Evening star., 1932-11-24
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCETT.

The custom CT setting aside day for
general Thanksgiving Is of very ancient
| origin. Such occasions were common
among the Israelites and are mentioned
! throughout the Scriptures. They were
frequent in medieval Europe. Tney
survived the Reformation. Even among
religious groups which rejected practi-
cally all other festivals of the Western
church, they remained popular.
The first thanksgiving service held in
North America was that conducted on
the coast of Newfoundland. May ~,
| 1878, when TIL. Rev. Mr.. Woliall, chap
PLAN of the Frob.sher expedition, ex-
pressed the gratitude of the "adven-
! turers" for a safe voyage.
The earliest Thanksgiving observance
within. the present borders Of the
| United States was that held by the
Popham colonists at Sagadahoc, on the
coast of Maine, in August. 1907.
The early Colonies of New England
were established by men and women to
whom general Thanksgiving was an old
religious custom. They had brought
the tradition with them to America.
First Proclamation.
But the real origin of Thanksgiving
as {. day specially set apart for prayer
and rejoicing must be conceded to Will
| liam Bradford first Governor OF Massa-
chusetts Colony. "In gratitude for the
plenteous harvest of 1921, following
upon period of great depression. NJ
proc aimed Cay of thanksgiving TO
be observed on December 13 (old
style) of that year"
Bradford prepared for the occasion
by sending out four men in search OF
game. Thus early in the history OF
<5o1r fTipnd
turkey make his appearance; for, sue
cessful in their quest, the four sports
men returned, struggling under
burden of wild fowl. principally tur-
keys. sufficient to meet the wants OF
the little colony for week"
Three-Day Celebration.
The celebration opened at "the first
gray dawn" with the firing of can
non. "A solemn procession to the
meeting house was formed, the men
marching three abreast. Elder Brew
ster, in his long preachers camlet coat,
walking beside them, bearing. with a
gravity befitting the occasion, the
great Bible, while the sergeant in coun-
sci and Gov. Bradford brought up the
rear. After the service followed the
dinner, whose sayory odorS seem TO
have penetrated the forests fastnesses,
for in the midst of the festivities an
Indian sholt was heard, and go
friendly red men, under King Massa-
soft, appeared as if by magic, bearing
as an addition to the feast huge
launches of vsnison. The day OF
Thanksgiving heightened into three,
the mere bodily feastings being varied
with the singing of psalms and songs,
with war-danceS by the savages, with
exhibitions OF military drill by Capt.
Standish's well-trained soldiery. and
with such sports and pastimes as char
acterized the recreations of the middle
class of English people in those times
at home"
Observed Throughout Colonies.
Subsequent ksgivings were
ordered according as reasons for CIV
| ing thanks presented themselves" Be
ginning, in 1884, the festical became a
formal and annual one in Massachu-
sets, and the example soon was fol-
lowed by all the other New England
Colonies. Thanksgiving then was the
great festival of the year. 1t was far
more important than Christmas.
feast which the Puritans hated as
relic of "Popish mummery."
The Revolutionary War promoted
wider observance. The Continental
Congress named at least eight days OF
general Thanksgiving. These fell In
April, May, July and December. The
heads of the several colonial govern
ments were recommended" to suspend
business on the dates appointed.
George Washington was an ardent
believer in popular expressions Of graf
| itude to the Deity, and it is recorded
| that he proclaimed general thanks
giving by the Continental Army on
Thursday, December 18, 1777. A SINH
lar proclamation by the commander In
chief was issued at Valley Forge, May
z, 1778.
But the first Thanksgiving of the
| i,,dor,ar,dent Coinnies newly reOrqaniZed