The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-11-20
THANKSGIVING DAY.

John Winthrop governor of the Massachu-
sets Bay Company and founder of Boston, in re-
cordng the events of his reign in the new world in
July, 1880, wrote in his diary the happenings of
week, in which believe is the first reference in
history of Thanksgiving day On Thursday, July
l, 1880, he recorded the arrival of the Mayflower
and the Whale at Charlton (Charlestown) harbor
The Talbot arrived the next day. The HONEYWELL
and William and Francis arrived Saturday The
Trial arrived at Charlton and the Charles at Salem
on Monday. Tuesday the Success arrived We'd
nesday the Lion went back to Salem The entry
OF Thursday, July 8, 1880, is as brief as the re-
cordlng of the safe arrival of the ships from the
old world, yet from it has grown the Thanksgiv-
ing day of the present time, 279 years after The
entry says: eve kept day of THANKSGIVING in
all plantations"
The foregoing facts are taken from "The His
tory of New England from 1880 to 1649," by John
Winthrop, Esq, from his original manuscripts
edited by James Savage If the good people of
those early times had cause for Thanksgiving sure
y the people of America at this day have double
reason. IL the diary to which we have referred,
Governor Winthrop records the drowning of his
son, Henry Winthrop, at Salem, on Friday. july 2.
1880, but this sorrow, which bore heavily upon the
governor, did not prevent him from returning
thanks to the All-Wise God for the blessings which
had been bestowed upon the colonists. The death
OF his son was great calamity and grief TO the
governor, but he undoubtedly entered ferventlv in
the thanksgiving services which we're held Sin all
plantations" 1t was this spirit of men who. though
bowed IN grief at personal loss and personal pri
vation, could yet bow before the will of the Rnle
of All which made the early settlement of the new
world possible The Pilgrims put their faith in
God and trusted to his all-wise direction.
And now another year has rolled around s;noo
last the people were called upon by the president
ana the governors of the states to lay aside their
usual work, and give the day to contemplation If
the bounteous rewards which have been bestowed
upon US by the All-Wise God and Ruler of the ITn;
verse Once more the people are reminded that
what we enjoy is a gift to them, and that il s
proper and mete that the Giver of all good +b;nn,
should be remembered in thankfulness and ,ro;so-
giving
q great many have no doubt been disappointed
III not getting what they thought they wanted dnr-
ing the year that has passed. and to these norbors
the celebration of the feast of THANKSGIVING soon,
somewhat of farce. Yet if we as q nation h.
heVe IN God at ALL we must believe that ,rbo+o,-ou
lie gives to us is for our own good; that # s :,
TACT good even if to superficial REASONING Il NOV
appear evil II we as nation believe in God a.
all, and earnestly desire to return thanks TO Him
tor the blessings which have been bestowed upon
us, we must, also, in the same humble and contrite
spirit return to Him our devout thankfulness for
what has seemed to us evil
In the character of the individual. nothing 60
brings out and develops strength of purpose and
ott1ness OF ideals as the discipline which comes
through privation. Nothing so surely DESTROYS
those ideals or weakens the characters of men &c q
'urtelt OF things which seem to them good. The
really great men have risen out of privation. and
he really great virtues shed more brilliant uster
n times of adversely than in times of nrosner;+
As nation we have been blessed with most boun-
eous crops; the mines have produced enormono
wealth; the factories generally have run their ns,,o1
lumber OF days, giving employment to thousands
9erhaps the employer of labor has been more rich
y rewarded than the employee; perhaps the re,rord
II faithful work have not kept pace with the in
reased demands of our modern civilization -
laps the year that has drifted into eternity has
EFT us IN about the same place as we were at ;+s
commencement, or we may be worse off. as meas
red IN tins worlds goods, than we were a wear aoo
wen SO. the mere denial of what we think wa won't
nay be blessing for which we should kneel be-