Milford chronicle., 1950-11-24
THANKSGIVING

"A small but determined band of Pilgrims,
fleeing from the religious prosecutions to
which they had been subjected in the Old
Country, landed on the bleak and stormy
shores of New England over three hundred
and twenty years ago November 21, 1920.
Strong minded, strong willed, endowed
with that courage and fOrtitude possessed
only by those whose faith in God is un-
bounded, they sought in new land to es-
cape the oppression of religious bigOtry
and intolerance, and to find in this country
an asylum where they could worship God
IN accordance with the dictates of their own
conscience.
They needed all their faith and forti-
tude, for New England in bleak December
was grim and forbidden land. There were
no homes in which they could find shelter,
no food or supplies but the scanty ones they
had brought with them. They were on their
own In a great wilderness filled with wild
animals, beasts and savages, whose nature
they had every reason to fear; and faced
with a winter whose rigor was far beyond
anything they had ever experienced-alone
at last with their God and He never failed
them, nor did they lose their faith
A winter of untold hardships greeted
them in their new home, during which the
little band of 102 dwindled through expos
ure, hardships and lack of food to almost
half of it's original number. When at last
spring came around, with courage and de-
termination that nothing could daunt, the
survivors gthough weakened by winter, set
to work and prepared the soil for planting.
They were well repaid for their IabOrs,
the fertile, virgin soil brought forth good
ly yield.
Nor did these fervent, devout souls for
get their God by taking to themselves the
credit for the success of their efforts In
commemoratiOn, a meeting was held to
offer up thanks to God for the bountiful har-
vest which they had garnered. Thus the first
Harvest Thanksgiving in this country, was
held by the remnants of this sturdy, little
band, far from home and kindred, with old
ties and associations forever severed.
Comparison of these old Thanksgivings,
with their solemn customs and grim regu-
latiOnS, with present day Observances, shows
the changes centuries have made in GUS
tOms-and to marked degree in spiritual
conceptions as well.
Religion, in the early days of our fore
fathers, was not thing to be practiced on
Sundays and out of business hours. It was
the controlling factor in life and entered
into the minutest details of every affair,
with a strength and spirit seldom, if ever,
equaled before or since in any community.
YSs
in fort guarded by "six cannons." Those
who had broken any of the rigid laws of
the Pilgrims, were compelled to sit on a
stool during worship as an example and
warning to the rest of the colony. Absentees
from worship were sent for and compelled
to attend-Or summarily hauled up before
those terrific magistrates whose grim de.
creeS gave New England's naughty children
the Nightmares a century after the stern
browed prOmulgatOrs of them were dust"
Think of a Thanksgiving ruled over and
dominated by Elder Brewster with his ser.
lous men, fianked by good Governor Brad.
ford with his strong authoritative features
and thoughtful forehead" And where or
those Thanksgiving days, was the upright
+ but fierce and Warlike Miles Standish? The
handsome and eloquent in anOther's cause
John Alden? The prina, pretty and demurt
Priscilla Mullen-a young lady who seemed
to have enough Adam in her for a littl,
coquetry-a most serious fault in those dav,
whea the merest trifles were affairs of state
The brave Standish, fearing nobody Of
nothing, probably was looking straight int
the eyes of Elder Brewster, himself. Johr
Alden, already under the many charms o.
sweet Priscilla, probably was self conscious
with heart divided between his beloved anC
the services Priscilla we are sure had hel
eyes fixed demurely on, the floor, but in sucl
a position that she could give an occasional
glance out the corners to see her handsom,
John.
Such, perchance, may have been tn,
Thanksgiving in ''ye olden days." but many
years have rolled by, bringing as they al
ways do many changes.
Today we have more of the feasting anC
less Of the religious side-more of good fel
loWshlp and less of inner communion -
more of display of our blessings than th,
giving of thanks for then-Ynore nerrvnoaly
ing and less of prayer.