Evening star., 1939-11-19
Came Many
Years After
Pilgrims
Usually Held to Be
Marked as Day
OF Devotion
By John Clagen Proctor.

celebration Of Thanksgiving Day
this year that it might be interest
ing to note, in referring to the sub
ject. that the people of the District
Of Columbia had plenty of trouble
over this matter many years ago, not
only as to what day we should cele-
brate, but whether the District au-
thorities should or should not desig-
nate any day at all for public
thanksgiving.
But Thanksgiving Day is nearly
200 years older than the Nations S
Capital. and even preceded by 153
years the signing of the Declara-
ton of independence, having first
been celebrated by the Pilgrims in
1923.
OF this historic event, Elliott, In
his New England History" says:
"After the harvest, Gov. Bradford
sent out a company to shoot game
to furnish a dainty feast of re-
joicing after the labors of the COL
ony. Having followed the direc-
tions of the Governor, and the
principle of the excellent Mrs. Glass,
they cooked their game, and in
vited Massasoit and some 80 other
savages, and all fell to and de-
voured the feast, thanking God for
the good world and the good things
In it,"
Massasoit as Friend.
This was great day, indeed, for
the Puritans, and a great day as
we'll for Massasoit, whose proper
name was Woosamequin. He proved
of great help to the pioneer settlers
OF Plymouth, to whom he was in
troduced. in 1921, by Samoset, who
was on hand to greet the Pilgrims
when they landed in 1920, with
welcome, Englishmen!" Chief
Massasoit is said to have been pre-
eminently the friend of the Eng
lsh, and was chief renowned more
in peace than in war.
Thanksgiving Day was, for a long
while. confined to the New England
States. At the time it was first
celebrated in Washington, in 1845,
attention was called to the fact
that it was being celebrated in
Maryland and that a day should
be set aside here for the same
purpose.
The thought suggesting its in
PRODUCTION in this city came by
way of a letter to the editors of
the National Intelligencer. dated
November 3, 1845, which went on
to say:
while our neighboring citizens
OF Maryland have again had a day
set apart for this purpose by their
Governor, and still more recently
the States of Pennsylvania and
Kentucky have united on the same
day, together with every State East,
West, North, and many of the
South also; while, too, it is un-
usually acknowledged to have a
happy influence on our political
and religious dissensions, awaken
ing more elevated and enlarged
views of the blessings of our govern
ment. Why should we
not have like day to enjoy, and
Is there anything to prevent it?"
Proclamation Issued.
Apparently the Districts legis-
1ative body, and the District had
a legislative body, which existed in
one form or another, from 1902 to
1874, took immediate action on the
recommendation made in the FORE
going note, for under the same date,
Mayor William w. Seaton, who
also was one of the editors of the
1ntelligencer, issued his proclama-
tion to the citizens of Washington,
in which he said:
Whereas the Board of Alderman
and Board Of Common Council of
this city did on the Sd instant
pass the following preamble and
joint resolution, to wit:
Joint resolution requesting the
mayor to set apart day of thanks
giving.
Whereas we approve the Gus
tom OF setting apart a day of
general Thanksgiving and praise to
the Creator of the universe in the
course of the autumn of each year,
when the garners of the husband
man are full, and plenty overf1oweth
In the land; and whereas the Gov
ernor of the State of Maryland.
OF which this city was once a part,
has issued his proclamation setting
apart day in that State to be
observed as day of thanksgiving:
Therefore
Resolved by the Board of Alder
men and Board of Common Council
of the City of Washington, That
the Mayor of this city be, and he
hereby is, respectfully requested to
issue his proclamation setting apart
such day of the present month as
to him may seem proper, to be
observed by the citizens of Wash
tngton as day of thanksgiving
and praise to God for His kindness
and beneficence to the people of
this Nation.
SAMUEL BACON,
"fPresident of the Board of Com.
mon Council.
"'JAMES ADAMS,
President of the Board of Alder
men
Nov, heartily approving of the
object of this resolution of the City
Councils, and in ready compliance
with the request which it contains,
I hereby appoint Thursday, the
9th of the present month, to be
observed in this city as a day Of
general thanksgiving and praise to
Almighty God; requesting that all
secular employment may be sus-
pended during the day; that all
ministers of religion and their con-
gregations, and all other citizens,
~.ou oeeoy,,h1o IN f1oir rocrortive