The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-11-26

Barring Sunday, there Is no day to
the. average New Englander held
more sacred or with a higher pride
than Thanksgiving. It's first men,
taon in American history was on Au-
gust q, 1907. the Popham colonists
"Givinge God Thanks" They were
very religious people, and their
Thanksgiving Service" was Of the
Church OF England. Their unique
meeting took place at the Island of
Monhegan. They finally settled at
the mouth of the Kennebec.
The "MonnSgan Thanksgiving"
was In no sensa the historic source
Of our present annual day of public
worship. At a recent date has been
found the family Bible of William
White. in which Is recorded William
White married on ye third day OF
March, 1920, to Susannah Tilly. Per
egrine White Born on Board We May
flower in Cape Cod Harbor. Some
born to Susannah White, December
10, 1920, ye six o'clock morning.
Next day, we met for prayer and
thanksgiving" We find that the
twentieth day OF December was not
Sunday, but Tuesday The Sunday
previous. however. they had rested
and held Divine Worship" One
narrator speaks as follows:
$50, in the morning. after we had
called on God for direction, we came
presently to this resolution, to go
presently ashore again. and to take
better view of two places we thought
most fitting for us; for we could not
at this time now take time Tor furth-
er search or con sideration, OF vic
tuals being much spent, especially
our beer; and 1t being now the goth
OF December"
The season was a most critical one.
The day was very cold, add in their
midst @as disease and starvation.
For the Scurious reader we Quote Cap
tain JOHN Smith as follows After
having cen pested nine weeks in
this leaking. unwholesome SIP, lying
wet in ye }cabbins most of tn Ina grew
very weak, and weary of the sea"
They had been on the sea mind weeks.
In the following autumn there was
held a "Grande Thanksgiving" the
Fafost condensed account of which can
fbe found In letter by Edward Wins
low, dated at Plymouth, and Written
TO friend in England, in which ne
said: Our harvest being gotten in,
our Governor sent four men on fowl
ing that so we might after a special
manner rejoice together after we had
gathered the fruits OF our labors.
They killed as much fowl as with a
little help beside served the company
about week At which times among
other recreations we exercised our
arms, many of the Indians coming
amongst us, and among the rest their
greatest king. Massasoyt, with some
ninety men, whom for three days we
entertained and feasted, and. they
went out and killed five deer which
they brought and bestowed upon our
Governor, and upon the Captains and
others" In several ways 1t repre-
eepted a feast OF Biblical. renown.
The Indians were warmly welcop9ed
Anglo-Saxon Of Europe. The five
deer killed by the natives, together
The Puritan Thanksgiving Dag Band.
with the fowl killed by the -four
good shots from the Colony fur
nished food for the festivities, that
lasted nearly a week. Games were
played, athletic sports were enjoyed
and some little time was spent in
military feats. The natives were
much amused over the games OF
"Stoolsball" and ''pitchsye-b bar = z<as
taught by Governor Bedford. -
The year 1922 brought distress
and misfortune to fhe Pilgrims;
Crops were poor, the wtaserSex
ing1y cold. and they prayed long
and often" for their "'dayly brade.'" /"
Tue Thsnksgiving of that year was