El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-22

in adjusting quarrels. A church in
that neighborhood, suffering from
mlttee to lay the case before Mr..
Buekley-his judgment to be given in
writing, and to be read to the cOngre-
cation at the close Of the morning
service on Thanksgiving Day.
Mr.. Buckley, unfortunately, although
so wise, was an absentminded man.
he wrote two letters-One to the
church aforementioned, and the other
70 man who was managing a farm
lot hlm-and the missives were by ac-
cldent interchanged. Thus on Thanks
giving morning the church congrega-
ton was astOnished to hear the fol-
lowing words, read to them by the
presiding elder: You will see to the
repair of the fences, that they be built
nlSh and strong, and you will take
special care of the old black bull"
Accept Strange Message.
While the congregation sat silent
wondering that this mystical advice
might mean, white-haired elder
arose and said; Brethren, this is the
very advice we need. The direction
10 repair the fences admOnishes US
to take heed in the admission and
government of our members. We must
Keep out strange cattle from the fold;
and we must in aparticular manner
set Watchful guard over the devil,
that old black bull who has done so
much damage among US"
When the message was thus clearly
explained the congregation at once
perceived the wisdom of Mr. Buckley's
advice. and, as a consequence, ami
moSltieS subsidized and perfect harmony
was restored in the church.
The observance of Thanksgiving
spread very slowly outside of New
ENGLAND. 1t was not regularly pro-
claimed by. any state governor out
side that section of the country until
1917, and only within the last forty
TOUR years has it been customary for
the president of the United States to
appoint a day annually. In the
early years Of the republic occasional
fast days and days of thanksgiving
were proclaimed, but as rule this
duty was left to the governors Of the
state.
Washington Sets "A Date.
When the seat of government was
located in New York, president Wash
lngton, in compliance with a resOlu-
ton Of congress, appointed Nov. 26,
1883 as day of thanksgiving and
prayer by the people for the many
and signal favors of Almighty God,
especially by affOrding them an op-
portunity to peacefully establish
form of government"
In 1872, president Madison in re-
Spouse to a congressional resolution,
set apart the third Thursday in Aug
ust as a day of humiliation and prayer
for the welfare of the country-this
having reference to the war with
Great Britain He appointed in like
tAdAAlcTs IN IolDs the second thursday
in April as a day of thanksgiving for
the restoration OF peace.
buchanan Held it In January.
President Taylor. in 1849, was asked
by certain religious bodies to appoint
a day of thanksgiving, but refused to
do so. Twelve years later Mr.. Buch-
anan set apart Friday, January 4, by
special proclamation, as day OF
fasting and prayer" that civil war
might be averted. After the battle of
Bull Run, Mr.. Lincoln appointed a day
of humiliation and fasting and dur
ing the civil war a number of other
such days were set apart by proc
lamatiOn from the white house, as
well as days of special thanksgiving
for successes of the Federal arms.
The custom of celebrating Thanks
giving Day moved westward, with
migration of the population, much
more rapidly than toward the South.
At the present time. however, IT is rec
ogniZed all over the country as our
greatest national festival, barring
Christmas; and over a large part OF
New England it eclipses even the lat
ter in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES how far
the spirit and traditions of the early
Puritans still survive.