The Arvada enterprise., 1913-11-20
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ANKSGIVING DAY has a long
nd curious history and did not
'inate entirely with the Pill
IS at Plymouth, for Thanksgiv
days mentioned in the Bi
days set apart for giving
Inks to God for special
lercy. These days of fast and
rayer were customary in England
efore the Reformation, and later
appointed certain days of praise
N various blessings. The discov-
Inpowder Plot in 1905 in London
mmon sentiment Of Thanksgiving.
been formed to blow up para-
the 9Th of November the first
r-ession. Great quantities of gunpow-
ufammable material found con
he vaults underneath the building. The
discovered and the traitors were /exe-
n conaequence OF this deliverance the
ordered to be kept "a public thanks
Almighty God" every year that "un.
lhankfuness may never be forgotten and
ages to come may yield praises to Gods
majesty for the same" All ministers were
ed to say prepers thereon, for which special
We're provided. This annual Thanksgiving
n9r with one established later on May 90
absoisaed in 1888 in England, for both had
lien into dsVe. For several years afterwards
o"eFeF, thesJ days were recognized in New
s aFs oae. by EpsS9De ss, church on account Of
z continued to have special days appointed for Civ
ing thanks. and as recently 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
nont was held by English minister named
Wolfall. and was celebrated of the coast of New
Ioundland. This pous accompanied the
Frobisher expedition which brought the first Eng
elish colony to North America The log of the
ship gives the record of the days observances
and tells how Monday, May 2S, 1878 aboard
the Ayde. the men received communion and how
Minister Wofall in a sermon gave humble and
hearty thanks to God for his miraculous deliver
.ance In these dangerous places This was the
first Christian sermon preached in North Ameri.
can waters. Again in 1907 there was a similar
service held at Sagadahoc-a little village on
The coast OF Maine. There is little record OF
this Thanksgiving except that 1t consumed only
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-
ihered hearing their ancestors speak of the great
5iay OF praise and prayer held at Leyden, IIol-
lind. in 1873 when that city was delivered from
,rreSu,Ses So the entire colony began their plous
,rnanS :ration for what proved to be the gayest
- 4 IsglVlng the colony ever knew, for after
,,,ri,kirst one which lasted several days, the
,,rnY In. Thanksgiving meant long sermons. long
,ari ers and long faces. Governor Bradford de-
eunined that the initial Thanksgiving should be
teebrated with little ceremony and that
,ssting should play part In the occasion. His
-Tory tells us that he sent out four men, who
We're 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
! predomnated It seems that the turkey made
70 nnfn urnpr In -, FT
giving. The day selected was December 10 told
fired from the hill and a procession was
formed near the beach. close to where the
Plymouth Rock rests Elder Brewster wear.
ing his ministerial garb and carrying tho Bible
led the procession It moved solemnly along
the street The men walked three abreast with
Governor Bradford in the rear. There was
long service in the meeting house, and after II
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
II by magic 80 friendly red men under King
Massasoit appeared, carrying launches OF vent
son addition to the feast THANKSGIVING
day soon heightened into days. for the psalm
singing and feasting, interspersed with war
ances continued several days.
fter that Thanksgiving days took differ
aspect and occurred at any season; some.
twice year. sometimes year or two