Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-11-21

and we must look elsewhere for It.
The idea Of Thanksgiving day goes back to
remotest antiquity. 1t is part OF natural religion
and is probably as old as the human race. In
written records We have ample evidence that the
festival was celebrated In connection with the
fruits Of the earth" by the ancient Egyptians. the
Jews, the Greeks, and the Romans. Long before
Luther's revolt from Rome in the sixteenth CEN
fury II had been observed by the Christians; and
after the reformation, thanksgiving days were
In frequent use by the Professionals especially
those OF England.
In old Egypt when the harvest had been gath.
creed, It was the custom to observe a day OF
feasting, and to lay offerings upon the affairs OF
Isis. the goddess Of agriculture. The Jewish fes
tival was the "ingathering," or the feast OF the
tabernacle" mentioned in Exodus and other parts
Of the Old Testament. This was more partcu-
larly thanksgiving for the fruit harvest and as
1t came at the close Of the entire harvest 1t prob
ably was intended also a general thanksgiv-
ing 'for the bounty Of nature" in the year that
had passed.
This festival appears early in Jewish history
and as II was connected with the land and its
possession, may have had a Canaanitish proto
type Its celebration was annual and each festi
val continued through seven days. At the begin
ming two vessels Of silver were carried in
ceremonious manner to the temple, one full Of
the foot of the altar of burnt offerings always on
the seventh day Of the festival"
Plutarch describes this ceremonial which he
believed was feast to Bacchus. He says: THE
Jews celebrated two feasts to Bacchus. In the
midst of the vintage they spread tables spread
with all manner of fruits and live in tabernacles
made especially Of palms and ivy wreaths to-
gether. A few days later they kept
other festival which was openly dedicated to
- nnl~a In
their hands, with which they went into the tenn
pie, the Levites going before with instruments Of
music"
Analogous to the Jewish festival and possibly
borrowed from It was that of the old Greeks. the
Thesmorphia. This was a feast to Demeter, the
goddess Of the harvest. It lasted nine days and
consisted Of sacrifices Of the products Of e soil
with oblations Of wine. milk and honey" TheO-
crtus refers to It in the Seventh Idyl. where ST.
nicholas says: Nov. this is our way to the
Thalysia for our friends in sooth are making q
feast to Demeter Of the beautiful robe, Offering
the first fruits of their abundance since for them
in bounteous manner the goddess has piled the
thrashing floor with barley"
The goddess Of the Roman harvest was Ceres.
Her festival was celebrated annually and was
called Ceralia. It was a day for worship and
rustic sports. Men and women formed process.
sions and went to the fields with music Virgil
refers to this festival. He mentions the Bacri'
ices that were offered in the temples and alludes
to the joyousness Of the occasion.
In one way or another Thanksgiving day had
been observed in Christian Europe for centuries
before its celebration in New England. On the
continent and for time in England, It occurred
at Martinmas which was a day Of feasting and
drinking. Occasionally, too civil authorities
recommended the observance Of some fixed day.
To celebrate the victory Of King Henry V. Of Eng
land at Agincourt, Oct %. 1415. public thanks
giving was held on Sunday the feast Of St. Ed
ward, the king and confessor. Such a day. too.
was observed in Leyden. Holland. Oct 3. 1875. the
FIRST anniversary Of that city from the siege by
the Spaniards.
Many instances of Thanksgiving days can be
pointed out in England during the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. In 1862 the second year Of
Elizabeths reign, Thanksgiving day entered Roga-
ton day Then It was ordered that thanks should
be given to Almighty God for the increase and
abundance OF his fruits upon the earth" In this
reign. too. there was great national thanksgiy'
ing day that is worthy Of note. This occurred on
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1858. and, was in commemora-
tion OF the great victory over the 'tnvincble
armada" II had been described by Nicol In his
Progress Of Queen Elizabeth" by Stowe. and by
some other contemporary writer's. We are told
that "the day was kept holy throughout the
realm, with sermons. singing Of psalms. bonfres,
ste, for Joy and thanksgiving unto God for the
overthrow Of the Spaniards. our enemies. on the
sea: and the citizens of London In their llveries
that day had q sermon at St Pauls cross tending
10 that end"
One legal and annual thanksgiving day be
cause Of the long time Il was such deserves Bpe
sIal mention. Afler ne traitors IN the EunpoWder