The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-11-20
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grms at Plymouth for Thanksgiv-
qS&as ing days mentioned in the BIZ
xN&y 1H&p ble-days set apart for giving
AZ L & thanks to God for some special
~ IN mercy These days of fast and
B prayer were customary in England
before the Reformation, and later
the Professionals appointed certain days Of praise
and thanks for Various blessings. The discov-
cry Of the Gunpowdsy Plot in 1905 in London
brought the common sentiment of Thanksgiving.
A scheme had been formed to blow up parlia-
ment house the 9Th of November, the first
day of the session. Great quantities of gunpow-
der and inflammable material found con-
cealed in the vaults underneath the building The
plot was discovered and the traitors we're exc
cuted. In consequence of this deliverance the
day was ordered to be kept as "a public thanks
giving to Almighty God" every year that "un-
feigned thankfulness may never be forgotten, and
that all ages to come may yield praises to Gods
divine majesty for the same" All ministers were
ordered to say prepers thereon, for which special
forms were provided. This annual thanksgiving,
together with one established later May 20,
was abolished in 1888 in England for both had
fallen into disuse. For several years afterwards,
however, these days recognized in New
England by the Episcopal church on account of
its place in their church calendars England
continued to have special days appointed for CIV
ing thanks, and recently as 1872 there was a
day selected for the public to offer prayers Of
Thanksgiving for the recovery of the late King
Edward, then prince of Wales, from typhoid
fever
The first thanksgiving the American CONT
nent was held by English minister named
Wolfall, and was celebrated off the coast of New
foundland This pious accompanied the
Frobisher expedition which brought the first Eng
lish colony to North America. The log of the
ship gives the record of the days observances
and tells how Monday, May %, 1878, aboard
the Ayde the men received communion, and how
Minister Wofal in sermon gave humble and
hnort han lu tn Gods Yoiro do1}1,o
ance in these dangerous places. This was the
first Christian sermon preached in North Ameri
can waters. Again in 1907 there similar
service held at Sagadahoc-a little village
the coast of Maine. There is little record OF
this Thanksgiving except that 1t consumed only
a few hours of the day, after which the people
returned to their labors.
The great American Thanksgiving day had its
origin In the Massachusetts colony in 1921, and
Gov. William Bradford, the first governor of that
little band of sturdy pilgrims, sent out the first
Thanksgiving proclamation setting apart day
for prayer and rejoicing the plenteous har
vest of that year. The Englishmen recalled their
Guy FaWkes thanksgiving, and the Dutch remem-
bered hearing their ancestors speak of the great
day of praise and prayer held at Leyden Hol-
land, In 1873, when that city was delivered from
siege. So, the entire colony began their pious
preparation for what proved to be the gayest
Thanksgiving the colony ever knew, for after
the first one, which lasted several days. the
puritan thanksgiving meant long sermons long
prayers and long faces. Governor Bradford de-
termined that the initial Thanksgiving should be
celebrated with little ceremony and that
feasting should play part in the occasion His
tory tells that he sent out four men, who
to search for game for the feast. Many
fowls were shot-in fact, enough to meet the
wants of the colony for week. Wild turkeys
predominated, it seems that the turkey made
Its appearance early in the history of Thanks
giving. The day selected was December 10 Gold
style). At the dawn of that day small cannon
was fired from the hill and a procession was
formed the beach, close to where the
Plymouth Rock now rests. Elder Brewster, wear
ing his ministerial garb and carrying the Bible
led the procession it moved solemny along
the street The men walked three abreast, with
Governor Bradford in the rear. There
long service in the meeting house, and after 1t
was over there was dinner-and such din
ner had never been known in the colony, for
apart from the savory turkey and other wild
fowl. the women had done their share in pro-
viding good things from the limited supply at
their command The most dramatic incident oc
Cured when the dinner in progress, for as
If by magic 80 friendly red men, under King
Massasoit, appeared carrying launches of ven
son as addition to the feast Thanksgiving
day soon heightened into days, for the psalm
singing and fcastng, interspersed with war
dances. were continued several days.
After that Thanksgiving days took on differ
emit aspect, and occurred at any season; some
times twice year. or sometimes year or two