Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-11-24

Although days of thanksgiving.
especial, for the fruits of the earth,
have been CUSTOMARY in all ages, of
the world and in connection with
every form of religion, Thanksgiving
day as an annual harvest home and
family reunion under Christian aus
pices is purely American institu-
ton and. outside OF New England. Is
af comparatively recent origin.
AS national holiday 1t began IN
he head and heart Of Abraham Lin
.oln, who proclaimed Nov. 26. 1868.
IS thanksgiving day for the simuE
:aneous victories of Gettysburg and
Vicksburg on July and for the
abundant harvests of that year, and
Nov. "a, 1864, as a thanksgiving day
or similar blessings.
There had been other days set
lpart for thanksgiving during the
var, but these were the first of the
unbroken series in the month of No.
vember. President Johnson con.
tinued the custom out of respect for
Mr.. Lincoln, and it has been instinc.
lively recognized by every president
since. In several states the cover.
nors also make coincident proclama-
tions. Es.t
Though at present mostly a hal.
lowed memory, Thanksgiving day,
when it was in its prime, was one
Of the noblest and most delightful
things in American civilization. Time
was when on this day all the churches
were thronged with cheerful and de-
vout worshipers, and the ministers
speaking from bowers of corntops
and sheaves of wheat and pyramids
Of pumpkins and red apples, moved
every heart by their tribute to the
divine goodness.
From the religious temples the PEG
pie turned to the family affairs
where the fires of fiIial devotion
burned just as briskly. The mem
bers of the household assembled
some Of them from remote localities
to look into the changed counte.
nances of "the old people" perhaps
for the last time, sat down to a roy.
al feast of good things, the greatest
feast Of all being the revived and
overlooking family affections and the
inextinguishable attachment to the
family hearthstone. That was Amer.
lean civilization in its flower and fruit
age. o.,
AS long as our people are a home
loving people, as long as fillal and
fraternal love are afame and as long
as we will cross mountains and tray
erse continents to gather once more
at the old family homestead, to drop q
tear for the departed and to receive
the embrace of those who survive, ou1
institutions are safe.
Those who have reached middle life
can not but regret the partial de
cadence Of Thanksgiving day within
their own recollection. In our day II
Is little more than secular holiday
devoted to athletic sports, The sec
ular holiday and the athletic sports
are, of course, good things in them
selves, but it is not pleasant to sec
luEu IdhS IuC pAocC VI OIL noA1AA duis
and invaluable social custom.
There is every year by custom ant
by proclamation Of president ant
governors day Of Thanksgiving. Up
on this day the American nation of
fers to the throne Of Divine Grace its
prayerful thanks and sings peans o.
praise for the many bounties ant
blessings that have been bestowed
upon our people. True, in this grea
world there may be some who are I'm
able to look back and point with pride
and thankfulness to many acts ant
things connected with their lives, but
goodness always exceeds the bad ant
the world is constantly growing bet
ter and brighter. Opportunities arc