The Portland daily press., 1892-11-23
TIE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLA
NATION.

Most men of mature age may remem-
Der when Thanksgiving proclamations
were severely orthodox-that is to say,
evangelical--as became their new England
origin. But of late years has come. with
more general observance of the day
and growing Difference to other creeds
held by our many-minded people. a
difference in the tone of proclamations
until they convey scarcely more than the
purely Masonic recognition of the Deity
as the Great Ruler of the Universe. All
traces of sectarianism have disappeared;
and in their invocauions all men but the
atheist and the agnostic may sincerely
join. 1t may not be amiss to recall at
tention to the fact that the modern
ground is the same taken in the first
national proclamation for Thanksgiving,
given at the city of New York in Novem-
Der 1889 and signed by George Washing
ton. That proclamation read as follows:
BY the President of the United States of Amer
lea.
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas tits the Duty Of all Nations to ac-
knowledge the Providence OF the Almighty GOD
to obey his Will, to be grateful for his Benefits
and humbly to implore his protection and Fa-,
vor: And whereas both Houses of Congress
have, by their joint Committee, requested me
tFo recommend to the People of the United
States a Day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer
to be observed by acknowledging with grateful
Hearts the many and signal Fayors OF Almighty
GOD, especially by affOrding them an oppor-
tunity Peacefully to establish Form of Gov
eminent for their Safety and Happiness"
NOW THEREFORE,. do recommend and
assign THURSDAY the twenty-sixth day of No
MEMBER next, to be devoted by the People of
these States to the service of that great and
glorious Being, WHO'S the benefcent Author of
al the good that was, tnai Is, OF t1at VIII pc.
him our sincere and humble Thanks for his
Care and Protection of the People OF this Coun-
try previous to their becoming natlon;-fOr
the signal and manifold Mercies, and the favor
able interpretations of his Providence in the
Course and Conclusion of the late War;-for the
great degree OF Tranquility. Union and Plenty
which we have since enjoyed:-for the peace
able and rational Manner in which we have
been enabled to establish Constitutions OF
Government for our Safety aud Happiness, and
particularly the national one now lately mStl-
tuted; for the civil and religious Liberty with
which we are blessed, and the Means we have
of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;
and in general, for all the great and various
Fayors which he hath been pleased to confer
upon US.
AND ALSO, That we may there unite in most
humbly offering our Prayers and SupplicatiOnS
to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations. and be-
seech Him to pardon our national and other
Transgressions; to enable us all, whether in
public or private Stations, to perform our sew
eral and relative Duties promptly and punctu-
ally; to render our national government Bless
ing to all the People, by constantly being Gov
ernment of wise. just and constitutional Laws,
disereetly and faithfully executed and obeyed /;
to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations
Especially such as have shown Kindness unto
us) and to bless them with good Government,
Peace and Concord ito promote the Knowl
edge and Practice of true Religion and Virtue,
us and generally unto all mankind such De-
gree OF temporal Prosperity as he alone knows
how to do best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the City of New York
in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven
Hundred and Eighty-nine.