Gilpin observer., 1912-11-21

plot had been tried and punished in 1905 it was
ordered that because of their deliverance 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 come may yield
praise to Gods divine majesty for the same
The 18th of November continued 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 on 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 a
Thanksgiving day as that term is understood
Contemporary evidence refutes all claim to the
contrary.
From "A Relation of Voyage to Sagadoc
read as follows "Sundaye beinge the 9th of
August. in the morninge the most part of our holl
company of both shipes landed on this Hand.
whear the cross standeth; and thear we heard
sermon deyvred unto us by our preacher. gyvinge
God thanks for our happy metinge and safe aruall
into the country, and SO returned abord again"
Massachusetts Historical society proceedings,
xviii. 1929
The record made in his "Breeches Bible" by
William White, who came over In the Mayiower.
has far Significance in determining the
origin Of our American Thanksgiving day than
the event at MonhegaR. The record reads: will
lam White married ye Sd day OF March. 1920,
to Susannah Tlly Peregrne White. born on
board ye Mayfower in Cape Cod harbor, some.
Born to Susannah White December 10Th. ye six
o'clock morning Next day meet for prayer
and thanksgiving" This meeting for prayer
and Thanksgiving" was not on Sunday, but on
Tuesday. The fact that il not part OF the
regular Sunday service makes It more nearly &C.
cord with our idea OF Thanksgiving day than
does the Monhegan event But this similarity
Is not sufficient to warrant regarding It the
origin Of the American custom
The prototype of our present Thanksgiving day
is found in the harvest festival at Plymouth in
1881. The long winter that followed the estab-
lishment 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 nve other hardy
ones were we'll enough to get about" In the
spring and summer that followed their fortunes
improved. and by autumn they had cleared TWEEN.
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 a Thanksgiving
the first In America.
This first Thanksgiving was not for a day only
1t continued week In . letter to a friend in