by the English governors Of New
York In 1855 and 1850.
During the War of the Revolution
day of thanksgiving was recommen-
ded by congress and was observed
nationally. After the general thanks
giving fortpeace in 1874 there was no
national appointment for thanksgiv-
ing day until Washington in 1889. by
request of Congress, recommended a
day of Thanksgiving for the adoption
of the Constitution. The second thanks
giving proclamation issued by Wash =
ington was in 1895 on account of the
suppression of insurrection. The
next thar ksgiving for peace was
appointed by Madison, by request of
Congress, in April, 1915.
The day of thanksgiving was not
regularly recommended by the gov
ernor of New York until 1917, and it's
adoption in the Southern States was
much later. In 1855 Governor john
son, of Virginia recommended a day
of thanksgiving; but in 1857 Governor
Wise, on being requested to do so,
refused publicly because he was
unauthor lied TO interfere in religious
matters.
In 1862 and 1853 President Lincoln
issued proclamations recommending
special thanksgiving days for victory,
sbhdd md hheissaed pstie4ss j proclamatiol
of the annual thanksgiviGss.ish' 1868
and 1864.
Since President Lincoln's last
Thanksgiving proclamation each presi-
dent has issued one annually.
Custom fixed the day last Thursday
in November.