THANKSGIVING, ANCIENT AND MODERN.
By Max Hill
ONLY the most selfish heart refuses to return thanks for favors and blessings. More especially is this true when the favor comes from one in authority, one of power, one who is in nowise bound or under obligation to render the favor, but who from purely unselfish impulses of love and good-will bestows the blessing. The man who accepts the kindnesses of another without thanks has ever been looked upon with contempt. The Lord of all life and blessing grants a bountiful harvest. But few of all the recipients of divine watch-care and blessing return even verbal thanks, not to mention “tithes and offerings” from the harvest. Yet in a way man is a thankful being. Through the history of the ages we read of men and nations rejoicing and giving thanks for the good things of life. The idea prevails with many Americans that Thanksgiving is an American institution, but both sacred and profane history show that the custom of setting apart a time for giving thanks is an old one. After the long, weary wanderings of Israel from Egyptian bondage to independence in Canaan, they settled down to regular agricultural and pastoral lives. There, as he had promised, God blessed them in basket and store. His pleasure in them was manifest by His blessings. They had rest from their enemies, and Jehovah their God was with them. What more natural than that they return thanks to Him? Nay, more, but before they themselves partook of God’s blessings, they must render thank-offering to Him. Knowing that the Lord would protect their homes in their absence, the people gathered from all parts to attend the ingathering service. With much fruit and grain of the harvest they came, and with many cattle and sheep for sacrifice. From the Jews the surrounding nations learned the custom of giving thanks for the fruits of the earth, tho of course they looked to their gods from whom they considered their food, their country, the light, and all they possessed, to come. They therefore consecrated a part of all their property to the gods, and not necessarily that they considered that the gods needed it, but to show their gratitude. To quote from an ancient writing: “Therefore, as soon as the harvest was got in, before they had tasted of the fruits, they appointed libations to be made to the gods. And as they held their fields and cities as gifts from their gods, they consecrated a certain part, in the temples and shrines, where they worshiped.” The Romans had the same custom of making an offering to the gods before tasting their new corn or wine. And not only the first-fruits, but the choicest of all their fruits were thus devoted. The poet expresses the thought thus: “My grateful fruits, the earliest of the year,
Before the rural god shall daily wait.
From Ceres' gifts I'll cull each browner ear,
And hang a wheaten wreath before her gate.”
Many European nations have thanksgiving days commemorating some turning point in their history, victory over enemies, relief from siege or famine, freedom from oppression, or other like event. These are made times of great rejoicing, the story of the event being often rehearsed in verse and song. The old English thanksgiving festival, coming after harvest, more nearly corresponds to the Jewish ingathering, being a season in which all joined in thanksgiving for the bounties of the harvest. Our own Thanksgiving originated in hearts which knew the Bible, and had often kept the English “Harvest-home.” Therefore, after that first meager harvest reaped by the pilgrims in the New World, in 1621, it was that Governor Bradford appointed a day for Thanksgiving. That they might have more than their usual fare, four men were sent out fowling, that as he said they “might, after a more special manner rejoice together.” Thus came the first Thanksgiving by Christians in America. Two years later a terrible drought was in the colony. Again the people were called together, this time for fasting and prayer. As they prayed, the rain began to fall; the drought was broken, and the governor again appointed a day of thanksgiving. On several occasions in the early history of the colonies, seasons of anxiety were turned to rejoicing in this way; as for example in Charlestown when the arrival of supplies from Ireland saved the colonists from starvation. The thanksgiving season became one of family reunion, care for the poor, and general rejoicing. The day was in the early times appointed by the governors of the colonies. This was the custom up to Lincoln’s administration; since then the President has set the time by proclamation, many governors doing the same. Custom has practically fixed the day as the last Thursday in November. Dr. Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Old Testament, makes the following statement in this connection, summing up present conditions and ideal conditions in few words: “The rejoicings at our harvest-homes are distorted remains of that gratitude which our ancestors, with all the primitive inhabitants of the earth, expressed to God, with appropriate signs and ceremonies. Is it not possible to restore, in some godly form, a custom so pure, so edifying, and so becoming?”
As the children of Israel sang psalms of praise at their feasts of ingathering, shall not all we who rejoice in the salvation of the Lord in these days “bring an offering,” and join in ascribing to Jehovah thanksgiving and praise?