Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-28
ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING DAY

and listened to a sermon preached by
Elder Brewster, anG every heart was
filed with desp thanksgiving.
TIE little colony had occasion again
for second public thanksgiving July
s., 1880, after the arrival of Il vessels
bringing $40 colonists. Their num-
bers from 1920 to 1880 had increased
TO only 300, and this welcome acces-
sion to their numbers deserved a suit
able recognition.
IN 1851, in Charlestown, fast day
was changed to one of Thanksgiving
when a ship arrived with supplies
which were greatly needed.
In 1851, upon the recommendation
of Governor Winthrop to his owa
colony and his invitation to the neigh
boring colony, there was a joint OBJ
servance of a day in Boston and Ply
mouth. Other days officially appoint
ed as is shown by the colonial records
Of the colonoy of Massachusetts bay,
were in 1884, 1857, 1888 and 1889; and
Plymouth colony observed days in
1861, 1868, 1850, 1863 and 1880. One
of the Plymouth laws states that it
be the power of the governor and as
sistants to command solemn days of
humiliation by fasting, etc. Also for
thanksgiving as occasion shall be Of
fered." Beginning with 1850 the
/ proclamation was an annual one, as
/ is shown by the form, instead of the
/ special thanksgiving publicly pro
claimed in the earlier years of the
colony.
The Dutch who came to America
doubtless remembered special thanks
giving observances in their own ma
tive land, Holland, for the Dutch gov
errors of New Amsterdam appointed
occasional days of thanksgiving in
1914, 1915, 1866 and 1864, and the
English governors did likewise in
1860 and 1775. The Protestant Epis-
copal church ip the United States, In
its prayer book which was ratified in
1888, recommended the first Thursday
in November for Thanksgiving day, un.
less some other day was appointed by
the civil authorities. Other recommen-
Gations were occasionally made by re-
ligious bodies, but the governor OF
New York made no regular annual rec.
concentrations previous to 1917.
1t is probable that the struggle OF
the colonies for independence united
the hearts Of the people and thanks
giving as nothing else could have
done, for We find from this time the
beginning OF a general observance
The same congress which prepared
the articles OF confederation TO be
adopted by the colonies-the congress
Of 1777-also adopted a resolution set
ting apart the 18th day OF December
1777, to be observed as a day OF sol
emn thanksgiving and praise through.
out the United States
Washington during his first admin
istration issued two thanksgiving proc
lamations, one In 1889 and the other in
1875, Just after the suppression Of the
whisky rebellion" which had threat
sned TO be serious menace to the
peace Of the country. and Presiden:
Madison Issued one IN 1918 upon the
declaration Of peace. The colonial Gus
tom, however. was followed in the
early years CT the nation and the proc
lamatons were made by the governors
The same rule was later observed IN
the western states, tho population Of
which yss largely people from New
England or New York, and gradually
the governors OF those ststes and also
The southern states followed the initia
tive taken by the governor Of New