The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1913-11-20

G-S ed as about the Oldest natlOnal nOllday
the land! AS a matter OF fact 1t is Il
youngest! Practically every yearly observance of
patriotic nature is more ancient than the celebri
ing of Thanksgiving day as a regular official
ceremony.
1t is so customary in America for person
to do the pioneering and another to get the
credit that it is surprise to learn that even
the Mayfower band were really not entitled to
all the praise original thanksgivers, which
they have been receiving ever since 1920 Not
that there is anything disparaging to be uttered
about those stern moralsts-who seem to have
been adopts in loading cargo of furniture that
would tax an liner into little sailing
ship!
They were brave and they deserve the ma
tions remembrance But 13 years before they
landed at Plymouth a group Of future colonists
had stood on American soil and given thanks at
their deverance from the perils of the sea.
This was on Sunday, August g. 1907 at the Is
land of Monhegan and an English minister and
a priest jointly conducted service OF thanks
giving, The twin ships, Mary and John, and the
fly boat Gift of Cod found their way to the
island after a long, terrible voyage Of storms
and helplessness. They had neither turkey, nor
cranberry sauce, but there was never a 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 hrst
Thanksgiving service.
OF course the Bay state may be said to have
taken the idea and in the words of a capitalist
developed it and put 1t a paying basis In
Massachusetts, such day 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, it is obvious that these common
sense folk never believed in giving thanks unless
they had something to be thankful for.
Thus, in 1888, 10 years after the landing at
Plymouth the governor OF that state officially
tad dav IF another
year following But then there was jump OF
three years during which the colonists did not
celebrate. Why? Certain historians insist 1t
was because they we're lean" years II So they
must have been followed by three fat ones,
as the day observed regularly until 1882
Again an interval OF fateful 13 years and then,
In 1851 the governor once more declared In
favor of Thanksgiving In 1880 the day was set
apart as annual state holiday and has been
ever since.
But only New York adopted the practice OF
having such day until well into the eighteenth
century! AS early 1914 the Dutch governor
of New York issued official proclamation for
a day Of thanksgiving but It was not followed
each year-varying probably with the governors
ideas or the conditions of the crops. Like the
famous pagan feast OF autumn, II originally was
meant chiefly a public offering of prayer In
gratitude for the bountiful output of grain and
! fruits which would the settlers through the
winter.
tied and in Maryland and Virginia there not
so much of a strong religious atmosphere notice
able as a debonnare enthusiasm for whatever OF
/ the good things OF life could be had.
The day observed but not officially And
/ always, I'm the SOUTH IL day OF feasting.
From the time slavery entered the land the
Maryland or Virginia colonst pictured Thanks
giving dinner a scene of expectant waiting
diners and round grinning black face to the
rear OF the huge roast turkey on platter.
Il al II Is. IL
into its own as a regular holiday and in 1889
was, for the first time. declared holiday by
congress and 80 observed. So that, really. II is
quite . youthful. immature holiday after ALI