Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-19
Names First Patriots Day.

er state, Massachusetts, a step which
part of that colony when the events
occurred at Concord and Lexington
which Patriots day commentaries.
Maine has as much share as Massa-
chusetts, outside of the localities i'm
mediauely concerned, in the glorious
memories of April 10. ITS. and since
Fast day had long ago ceased to be oh
served in its original spirit it was
natural and proper thing that Maine
should replace it with Patriots day as
Massachusetts did. dozen years ago.
OF course there is natural regret in
the passing of Fast day. an institution
as cid here as the settlement of New
England and whose observance has
been a practice in Maine each April
since it became State 81 years ago.
OF course Fast day did not have its
origin with the Puritans. The fast as
a period of voluntary abstinence from
food as religious discipline was prac-
ticed among all the ancient nations
known 10 history. All forms of re-
ligion at the present day, Jewish and
Mohammedan as well as Christian,
have their set days and periods for
fasting. The Puritans, who were
aracterized by intense religious zeal
CELEBRATED Fast day as natural part
Of their religious devotions, and from
Massachusetts Bay the custom spread
to other parts of New England. Ii
did not. however. grow into national
institution IS did that other Puritan
holiday, Thanksgiving, which may be
regarded as the opposite of Fast day.
The reason for this is not far to seek,
as human nature is so composed that
it prefers feasting and rejoicing to
fasting and humiliation. Thanksgiv-
ing day will survive, not only in New
England but as a national institution,
but Fast day for generation has lost
its early significance and become moth
ing more than a general spring holiday
In substituting Patriots day for it the
people of Massachusetts simply reoog-
nized the tendency Of the times and
decided. since a spring holiday is high
ly desira BILE to have one whose OBJ
servapce would be in keeping with its
name and significance, rather than to
continue Fast day which had degen-
Grated into a farce day. New Hamp-
day. hut it is no more observed in its
original spirit there than it has been
in recent years IN Maine.
While Maine is henceforth TO have
Patriots day as its spring holiday il is
hardly To be expected that there will be
any annual celebration in this State OF
the events at Concord and Lexington
as there is in Massa chusetts. 1t will,
on the contrary, be the opening of the
baseball season and day Off from the
work and worry of business for those
who are able to get it, Others will
work just the same and envy the fortu-
nate pepole to whom a holiday really
means q holiday. When Mlssachu-
sets made the change from Fast day
10 Patriots day in 1894 Governor
Grecnhalge issued a proclamation
wni.I is of peculiar interest to Maine
at this time as showing how those who
ssta blished the new holiday hoped il
would be observed. Its text IS as fol-
lows:
''By an act of the legislature, duly
approved. the nineteenth day OF April
has been made a legal holiday. This
is a day rich with historical and
significant events. which are precious
in the eyes OF patriots. II may well
be called Patriots day.
"On this day in 1915 at Lexington
and Concord was begun the war of the
Revolution: on this day in 1883. Just
eight years afterwards. the cessation
OF war, and the triumph of indcpen-
denCe We're formally proclaimed, and
on this day in 1861 the first blood was
shed in the war for the Union.
1T is fitting therefore that the day
should be celebrated as the anniversary
of the birth of Liberty and Union. Let
the day be dedicated to solemn re-
ligious and patriotic services which
may adequately express our deep sense
of the trials and tribulations of the
patriots of the earlier and latter days
and also especially our gratitude to
God, who crowned the heroic
struggles of the founders and pre-
servers of our country with victory and
peace.
1T is earnestly to be desired that
the sentiments of this proclamation
shall Undue every breast; that patriot
ism shall more and more take the form
of religion, holding relation not to one
nation only, but to all the peoples OF
the earth; that the happy time may
come. when justice, forbearance and
ma gnanimity will so prevail among
men, that violent and destructive dit
ferenceS between individuals, COM
munities, states and nations will be
prevented by wise tribunals chosen
and empowered to ad!udicate disputes.