Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-11-17
THANKSGIVING pAy

our present custom OF setting apar,
one day IN each year as a day or
pubic national thanksgiving to Con
tor his mercy and benencence to us
as nation originated with the
purltans of New England. Whom
thoao colonies were first planted tina
settlers endured many prtputions ana
diticultles Being ptously disposed.
they laid their distrcssos before Goa
IN frequent days OF fasting and nrayer
After the first harvest In 1921 William
bfadlord, the second governor of
plymouth colony. made provision fol
inc oolonists rejoicing specially 20.
sethor with praise and prayer. In
l62S day of fasting and prayer In
tho midst of drought was changed into
thanksgiving by the coming of rain
during the prayers. A plain. common.
sense old colontst rose In tho meetlna
ana remarked that he thought they hau
brooded long enough over their mis-.
fortunes and that II seemed high time
that they should consider some of
thelf meroies; that the colony was
growing strong -the fields increasing
IN halfests, the rivers full OF flsh. ana
the woods of game, the mir sweet. the
climate salubrious, their wlyea
obediont. their children dutIful, abb.
all, that they possessed what thew
came for, full civil and religious IN.
er'y. And therefore, on the whole, he
would amend their resolution for n
last and propose In ITS stead N day
OF Thanksgiving" His advice was
taken, and from that day to this, wnat.
ever may have been the disastrous OK.
porionce of New England, the old
stock OF the purltans have ever found
enough good IN their cup TO warrant
them in appointing this great anuuar
festival
During tho revolution day OF
national Thanksgiving was annually
recommended by congress. Washing.
ton recommended such a day after the
adoption OF the constitution. and his
example was occasionally initiated by
subsequent presidents. During the
civil war. President Lincoln frequent
ly recommended the observance OF
such n day after victories and made
proclamation for national op.
seryance in 1863. Since that
time such proclamation has
been annually issued, and custom has
fixed on the last Thursday In Noyem,
Der as the time, Long confined to
New England, where the governors or
the different states each appointed
Thanksgiving day, the custom has OF
late years been adopted by ether
governors OF states throughout the
country.
At first members of what may be
termed the Puritan denominations
Congregationalists, Baptists. Presby.
terians, and Methodists-- turned out
In full force for public worship in
their respective churches on this day,
Catholics and Eplscopallans onl,
giving II a quasi.religlous observance.
But lately the order seems TO DO re-
yersing, for the latter are more re-
ligiously observing the day. while the
former seem to find Il difficult often
10 get sufficient number OF people
together to hold service, and 30 for
some years past union services have
been the vogue. while In some places
even that evidently has failed, for
operahouses and halls are now being
engaged where the few pious people
from each church may gather to.
gether downtown, and so make re
spectacle showing, while interfering
as little as possible with business.
Secular observance OF the day by
means OF social gatherings. games and
other amusements Is increasing.
This change in the character OF the
day Is TO be deplored.