Show le t U S give 6 anks 4 or 44 i 74 f A air A IA A I 1 IF A our M es wa icett on star e Is an ancient custom but it has had its ups and downs historians say that it has not always been the universally popular occasion which it ft now Is considered to be the first thanksgiving ceremoniously observed in north america was that conducted by kev re v mr Wol fall chaplain of the frobisher expedition tion to newfoundland may 27 1578 and the earliest thanksgiving observance reported within the present boundaries of the united states was that held by the popham colonists at maine in august 1607 but the first specification of a whole day of thanksgiving was that proclaimed by william bradford first governor of massachusetts colony of pit gelms ln in gratitude for the plenteous harvest of 1021 1621 the date was december 13 old style the festival became an annual and regular one in massachusetts in 1684 and the example so established was followed by all the other new england colonies it was the most important feast of the year taking rank above christmas of which the puritans disapproved during tile the revolutionary war there were at least eight separate days of general thanksgiving george washington ordered days tor for prayer and thanks on december IS 18 1777 and may 7 1778 but it was not the father of ilia his country aho vho first conceived the idea ap A the great day dawned the parade was held of a national thanksgiving day for the newly liberated colonies contrary to common belief it was congress rather than the first president that was waa responsible the credit in the circumstances Is due particularly to elias boudinot a member of the house of representatives from new jersey who on september 25 1789 introduced a resolution calling upon all the citizens of the united states to join with one voice in returning to almighty god their sincere thanks for the many blessings lie he had poured upon them the original document Is still in the flies files of 0 the congress where it recently was discovered the record shows that the motion prompted strenuous debate opposition to the proposal was passionately intense burke of 0 south carolina atta attacked ked tills this mimicking of european customs thomas T tucker of virginia sardonically submitted that it might be well to wait for some experience peri ence of the effle lency of the constitution before returning thanks for it thomas jefferson opposed the plan for fear it might imply a connection between state and church the fact was that thanksgiving day never had been accepted in the south it had beel considered an exclusively evangelical Us abraham lincoln was wa responsible for present custom occasion a sectarian festival of the congregationalists the episcopal or anglican communion would have none of it but it was an episcopalian who signed the proclamation when bouda nots bots resolution finally was accorded congressional approval it happened too that it was the first document of its kind ever endorsed by an american chief executive november 20 was the day assigned and washington summoned the new nation to express gratitude tor for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government ern ment however the opposition party was not satisfied jefferson for one declined to take part in the ceremonies ills celebrated rival alexander hamilton on the other hand determined to make a really memorable event of the festival with tile the imaginative ft flair air which distinguished him he a monster celebration with washington as its presiding genius there should be a great parade a colorful and dramatic pageant an american equivalent more or less oj 01 a noman triumph troops were to march bands to play hags flags to fly and the multitude could be counted upon to cheer the whole affair 1111 hamilton milton decided should in a banquet at fraunces tavern to the festal board he invited his chosen friends and preparations for their entertainment in the grand manner proceeded hut but mrs washington had plans of thanksgiving DAY by GEORGE ERWIN BOWEN in chicago post pod OR all the gifts gift of treasure iura F FOR that brighten memory make now my heart an altar 0 lord where faith shall hall be A little while I 1 fretted when shadows hadow bid the light but now I 1 find your kindness kindne was wa patient with my plight to all the loving sources burcet of blessings blesing tweet sweet I 1 share hare A grateful song ong uplifted oer gentle path I 1 bear for where my heart was wa baffled and bitter loss lor I 1 knew this finer faith faith was wa gathered from tempests temp eit battled thru thin for all dear thought of mercy av ive learned from cruelty 0 lord a kind apostle to broken souls ouli id be As A to the blind a leader id teach the sight light I 1 found when patience gave me gardens garden in bleak and barren ground for more than life can measure dear lord how shall hall I 1 keep A sweet or shining hining portion while those unnourished weep whenever dawn comes smiling amiling 0 give me grace to know its it promise and be worthy As A with a bog song I 1 go her own she desired a formal levee at uie the executive mansion in franklin square and invitations were dispatched to everybody who he was anybody 4 hamilton naturally was one of those whose presence was requested the great day dawned the parade was held the reception followed aam hamilton was late in arriving at the tavern tavera a tardy host at his own dinner to his bis amazement the giver of the feast found his guests had not waited for him to appear they had been eating and drinking for all they were worth in his absence from the doorway hamilton surveyed the scene his face scarlet with rage nevertheless he be held his tongue for fear car of the public scandal of an outburst silence fell as he moved across the room to a place at the table but the inevitable outburst followed the next morning washington sent for hamilton and demanded an explanation the younger man apologized as best as lie he could but the older called the whole proceedings a u disgrace for live five long years there were no thanksgiving day proclamations no thanksgiving day celebrations in a later period andrew jackson and zachary taylor refused to order observance of the festival abraham lincoln was responsible for the pres ent custom of keeping the fourth or last thursday in november as a national day of thanks to god rut bill it was not until comparatively ri vent that the people of the entire country began to celebrate the annual occasion with ith enthusiasm |