The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-01
THANKSGIVING DAY.
HOW THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN Oh.
SERVED AND HONORED IT.
A Brief History of the Occasion and the First
Presidential Thanksgiving Proclama-
ton, Issued by Washington.
Services at the Churches.

Nov. "a, notwithstanding Day
has come and gone, its record has be.
come a thing of history, the people
have returned thanks for the bless.
ings that have been showered upon
them during the past year, and should
now start in to make themselves de-
serving of many more blessings in the
year to come.
The day is distinctly an American
institution, it having its origin with
the Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth
Rock Dec. %, 1920.
1t was not until during the war that
it became customary for the president
of the United States to appoint, py
proclamation, a national Thanksgiving
day, The celebration of the day
itself, as above stated, began in
the very early history of the
Massachusetts colony and has spread
from New England westward and
southwark over the whole of the
United States. For many years it
was appointed in the various states
by the governors thereof, and there
being no concert of action between
them, would often be held on differ
ent dates though almost always on a
Thursday. An effort was made to fix
on one certain date and in 1859 thirty
of the thirty-three states then in ex-
istence held their thanksgiving holi-
day ON the last Thursday in Novem-
Der. In 1868 President Lincoln issued
his first National Thanksgiving pro.
clamation which custom has since
been maintaied. President Lincoln
was, however, only following the ex-
ample of Washington who was in.
augurated on March A, 1889. On Oct
3 following he issued a proclamation
for a national Thanksgiving day to
be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 20
1889, which proclamation is repro
duced here in full:
Whereas, it is the duty of all ma
tions to acknowledge the providence
of Almighty God, to obey His will, tc
be grateful for his benefits, and hum
bly, impiore His protection and favor
and
Whereas, both houses of congress
have, by the joint committees, re-
quested me to recommend to the peo'
pie of the United States day of pub
lie thanksgiving and prayer, to be OBJ
served by acknowledging with CRATE
full hearts the many and signal tavors
of Almighty God especially by af.
fording them an opportunity of peacea'
hi 4 c,to h i'm form nf N MI n
for their safety and happiness,
Now, therefore, L do recommend
and assign Thursday, the Goth day Of
November next, to be devoted by the
people of these states to the service OF
the great and glorious Being, who is
the beneticent author of all the good
chat was, that is, that will be.
That we then all unite in rendering
unto him our sincere and humble
thanks for his kind care and protec'
ton of the people of this country pre-
vious to it's becoming a nation, for the
signal and manifold mercies, and the
ia vorable interposition of His provi.
dence in the course and conclusion Of
the late war; for the great degree o.
tranquility, union and plenty which
we nave since enjoyed; for the
peaceable and rational manner
in which we have beer
enabled to establish constitutions o.
government for our safety and hap
piness, and particularly the national
one more lately instituted; for civil
and religious liberty with which we
are blessed, and the means we have
of acquiring and diffusing usefu
knowledge, and in general for all the
great and various favors which He
hath been pleased to confer upon us
And also that we may then unite In
most humbly offering our prayers anc
supplications to the great Lord anC
Ruler of nations, and beseech Him t.
pardon our national and other trans
gressions; to enable us all, whether IL
public or private stations, to perform
our several and national duties prop
erly and prudently; to render our ma
tional government blessing tt
all people, constantly being
government of wise, JUS
and constitutional laws, discreetly
and faithfully administered and obey
ed: to protect and guide all sovereigni
and nations Especially such as have
shown kindness unto us), and bless
them with good government, peace
and concord; to promote the knowl
edge of true religion and virtue, and
the increase of science among us and
generally to grant unto all mankind
such degree of temporal prosperity
as He above knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city
of New York, the Sd day of October
in the year of our Lord, one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-nine.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
THE DAY IN AUSTIN.
The day was very generally OBJ
served here in Austin, people of al
classes and conditions OF life joining
in the services which were held II
many of the churches. The state de
partments, schools, banks and many
of the aforAa closed their doors, QiyiDs