The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-30
SHOULD Be OBSERVED
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE GREAT
AMERICAN HOLIDAY.

Reasons Why We All Should Remem'
Der Thanksgiving Day and BE
Thankful to God.
OF all our national holidays none Is
more universally or more joyously
celebrated than that Of Thanksgiving
Day. Though OF New England origin
and FOR many years confined almost
exclusively to that section, 1t has
slowly but surely extended itself all
over our great country.
The first recorded instance OF any
thing In the nature Of thanksgiving
In the history Of our country Is the
following entry in an old Bible be-
longing to one of tie first pilgrims:
"Sonne born to Susanna White, De-
cember 18TH, 1920, at six o'clock
morning. Next day we meet for
prayer anu
This, however, Is not generally &C
cepted as the first observer Of that ma
ture, since 1t hardly partook Of the
character Of general thanksgiving.
But fifteen months after the pilgrims
sailed from Holland they held har-
vest festival which lasted a week.
This is generally spoken Of as the
first Thanksgiving in New England,
but it was not day set apart by any
religious observance.
It is fortunate the world cannot
discern the hidden things OF the
heart. There we can store our grief
to ponder over it in our leisure and
give to the world only the smile a
benefcent Providence may impart to
our souls and that will strengthen us
to sing a hymn Of Thanksgiving.
While sorrow may reign within, yet
may peace and hope and confding
trust surround every reader OF this
column. Heaven bless you all this
Thanksgiving Day Of 1911.
With CHEEKY and appreciative spir-
it, let us celebrate the national holi-
day. Let us enjoy it to the full,
from turkey and cranberry sauce to
the good-natured discussion of the
lively municipal contest that Is ap-
preaching. And with all our table
bounty and good cheer in the domes-
tic circle, let us not forget that the
occasion is peculiarly one for bright
ening the lives of others less fortu-
nate than ourselves day for the
practical but unostentatious bestow-
al Of charity.
Thanksgiving Day is the one day
in the year when the nation turns to
heaven in thanks for it's preservation.
The life of the nation Is the principal
consideration; not only IN life, but
its health, and its preservation in that
condition in which it was established
by the fathers of the country. Men
can thank Goa for their accumula-
tions or supplicate him to tighten
their burdens, but that Is not the pur-
pose Of a national thanksgiving. The
nation itself, the political structure
which was framed and handed down
it Is the preservation of this for
which the people are to be thankful
The Thanksgiving Of nation Is an
act Of grace truly impressive IN Its
significance. For hountiful crops and
heavy exports, for high wages and In
creaslng values, it is we'll to bo thank
full In so far as these things minis
ter to the life of the spirit, the max
ings of mnnh ood, the enriching OF the
average experiences. But for tho
enlargement Of our ideals, the rails
ing OF the standard of public duty, the
increasing care for the weak and I'M
mature, the recognition Of RESPONSE
bilities higher than the mere piling
up of individual fortunes and a gov
ernment surplus-for these things we
may we'll give thanks.
Thanksgiving Day IS peculiarly an
American custom, though there are
some writer's who claim that it is not
possible to determine the date Of the
first observance. John A. Goodwin,
In his historical review, "The Pilgrim
Republic" is positive, however, that
the first celebration occurred in the
fall of 1921, this being followed In
1928 by the first Thanksgiving pro-
clamation, by the governor OF Mas
sachusetts. In 1880 there arrived at
Plymouth IA vessels, bringing with
them $50 colonists, making the num-
Der nearly 1900 instead of mere
800. On July s, 1880, another
Thanksgiving was held in acknoWl-
'edgement for this accession to the
ranks Of the colonists.
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