The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-27
 Its Ongin and
 History

The practice of setting asiqe certalh days for thanksgiving had become custom long before the Reformation. Protestants followed the practice, espe- cially in the established church, where it had become fixed practice long be- fore New England began the observ- ance. It seems a strange thing that the Pilgrims who hated so heartily all the observances of the Church of Eng land, should have been so willing to fol- low this practice so early in their hls- tory.
 The first Thanksgiving Das of New England was, however, neither appoint ed nor intended for day of religious worship. It had nothing in common with the Church of England day of prayer and praise for past blessing and future need. It was appointed as day of recreation and freedom from work, which made the colonists days one ceaseless grind of care:
 But those who are wont to think of the Pilgrims as a group of sober and morose men and women, with no idea in life beyond work and prayer, would do well to read an account of that week of Thanksgiving, the first real play time of the Pilgrims.
 Edward Wins,ow wrote to friend in England on December Il, 1oZl:
 "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men out fowllng, so that after a special manner we might rejoice together, after we have gained the fruit of our labOrs. That four killed as much fowl as, with little help be- side, served the whole company about a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming among us, and among the rest, their great King Masasoyt, with some ninety men, who for three days we entertained and feasted. They went out and killed five deeer, which they brought and bestowed upon our governor, upon the captain and others.
 Governor Bradford in his account speaks of the great number of water fowl and wild "turkie." The record goes on to tell that the Pilgrims. with out doubt, fared decidedly better than did their English brothers that year, as ''turkie" was scarce.
 There were only fifty Englishmen to eat the Thanksgiving feast that first year, but ninety Indians came as guests. They did not come empty handed, but brought generous gifts. The kindly spirit of friendliness was worth even more at that time.
 The games were tests in jumping, leaping and running, in which they all took part. But in spite of all this, 1t could not have been week of unal- loved recreation and pleasure for there were only four women to do the cooking with the help of one maid servant, and a few maidkins. There were 120 men to be served, and ninety of them In dians, whose hunger had to be appeased for three days. Even more noticeable and pathetic was the very small num- Der of children in the stockade to par ticipate in this first Thanksgiving cele- bration.
 There is no record of any kind of religious service or prayer during the week. One writer says, Lost in the wood-terrified by ions-terrified by grinning wolves-half frozen in the poorly built houses--sickened by poor food, and half-famished-almost half the company dead, after two years of suffering and hardship. In spite of these heavy hardships, and after the drought of 1893, nine days of prayer for rain was answered, and the second Thanksgiving Day was appointed and observed"
 The first Thanksgiving Day which was publicly appointed, was set for February 9, 1630, in gratitude for the "Friend-bringing and food-bearing ships November 4, 1881, Winthrop wrote, We keep Thanksgiving Day today in Boston, Until 1884 the day was celebrated about every two years.
 We have no certain record when it became a fixed annual observance in New England. But in 1742 there were two Thanksgiving days and Massachu- setts and Connecticut celebrated with out reference to each other. As time passed, it became more and more day of prayer and thanksgiving. For it becomes more hard," one Connecticut writer says, Ito settle upon any spe- cial day
 It was not regularly observed until 1766, and then more as day of wOr- ship than day of feasting. One writ CT speaks of service in which long list of special blessings were specified
 For the healing of breaches. the abatement of disease, the arrival of per sons of quality, gratitude for plentiful harvest that God has sent us no want of bread, and for clean teeth
 These early Thanksgiving days were of many different days of the week, and no certain month for many years After the day began to be- observed annually, it came to be the custom to hold the festival in the fall, and fol lowing harvest. The feast was usually prepared for by some days of fasting, But among the early Thanksgiving celebrations of Colonial days is one which has no counterpart in history. The records say that the governor of Connecticut appointed certain day to be observed throughout the state as q time of thanksgiving. But, for reasons of their own, the residents of the town of Colchester ignored the governor x appointed day. They sent committee to him stating that they were not able to accept the day he had selected. but one week later"
 As this had never happened before, | the governor was at a loss to know how to proceed. Fortunately, he was a 1 patient man, and not easily affrOnted and one who was blesesd with a sense of humor.
 rlnulnS ne was nOt SOlhS to hIdh0 the matter disagreeable for them, he was again visited and the matter eX- plained. A sloOp expected from New York had been delayed week. On board was hOgshead of molasses for making pies, without which no Thanks giving celebration could proceed.
 Being man of good sense, and per haps, too, having the New England appreciation for pie, the good people of Colchester were allowed to hold their