The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-11-20

k NJ bound coast" and, invariably it is regar
G| ed as about the oldest national holiday
the land AS matter of fact it is Il
youngest! Practically every yearly observance of
patriotic nature is more ancient than the ceebr'
ing of Thanksgiving day a regular official
ceremony.
it is so customary in America for one person
to do the pioneering and another to get the
credit that 1t Is surprise to learn that even
the Mayhower band were really not entitled to
all the praise original thanksgivers, which
they have been receiving ever since 1920 Not
that there is anything disparagpg to be uttered
about those stern moralists- seem to have
been adopts in loading cargo of furniture that
would tax an ocean liner into little sailing
ship!
They were brave and they deserve the ma
TONS remembrance. But 13 years before they
landed at Plymouth group of future colonists
had stood on American soil and given thanks at
their deliverance from the perils Of the sea.
This was on Sunday, August 8, 1907 at the Is
land Of Monhegan and an English minister and
a priest jointly conducted q service OF thanks
giving The twin ships. Mary and John. and the
fly boat Gift Of God, found their way to the
island after long, terrible voyage Of storms
and helplessness. They had neither turkey, nor
cranberry sauce, but there was never more
genuine Thanksgiving day.
This was along the coast of Maine and yet
Massachusetts has, through all the years. been
honored among states as the home of the first
Thanksgiving service.
OF course the Bay state may be said to have
taken the idea and in the words Of a capitalist
developed 1t and put 1t on a paying basis" In
Massachusetts such a day was set apart FOR es
pecial services, continued fasting and rigorous
giving of thanks almost from the time the Pill
grim Fathers first landed. But, without meaning
to be facetious, 1t is obvious that these common
sense folk never believed in giving thanks unless
how had thankful
Thus in 1888 13 years after the landing at
Plymouth, the governor of that state officially
appointed a day of thanks and another in the
year following. But then there was jump OF
three years during which the colonists did not
celebrate Why? Certain historians insist it
was because they were lean" years. II so, they
must have been followed by three fat ones,
as the day observed regularly until 1853.
Again an interval of fateful 13 years and then,
in 1861, the governor once more declared In
favor of Thanksgiving. In 1850 the day was set
apart as an annual state holiday and has been
ever since.
But only New York adopted the practice of
having such day until we'll into the eighteenth
century, AS early as 1914 the Dutch governor
of New York issued an official proclamation for
a day Of thanksgiving, but 1t was not followed
each year-varyng probably with the governors
ideas the conditions Of the crops. Like the
famous pagan feast of autumn it originally
meant chiefly as a public offering of prayer in
gratitude for the bountiful output of grain and
fruits which would see the settlers through the
winter
The other states were being slowly set
tied and In Maryland and Virginia there was not
so much of strong religious atmosphere notice
able as debonnaire enthusiasm for whatever Of
the good things of life could be had.
The day was observed but not officially And
always. in the south. 1t was day Of feasting.
From the, time slavery entered the land the
Maryland or Virginia colonst pictured Thanks
giving dinner scene Of expectant waiting
diners and round grinning black face to the
rear Of the huge roast turkey on platter.
About the time Of the struggle Of '76 it came
into it's own a regular holiday and in 1889
was for the first time, declared a holiday by
congress and so observed. So that, really, It is
quite youthful immature holiday after ALI