Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-20

and subsequent wars, the manner Of observ-
ance overleaped the Puritan boundary and
became as varied as the tastes Of a cos
mopolitan people.
The annua observance Of Thanksgiving
as q national holiday began with the
proclamation OF President Lincoln. issued in
1863. While there had been Thanksgiving
days before. they had occurred at irregular
intervals and were held In recognition Of
some unusual event In the nations life. The
observance Of the day, as annually ordained
by congress. began and ended with the war
OF the revolution. The first recommendation
for the observance Of such a day came from
the continental congress on December II,
1776. That was for a day Of solemn fasting
and humiliation and for supplication for
divine aid in the prosecution Of the war.
Each state was left to fix the date. 1t was
in the fall OF 1777 that a recommendation
was made which was for a more genuine
Thanksgiving. II was after the surrender OF
Burgoyne. Congress then appointed a COM
mittee, consisting Of Samuel Adams, Richard
Henry Lee and General Daniel Roberdeau, to
prepare "a recommendation to the several
states. to set apart a day for Thanksgiving for
the signal success lately obtained over the
enemies Of these United States"
Address Of the Continental ConErcss,
They prepared the following address, which
was reported to congress on November l..
and At once agreed upon:
"Forasmuch as 1t is the indispensable duty
OF an men to adore the experimenting provi-
dence Of Almighty God; to acknowledge
with gratitude their obligations to Him for
benefits received and to implore such further
blessings as they stand in need Of: and it
having pleased Him In His abundant mercy
not only to continue to us the innumerable
bounties OF His common providence, but also
to smile upon us In the prosecution of a
just and necessary war for tho defense and
establishment OF our inalienabte rights and
liberties; particularly IN that He hath been
pleased, in so great a measure, to prosper
the means used for the support Of our troops,
and to crown our arms with most signal
success. 1t Is. therefore. recommended to
the legislature or executive powers OF these
United States to set apart Thursday, the
18th day Of December next, for a solemn
thanksgiving and praise; that. with one
heart and one voice, the good people may
express the grateful feelings of their hearts
and consecrate themselves to the service Of
their Divine Benefactor; and that together
with their sincere Acknowledgements and Of
ferings, they may join the penitent con-
fession OF their manifold sins, whereby they
had forfeited every favor, and their humble
and earnest applications that II may please
God, through the merits Of Jesus Christ,
mercifully to forgive and blot them out Of
remembrance; that 1t may please Him
graciously to afford His blessings on the
governments Of these states, respectively,
and prosper the public council Of the whole;
to inspire our commanders, both by land
and sea. and all under them, with that wis
dom and fortitude which may render them
fit instruments under the providence of AL
mighty God to secure for these United States
the greatest OF all human blessings, indie
pendence and peace; that It may please Him
to prosper the trade and manufactures OF the
people and the labor OF the husbandman,
that our land may yet yield its increase; to
take schools and seminaries Of education,
so necessary for cultivating the principles
OF true liberty, virtue and piety, under His
ministering hand. and to prosper the means
Of religion for the promotion and enlarge
ment Of that kingdom which consisteth Tin
righteousness, peace and Joy in the holy
ghost" and be 1t further recommended that
servile labor and such recreation as, though
at other times innocent, may be u~nbecoming
the purpose OF this appointment, may be
omitted on 30 solemn an occasion"
Thanks for revolutionary FavOrs.
One year later. on November 7, 177s. con-
gress took up the subject again and this
time each state was recommended to APP
point the same day-Wednesday, December
30-as the day OF thanksgiving. 1t was,
however. in 1871 that thanksgiving rec
ommendation first took the form and name
OF a proclamation. On September 10 OF
that year Roger Sherman moved that
Thursday. December 10. be selected as a
day OF Thanksgiving. The proclamation,
which the resolution provided for, was