The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-27
thanks for health and the good harvests

thanks for health and the good narvests
and
That He hath prospered our arms and
those of our allies. been shield 60 our
troops in the hour of danger, pointed
| their swords to victory, and leo theIh III
triumph over the bulwarks of the foa.
The year 1880 was perhaps the darkest
in the Revolutionary war. The army
began to mutiny, assertions were ire
quent, and Benedict Arnold sold him.
self to the enemy. On October 1850 Con-
gress set aside Thursday December Z,
as day for national thanksgiving, be-
cause
1t hath pleased Almighty God, the
Father of all mercies, amidst the vlclssl-
tudes and calamities of war, TO bestow
blessings on the people OF these States,
which call for their devout and thank
fui Acknowledgements, more especially IN
the late remarkable interposition of His
watchful. providence, in resouing the
person of our commandments and
the army from imminent dangers, at
the moment when treason was ripenlng
for execution.
This is followed by the usual allusion
to the labors of the farmer and prayer
to God "to take our illustrious ally
under His special protection, and favor
our joint councils and exertions for the
esta blishment of speedy and permanent
peace"
The next year the THANKSGIVING recon-
mendation took, for the first time, the
form and name of a proclamation. On
September 10 Roger Sherman, seconded
hr.W nnua6 that u Thursday.
Dec. Is, be selected as day Of thanks
giving. Varnum, of Rhode Island and
John Montgomery of Pennsylvania were
associated with them in drafting the
proclamation. 1t was reported October
90 and Adopted the same day. The Ar
ticles of Confederation, which had been
adopted recently, came in for a large
share of thanks Starting with the pre-
amble that it has pleased God to assist
in the prosecution of the war, it pro-
ceeds to mention the signal instances of
His influence. They are found sin pre-
serving the union of the several States.
on the breach of which our enemies
place their greatest depeudence," in in
creasing our forces, in giving US the aid
of France, in confounding the councils
of our enemies" but above all, in max
ing their (the enemy's) extreme cruelty
to the inhabitants of these States, when
in power, and their savage devastation
of property, the very means of cement
ing our union, and adding vigor to every
effort in opposition to them"
On October IL, 1882, Witherspoon,
Montgomery, and Williamson, the COM
mittee appointed by Congress-. recon-
mended Thursday, Moves. as day for
national thanksgiving. The proclama-
ton which they drew up is in one long
sentence and gives thanks especially for
the promising aspect of Revolutionary
affairs. 1t closes with a request to the
several States "to interpose their au-
thority in appointing and commanding
the observance of the day."
The last thanksgiving proclamation of
the Revolution was reported to Congress
October IS, 1888. by Duane, Samuel Hun
tington, and Hailton, and reads as fol-
lows:
Whereas, 1t hath pleased the Supreme
Ruler of all human events to dispose
the hearts of the belligerent powers to
put period to the effusion of human
blood, by proclaiming cessation OF
all nosrilities by sea and land; and
these United States are not only happily
rescued from the danger and calamities
to which they had been exposed so long,
but their freedom, sovereignty, and in
dependence ultimately acknowledged:
And whereas, in the progress of con-
test on which the most essential rights
of human nature depended, the interpo-
sition OF Divine Providence in our favor
hath been most abundantly
and most graciously mani
tested, and the citizens of the United
States have every reason for praise and
gratitude to the God of their salvation,
Therefore Congress recommended that
the second Thursday of December be
observed as day of general thanksgiv-
ing by all the people of the United
States.-N. Y. Post.