The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-27
THE NATIONAL DAY
OF THANKSGIVING
Annual American Feast Had Its Prototype Among
the Ancients.

During the first century after cOlonl-
zation of New England a thanksgiving
day meant two long pressing II
with a scanty cold inca! crowded in be-
tween the pious exhOrtations. Glutton-
u human nature in the flight IT years
has glorified that scanty, u~npretentious
! lunch into a feast that for the vast ma
jority OF erring mOrtaIs has crowded
the sermons into a disappearing back
ground.
The fateful era-makr1g vents Of the
Revolution gave occasion for the APP
pointnlent by the continental congress
Of several signfi, cant thanksgiving
days. While much OF the old Puritan
zeal and rigor had been modified by the
passing years, yet the anthropomor-
phic conception of direct divine inter-
cession in the worlds humblest affairs
was acardinal tenet in the faith of a
majority Of the people. This firm be-
| lief found its first expression in the
continental congress after the surrend-
er Of BurgOyne at Saratoga. II was
the great crisis OF the war. With
Arncld's irresistible charge, E~ngland'5
military prestige received a staggering
blow. The moral effect OF tie victory
was even greater han the resulting
strategic advantages. 1t thrilled with
confidence and hope hearts Of patriots
made weary by defeat and %reverses.
Congress, in recognition Of the mOmen
tous victory, appointed December 10,
TIT, as a day of thanksgiving and
praise throughout the colonies, and the
day, the first continental thanksgiving
was universally observed.
In 1778, following the consummation
| of the alliance with France, the second
{ great step toward the success Of the
Revolution. Congress appointed an
other day Of thanksgiving, and the GUS
! tom thus established was repeated
| year after year, eliminating in the re-
! joicing at the establishment Of peace
in 1888 and again in the signing Of the
treaty in 1884.
Thanksgiving day became a political
issue in the first national congress. A
thanksgiving day was proposed in OBJ
~servance Of the establishment Of the
constitution. The proposal led to a
long fight In both the house and the
senate. The ante-federalists accused
their opponents with designs Of max
ing the day simply a celebration of the
victory of the federalists at the polls:
The bitter partisan feeling Of the cam
paign was reflected in vituperation that
infiamed the long. debates, but opposi-
ton was futile from lack of votes. h
bill was passed and received the ap-
roval of Washington, who appointed
November 26, 1889 as the first national
Thanksgiving day.
The next national Thanksgiving day
was February 10, 1892. II Was appointed
by President Washington with
cut the authorization OF congress, and
his action aroused considerable cri1l-
cism from the anI;-feGerilisG5. In
Adams administration, two national
fast days were ~pr0citlni'd. but the
pugnacious New E%nglander evidently
found little in the trend Of events Dur
ing his occupancy Of the presidency to
be thankful for and consequently no
national thank sci nag days were ap-
pointed.
Twenty-three y2dls PASSED heiOre an
other national THANKSGIVING day was
proclaimed. The varying fortunes Of
the war of 1912 gave occasion to prcsi-
dent Madison to appoint at various
times three prOpl:;a'ors days OF fast
ing and pdayer. When peace with
Great Britain was declared, Madison
appointed a nat ,l4l thanksgiyIHg for
April IS, 1915. Tnl5 was the last Of
the national thanksgiving days fer
many years, alth1fsn the custom WIS
rapidly becoming al annH+l Ob5eTVallL2
in the various states, nDr,h :i.G south.
! It became estab. shed N 1Si7 in Now
York, and by 1858 al but six of the
+! states CT union observed tho day.
Two national fast days, however,
were observed between the clcse Of the
war of 1912 and the civil var. When
President Harrison dieo a fast was ap-
pointed for May Il, 1871. In $40,
when cholera was ravaging the cOun-
try and devastating the seaports, Pr:si-
dent Taylor proclaimed a national fast
day in hope that appeasing prayer
plague. In 1882 several states pro-
claimed fast days as remedies for the
ravages of the cholera, but with what
efficacy history fails to relate.
When the evil war precipitated the
greatest crisis in the nations history
two fast days of prayer were pro-
claimed by congres-one on January
4 and another September rs, 1861.
When the Confederate victory of Bull
Run made the south blaze with conf
dence of victory the Richmond con-
gress proclaimed a day Of thanks
giving. The first federal thanksgiving
of the war followed the battle of Get
tysburg, August g., 1863, and was pro-
claimed by Lincoln for November 26 in
connection with the harvest festival
day. A movement then achieved form
and favor throughout the north for the
annual national observance of the day.
Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, OF Philadelphia,
was one Of the leaders In this owe
! ment The agitation touched a popu-
lar chord in awakening national o n
seriousness created by the war, and in
1864 was begun the series Of presiden-
tial proclamations which has continued
to the present day.