The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-11-08
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Presumably, it is a religious festival suggested
by the Hebrew Feast OF Tabernacles Originally.
1t was designed as day OF fasting and prayer for
some specific blessing accorded in the past 1t
can be traced back to the year 40 B. c., when the
Senate of Rome decreed forty days OF Thanks
giving for Caesars victories in Gau Egypt, and
Zea and Juba in Africa.
During the Civil war President Lincoln issued
proclamations recommending special Thanksgiv-
ings for victories in 1862 and 1863 and national
proclamation of the annual Thanksgiving day in
1863 and 1864
Thus he initiated George Washington, who rec
commended a day Of Thanksgiving for the adop-
ton Of the Constitution, and second Thanksgiv-
ing proclamation in 1895 on account of the sup
preston of Instruction
President Madison, by request of Congress,
recommended Thanksgiving for peace in April,
1914 but the official recommendation of Thanks
giving dav was mainly confined TO New Eng
land where regular annual proclamations were is
sued by the governors OF the states, and the day
was observed generally with religious services,
and was the principal social and home festival OF
the year
In 1856 Governor Johnson OF Virginia recon-
nended day of Thanksgiving but in 1857 Gov
crnor Wise Of that state, being requested to do
so, publicly declined saying he was "unauthor-
led to interfere in religious matters"
Thanksgiving day is by no means festival
a Aginating since the Civil war, as many sup
poA The occasional observance OF day OF
Tha sgiving formally recommended by the civil
autho ties, was not unusual in Europe, and such
day Mas observed in Leyden, Holland Oct. 3,
rsss' n first anniversary OF the deiiverance of
that city from siege.
land wed TO Holland, and remained there till
1870 WHEN it sent off the Mayflower Colony to
New England After the first harvest OF the colo,
nists. at Plymouth, in 1621, Governor Bradford
sent four men out fowng that they might, after
a more special manner, rejoice together In
4 tulv r6z3. day of fasting and prayer was APP
pointed on account Of drouth. Rain came album
DAINTY while they were praying and the governor
amounted day OF Thanksgiving which was Cd
served with religious services
The Charlestown records show similar change
of fast day into Thanksgiving IN 1881 on account
q of the arrival OF supplies from Ireland
In Iune r622. Governor Winthrop OF the Mas
sachnsetts Bay colony, recommended a day OF
Tbanlspiving on account of action OF the BRIT
;sh nrivy council favorable to the Colonies and
invited the governor of Plymouth colony TO unite
With him There is no record OF the Official APP
oo;ntment of DAYS OF Thanksgiving III MasSa-
chusetts Bay colony in 1888 1884 1887 io5o'
and 100 sometime OF more than one Gay III IN tle
wear and in Plymouth colony IN lo5I' 1000 Iooo'
y6o9 and 700. when the form of the recommeh,
dat;on indicates that it had become an annual
cnstom The earlier Of these appointments were
a. different seasons of the year and Tor SpeCiai
soasors narticulary for the arrival OF shps' win
nrovisions and new colonists; but the later were
more generally for the harvest, and were IN inc
late autumn or early winter.
During the Revolution Thanksgiving Gay Wds
at;onsi institution being annually recommend
a. s., Congrcss but after the general Thanks
sr;,5no for peacc in 1884, there was no national
snnointment till $780, when president Was"-
;ngton bv request OF Congress, recommenueu "
nl 80 MISUNDERSTANDING for the adoption of the con-
stituton. as formerly stated. =
H. ,9s9 Thanksgiving proclamations were IS
sued by the governors OF eignt Oh ue 3';.i,
states. ningling sacred festivities oil 'l9 o"y WIN
tbc violent discussion OF secession
cta,, and Webster were using their great tai
- avert the threatening storm Calhouh
III r;,coin were contcnding that the Union
az ,ot cvist part free and part slave but they
srer,,ed from different viewpoints Lincoln "l
s.,ed that all the states must be Hee OF an s'"N
sSta+es Calhoun contended tnat sePal auo" vi
s,,. o,racea for the ills of the situation ana
R'eee o11y declared that all the people OF the
geii -,i..d Tor was 10 be let alone Webster
oou'' - ~.,rr oil on the troubled waters and
sousn' S ~ exclaimed. 81 implorc, as the best
nenly ,'6icb God can bestow upon me on earth
- r. cad and drefu event OF the dissolution
90 the Union shall occur, may not survive ~ O'
Soid the heartrending spectacle -.
norS ~, neoole were assembled in the churches on
ne i P5v day. and the preachers delivered
nam. sser,,Sons for blessings past and con-
,..on Of our domestic institutions IN the
s,',re II was then day OF fasting and PRAYER
dor conditions were serous ra'n oId '% Ta r
, reJo'ei@9s ola men sat in the amen corners and
s ss.',.d @amen." while the preachers quoted
s s9ntsre and smote their breasts leading poll
seiP.u attended the services and cited the Con
.uelans :. authority OF Southern rights while
stls eooe tasted and prayed to God to hear their