The Penn's Grove record., 1920-11-26
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

The origin of many of u customs
has been lost in antiquity. Days of
innocent merriment are traced back to
heather tribes, behind which turks sim
full orgies. Pagan ideas still cling to
our festivals of Christmas and Easter.
In these holidays we are simply con-
tinuing the traditions of our ancestors
of other countries, but as Americans
we have but one festival, which is re-
ligious yet national in a land where
church and state boast perfect indie
pendence.
The festival of an annual thanks
giving originated among the Jews and
was of Gods own appointment, yet not
until our Pilgrim Fathers renewed it
in New England did we as Christians
have any day to correspond with the
grateful feast-of Iabernacles.
The PiIgtims1a1aedlearly in dreary
NovembsrAfhe gaunt herald Of that
first dread Winter which robbed them
of one-half their little company. Dur
ing the Summer there IA no real
want. On November 9th, however,
exactly a veal from their W arrival,
the first reinforcement came from
England. But so poorly furnished
was the vessel with food that the Pill
grims were forced to spare some OF
their scanty store for her return voy-
age. This so depleted their provisions
that famine threatened. Even on half
allowance they could a hold out
till Spring.
Such was our state, wrote n in his
journal that in the morning we had to
seek our food for the day and at noon
| have seen men stagger by reason OF
faintness for want of food.
The second harvest came but with 1t
little relief, for the crop proved far
too scanty. In the Spring of 1923
one of them wrote: "Our victuals are
spent. We have neither bread nor
corn for three or four days together
and vet bear our want with cheerful
ness and rest on Providence. By the
of July they were brought to
the end of all their hopes, almost to
desperation"
MIR. Winslow wrote: "We r dis
outraged" But there are different
kinds of Encouragement. They were
not so discouraged as to not to wait
upon God, but so as to wait only upon
Him. To Him as their only refuge
they fled individually and unitedly-
1t was these circumstances that
brought about the Day of Fasting and
Prayer.
When they assembled in the morn
ing the heavens were clear, but before
the long hours of solemn services were
over the sky was clouded and In the
morning distilled soft sweet show
A good harvest was assured.
In addition the supply ships arrived
Having these tokens of Gods favor
they thought it would be great ingratl-
tude to content themselves with phi
vate thanksgiving for that which pri-
vate prayer could not obtain. An
other solemn day was set apart
to return to God praise and
honor with t~hankfulness. This was
the first Thanksgiving services. In
his there was more praise than pump
Kin pie; more thanksgiving than tur-
key. Do not we of today need the
spirit of cheerful thankfulness'
amid adversely?
There was three years of starvation
then one days rain, yet they looked
away from the agony of the years
to the blessings of the day and thank
ed God. We of today, l fear, would
shut our eyes to the harvest promises
the showers to grumble over the
years of misery. Christians for bless
received, do you need the pilgrim
spirit of cheerful thankfulness. His
faith was in the living God, not in
Gods comforts and blessings.