The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-11-23

every GOOD and perfect gift. The MS
tory OF every nation OF Wnich reeo'to -
are preserved contains references "
DAYS Of thanksgiving from the heos."
Feast OF Tabernac Of which meh''on
Is mcde IN the Bible, through the 1reeA
festival Of Demeter. god OF the narNes.s
fbe Roman feast OF Ceralia. goddess U.
plenty, to the Saxon Harvest-ho'iie "uo uo
cur own Thanksgiving. now uniVersa"'
observed as national holiday.
: The history of Thanksgiving III
America begins prior to the lanulus
oe the Pilgrim Fathers al FL! !mou,n
Rock ip 1920. The first service OF this
character ever held In this country
was celebrated on the bleak Ne"touHu'
saud Goa st In 1878 by an English clergy
uian named Wolfall. who was connect
ed with the FrobisEer exploring party
Frobisher brought the first colony "
settle on those shores; and to the Kew
Mr.. Wolfall, otherwise unknown 10
taue, belongs the credit or the urs'
evangelical sermon and the first ceie-
bration Of the communion In 'Nor'n
America. 1t was g service OF gratetul
prayer and praise for their safe arrirai
and escape from the dangers or the
deeP.
or similar character WAS the next
recorded Thanksgiving service. twenty
aiue ycers later, when the Popham COL
eny arrived at Sagadahoc, on the coast
Of Maine, In August OF 1907. and on
the nineteenth of that month laid claim
to the territory. unfurled the EnSlish
DAG aud observed the day us one OF
praise and thanksgiving. This was
three months after the landing OF the
cotouists at Jamestown. in Virginia.
The Popham COLONY not only held the
arst thanksgiving service OH territory
now comprised within the United
States. but also held the first popular
election and chose the first officers to
govern an American community.
Thirteen years later came the Pill
grimS. anchoring in Massachusetts Bay,
on Saturday. December 9 20. 81. They
deferred landing until Monday, despite
their long sojourn on the sea. and we
may we'll believe that their last Sab
bath service on shipboard was eloquent
with gratitude and praises to "Him
who hath the steerage of our course"
During the cold and cruel winter that
followed almost one-half Of the little
hand were laid at rest OIL the bluff that
bad frowned upon the Mayfower. their
graves being leveled that the Indians
might not become aware Of their di-1
minishing number. Hopefully the rem
Rant tolled through the summer, gath
ering fair harvest. The old chronicler
tells Of Indifferent barley and failure
"a peas, Offset to some extent by twen-
ty acres of good corn. But meat Of
deer and wild fowl was abundant. the
pesdlence was stayed and they were
comfortably housed for the winter.
Therefore, on the twenty fourth Of Oc-
eober Governor Bradford proclaimed
Thanksgiving feast. Carrying their
muskets they marched in staid pro-
cession to the little meeting house. the
Governor leading The way, with Elder
Brewster reyerently bearing the Bible
On his right, and plain. matter-of-fact
Miles Standish. the military chief Of
the colony. at his left-Law, supported
by the church and the army. 1t was
worthy Of mention in the old annals
that the elders sermon was unusually
short. not quite two hoursI What
would a nineteenth century congrega-
ion say to discourse two hours
iongs
{ 4 nd then came the feast, at which |
were displayed the fine napery and
ssusehold treasures brought from Old
Eugtand-those precious relics whose
possession In these days is the patent
or American birth and nobility. 1t was
au al fresco dinner. in the mild Indian
summer; and at this time and place
the American turkey, since sacred to
the day, made his first appearance as
the piece de resistance of q Thanks
giving dinner.
And after the solemn service in the |
little church and the decorous feast.
served with Puritan sedateness, the
people returned to their homes. and |
the early darkness settled down upon |
the little settlement, from which was
10 grow so grand nation. Suddenly
the peaceful night was broken BY the |
sentry's peremptory challenge, the rat.
tie OF drum, mingled witt an Indian |
shout and every man grabbed his |
&rusty musket and rushed ont, while |
tte souls Of the women and children
quaked with fear. & hundred saw
ages poured down upon them-Massa-
solt's braves. but on pacific errand
bent. They came to- share the white
mans feast and brought deer and
other game as their contribution. So
the fires were lit again, and the good
wives baked and boiled for their un.
expected guests, who entertained them
6y performing their dances amid wild
yeiis and menacing gestures. 1t was
thought prudent to show the fierce in
truders that the infant colony was not
without defense. so Captain Standish
ordered out his soldiers. drilled them,
aud finally ended with q volley from
Rheir muskets into the treetops and the
discharge of the great cannon ON the
tiN and the smaller one at the Gov
eruors door. The Indians were proper
ly Impressed and begged the great Cap
taiu not 10 make it thunder again.
Thus the first Thanksgiving OF the