The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-30
THE ORIGIN OF THANKSGIV-
ING DAY, AND WHAT IT
MEANT TO THE EARLY
COLONISTS.
old ENGLISH FESTIVAL
Proclamation Made BY John Han
cock, First Governor of Massa-
chusetts, One Hundred and
Twenty-eight Years Ago.

Thanksgiving is largely an Amer
lean Institution, but one writer has
said that our American Thanks
giving is but the old English Har-
vest Festival dressed in New Eng
land clothes" When the first harvest
of the New England colonists was
gathered in 1921, Governor Bradford
had day set aside for rejoicing
with prayer and praise, and gradu-
ally the custom prevailed of APP
pointing annually a day of thanks
giving after the harvest. During
the Revolution day of Thanks
giving was recommended by Congress
and Washington directed after the
Constitution was adopted that such
day be observed annually. Dur
ing he war of the Rebellion Presi-
dent Lincoln recommended the OBJ
servance of Thanksgiving day, and
in 1868 proclamation for a nation
al observance of such day was
made. Since then it has been the
custom to observe the last Thursday
in November as the annual Thanks
giving day. The New England gov
vernors made proclamation of the
day. and in time it became the Gus
tom after the day was set by the
President, for the several governors
of the states to issue similar procla-
nations. This year President Taft
made his proclamation from Chica-
90. where he happened to be at the
time. thus breaking over the rule
of always dating such papers from
Washington
On the eighth day of November,
1888. John Hancock, first Governor
of Massachusetts. issued his procla-
nation. setting aside Thursday. Dec
18th, as the day for Thanksgiving.
The printing of those days was diff
ferent from now, and this old paper
is peculiar. the letter "s" being
much like the .'f'' as we now have
it. This was just at the time when
the Revolution came to an end, and
the phraseology is unique. 1t starts
out with preamble like this:
Whereas, it hath pleased the
Supreme Ruler of all human events
to dispose the hearts of the late
beligerent powers to put a period to
the effusion of human blood, by pro-
claiming a cessation of all hostilities
by sea and land, and these United
States are not only happily rescued
from the danger and calamities to
which they have been so long ex-
posed, but their freedom, sovereignty
! and independence ultimately ac-
knowledeed.
And Whereas in the progress of a
contest on which the essential rights
of human nature depended, the In
terposition of Divine Providence in
our favor hath been most abundant
ly and most graciousIy manifested,
and tie citizens of these United
States have every reason for praise
and gratitude to the God of their
salvation.
Impelled therefore with an exalted
sense of the blessings by which We
are surrounded, and of our entire
dependence on that Almighty Being
from whose goodness and bounty
they are derived:
do by and W tn the advice of the
Council appoint Thursday the
eleventh day of December next, to
be rehgiously observed as a day of
Thanksgiving and Prayer, that all
the people may then assemble to
celebrate with grateful hearts and
united voices, the praises of their
Supreme and Bountiful Benefactor
| for his numberless favors and merci-
es.' etc.
After going on in this peculiar
strain at some length, the procla-
nation ends with the following
sentiment.
"While our hearts overflow with
| gratitude and our lips set forth ,the
praises of our great Creator, that we
also offer up solemn supplications
that it may please him to pardon all
our offences, to give wisdom and
unanimity to our public councils, tc
cement all our citizens in the bonds
of affection, and to inspire them
with an earnest regard for the ma
tional honor and interest, and to en-
able them to improve the days Of
prosperity by every great work, ano
to be lovers of peace and tranquil
ty; that he may be pleased to bles:
us in our husbandry, our commerce
and navigation, to smile upon oui
seminaries and means of education
to cause pure religion and virtue tt
flourish, to give peace to all nations