The Elbert County tribune., 1912-11-22
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plot had been tried and punished in 1905 it was
ordered that because of their deverance the
English people should keep the 5th of November
every year "as public thanksgiving to Almighty
God. that unfeigned thankfulness may never be
forgotten and that all ages to may yield
praise to Gods divine majesty for the same.
The 18th of November continued a legal thanks
giving day for more than two centuries. but In
later years 1t fell into disuse and In 1888 was
abolished by parliament
Long before the advent of the pilgrims in
Massachusetts, all rituals contained expressions
of gratitude to God for his mercies In that of
the Church of England special prayers were pro-
vided for the Sunday service. This service, how
ever must be carefully distinguished from the
Thanksgiving day OF the pilgrim fathers. Failure
to make this distinction has led to the groundless
claim that the Popham colonists were the first
to keep Thanksgiving day in America. The
service at Monhegan which this claim is based
was the regular Sunday service of the Church Of
England. and while 1t had an element OF thanks
giving the day In nowise be regarded as
Thanksgiving day that term is understood.
Contemporary evidence refutes all claim to the
contrary.
From "A Relation of Voyage to Sagadoc" we
read follows: "Sundaye beinge the 9th of
August. in the morninge the most part of our holl
company of both shpes landed this Hand.
whear the standeth: and thear we heard
sermon delyvred unto us by our preacher. gyvnge
God thanks for happy metinge and safe aruall
into the country and SO returned abord again.
(Massachusetts Historical society proceedings,
xviii. 1922
The record made In his "Breeches Bible by
William White, who came in the Mayfower,
has far significance In determining the
origin of our American Thanksgiving day than
the event at Monhegan. The record reads: will
lam White married ye Sd day of March, 1920.
to Susannah Tilly Peregrine White. born on
board ye Maynower In Cape Cod harbor some.
Born to Susannah White December 10th. ye six
o'clock morning. Next day we meet for prayer
and Thanksgiving" This meeting for prayer
and thanksgiving not on Sunday, but on
Tuesday. The fact that 1t not a part of the
regular Sunday service makes II nearly ac-
cord with idea of Thanksgiving day than
does the Monhegan event. But this similarity
is not sufficient to warrant regarding 1t the
origin of the American custom.
The prototype of our present Thanksgiving day
is found In the harvest festival at Plymouth in
1921. The long winter that followed the estab-
lshment Of the colony had been one OF great NOR
tality and suffering Scarcely half OF the colony
had survived 1t. "At one time during the winter
only Brewster, Standish and ive other hardy
ones were well enough to get about" In the
spring and summer that followed their fortunes
improved. and by autumn they had cleared twen
ty-six acres and made It ready for cultivation
This industry too. had been rewarded by a boun
teous harvest. Now food and fuel sufficient for
the needs of the approaching winter were laid In
Then Governor Bradford ordered Thanksgiving
the first in America
This first Thanksgiving was not for a day only
1t continued week. In a letter to friend in