Laurel outlook., 1949-11-23

be observed by Laurel people
whose plans for the occasion en-
brace the usual great dinners and
family gatherings. Although es-
sentially a harvest feast, it also
has a religious significance which
will be acknowledged here Wednes-
day evening at a union church
service in the Congregational
church. Four local churches, the
Congregational, Our Savior's Lu-
theran, Methodist and the Church
Of the Nazarene, will participate.
Rev. Clarence G.. Spellman, Metho-
dist, will be the speaker.
Laurel grocery stores and meat
markets have sold an enormous
amount of foods in the past week
for the holiday that ~precedes
Christmas by about a month. Tur-
keys are said by dealers to have
been nor plentiful this year than
a year ago. The turkey like corn
(maize) is a strictly American con-
tributiOn to the worlds delicious
foods.
President Truman followed the
precedent of those before him by
proclaiming Nov. "a as Thanks
giving day, an occasion to express
appreciation for the bounties of
Providence. 1t was in much the
same spirit and despite the lean
harvest of 1921 that Governor
Bradford of the Plymouth Bay
colony decreed a day of Thanks
giving and rejoicing after the
scanty crop had been gathered.
A century and a half later dur
ing the American Revolution, con-
gress fire thy recommended
days of thanksgiving and prayer.
After the close of the war many J
of the states adopted the custom
of an annual day of Thanksgiving.
There was, however, no unity of
date for the festival. Owing to
the persistence of Mrs. Sarah Jo-
sepha Hale, President Lincoln in
1868 appointed Thursday, Aug. 6,
"as a day for national thanksgiv-
ing, praise and prayer" From
1864 until 1889, the last Thurs
day in November was proclaimed
annually by the president as the
day of national thanksgiving. In
1894, President Roosevelt moved
the date forward one week to leave
more time between Thanksgiving
and Christmas, but a number of
the states retained the old date.
The holiday has long been cele-
brated in Canada also, where it
is proclaimed annually by the gov
ernor-general. 1t is usually the
second Monday in October in the
provinces north of the border.
The Pilgrims were in the midst /
an experiment with communism
when they had their first Thanks
day. The experiment may 4,
have accounted for the scantiness ,
Of the harvest they gathered that
year, for the ~colonists did not ,
like owning land in common, as S
tasks and the rationing OF &
foods and goods. They preferred
each family relying on its I
own efforts and not on the col I
efforts of all.
Old Governor Bradford later
{
"The experience that was had in s
his common curse and condition,
.ried sundrie years, and that
amongst godly and sober men, may -,
we'll evince the vanities Of that
:%onceite of Platos and other an
applauded by some of later 4
imes;-that the taking away of '
,ropertie, and bringing in COM
nunitie into a common wealth,
would make them happy and flor
shing; as if they were wiser than
iod. For this c%ommunitie $50 farr !
Is it was) was found to breed \
much confusion and discomfort, :
nd retard much Employment that c
would have been to their beneflte {
md comforte. 1
"For the young-men that were 9
most able and fitte for labour and d
ervice did repine that they should e
pend their time and strength to o
vorke for other mems wives and I
hildren, with out any recompense. l
The strong, or man of parts, had
% more in division of victails and 0
loaths, than he that was weake I
md not able to doe a quarter the :
,ther could; this was thought in :
Justice. l
"And for mems wives to be COM '
handed to doe service for other n
nen, as dressing their meate, i
gashing their cloaths, ETC., they \
'eem it kind of slaverie, neither
ould many husbands well brooke
I.
"At length lin 1929 after O
much debate of things, the Gov. r
with the advice of the cheefest v
imong them) gave way that they t