The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-28
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER IS, 1907.
Gratitude tx n fruit OF grcnt cu1-
tivatiOn; you do not find II among
gross pcoplc.-Samuc1 johnson.
THANKSGIVING.


The first Thanksgiving Day in
America was celebrated by the Pill
grim Fathers in 1921 and that cele-
bration grew gradually to be custom,
in the Plymouth colony. But n CEN
fury and Il half elapsed before the OBJ
scrvanco of day for giving thanks
emerged, by congressional enactment
during the Revolution, as national
institution. n few years later. in
1879, we find the Episcopal Church
formally acknowledging the right
of the government to declare such
festival. and century later,
in 1883. the Roman Catholic Church
gave 1t similar recognition. Since
1858 the custom has been nationally
fixed, and the last Thursday in No
vcmber is annually named by presi-
dental proclamation As this feast
originated in New England, so it has
always been observed. in family gath
erings and celebratory dinners with
peculiar artlor there. In the South,
Christmas has always held its own as
the great day for the family reunion.
In Virginia. Governor Wise made some
thing of !; point of not issuing Thanks
giving proclamations TO his State. Gov
ernor Cameron, now living in Norfolk
nnd an able member of the craft, was
the first Virginia Governor .ftcc the
war to declare a formal Thanksgiving
in Virginia.
N l.
plete separation between church and
state in this country Thanksgiving
Day may be said to have won it's way
on its merits. Originating as an in
stinctire desire on the part of few
devout men to assemble and thank
God for what blessings they enjoyed,
1t has grown to be an annual custom
marked by S5,00O,000 people rs q ma
tional holiday and observed by services
in thousands of churches. There was.
In short. a ready and natural response
to the idea that men, however thought
less of their mcrcies they might be at
other times. should keep one day in
the year upon which to express their
gratitude for them formally to their
Maker. When that day rolls around
each year, they are wont to take
stock OF their blessings and note what
they really have to be thankful for.
Thought often turns first, men being
made that. wax. to matters of material
prosperity. This year, despite 'nur-
iies' and the sorrows of finance, the
tale Will be pleasant and the tally
high The pinch of poverty has scant
abiding-place in a country such as
ours. Most men are better off, now
than they ever were before, and that
Is something which they will hardly
fail TO remember this morning.
But there are other things that they
should remember too. Those common
err mercies should least of all be for
gotten--a sound body, contented
heart the privilege of life itself
Thanksgiving is as far as possible
from being matter OF dollars in the
bank. Those who lack the dollars may
he the very richest possessors of other
things certainly no less worth while
Hardly any one is SO bereft that he il
not a rich possessor of some OF them
Hardly any one is so afflicted that h,
Has not some real and evident reason
for giving thanks. For tlankfulnes
is like happiness in that both are les
of circumstance than they are habi
of mind. Both can be acquired, an,
both must be. No man who has goo,
health, the esteem Of his fellows an,
tho love of his friends should find an:
bitterness in Thanksgiving Day.
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