Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-25


The day set apart for national
Thanksgiving, praise and prayer was
Aug. g. This proclamation. unlike all
Us predecessors, was written on a gili
edged sheet OF parchment Of unusual
size. Up TO this time November did
not appear to be popular time fol
Thanksgiving, though, az is well known
in classical times II had always been
the autumn. and very fifty. too, In
which thanks were given to the gods for
plentiful harvests The appropriateness
OF holding such thank Offering cere-
monies at the time when all the har-
vests and fruits had been gathered In
did not seem to occur TO the American
mind until the year 1863, when Pres
ident Lincoln Issued proclamation
calling attention 20 the fact Of the
country being blessed with fruitful
fields and healthful skies in the midst
Of civil war OF unequaled magnitude and
severity The president then goes on
to point out the blessings which have
befallen the United States, and sets
forth the last Thursday In November,
without naming the actual date. as "a
day OF Thanksgiving and praise to our
benehcent Father who dwelleth In the
heavens" But during all that time the
shadow OF war hung darkly over the
land and the hearts Of the people, and
even the president could not help re-
ferring again and again in his message
OF thank Offering 10 those troubles
which lay so heavily on his own heart
ut the'time. He feryently implores the
inierpositlon OF Almighty God to hea,
the wounds Of the nation and to restore
II as soon as might be consistent with
the divine purpose to the full enjoyment
OF peace and harmony, tranquility and
union.
The third regular Thanksgiving proc
lamation was issued by Andrew john
son on Oct 2S, and appointed the first
! Thursday in December as day Of ma
tional Thanksgiving ito the Creator Of
the universe for these great deliver
ances and blessings" This seems TO be
the latest Thanksgiving day ever eel
ebrated in this country. The original
draft Of this proclamation is written on
one page Of plain foolscap and Is in the
handwriting OF Secretary Seward. II is
| interesting TO note the different
changes, cancellations and interpola-
lions made by the secretary Of state.
Mr. Seward seems TO have changed ha
mind several times during the framing
Of the document. for the page Is full
OF scratches ard erasures The procla-
nation was finally male very short,
the original document scarcely filling
It's one page. The secretary seems TO
have had trouble in starting the doc
ument, which CHANGED TO be the first
one after the war. He first begins with
Whereas 1t has pleased Almighty God
10 save the" then changed the save"
to withhold from" and, finally max.
/ ing third correction, put In ito re-
lleye the" but, scratching that out, he
| makes a clean start again by rewriting,
! Whereas IL has pleased Almighty God
during the year which has now come
try In the great" but again he changed
his mind and wrote from the fearful
scourge Of civil war and to vouchsafe
TO US The promise" Here again another
! change had to be made, changing the
the last sentence 10 read, "and to per-
nit US to secure the blessings OF peace,
unity and harmony with the great en-.
largement Of civil liberty" 1t is also
to be noticed that Mr.. Seward intended
inserting another sentence before the
word blessings" but apparently wrote
II so badly that the copying clerk in
desperation left II out entirely The
rest Of the proclamation is made W Of
a recommendation FOR prayer and
thanksgiving
Johnson's second proclamation was
the first to name definitely date,
Thursday. Nov. 90 1866, as a day OF
thanks, but does not mention II as the
last Thursday In November, the day
now observed.
The first official thanksgiving pr0cla-
nation Of President Grant was issued
Oct. 5, 1859, and is written on heavy
parchment. II covers two large pages
OF this parchment aid sets forth Nov
IS az the national holiday. General
Grant seems 10 have followed a stereo-
typed form Of expression In all Of his
documents OF this character, and most
Of them, too are brief,
A special Thanksgiving day was or
dered IN June 1876, setting forth the fol-
lowing Fourth Of July. the centennial
anniversary Of the independence Of the
United States, as a day OF national
thank offering. In this proclamation
Grant says. THE founders OF the gov
eminent at It's birth and In its feelings
invoked blessings and the protection
Of the divine Providence to the 70 col
onies, and the 100000 have expanded
into a nation OF strength and power,
commanding a position which was then
desired and for which fervent prayers
were then offered" In view OF the full
fillment Of those prayers the president
invites the good people Of the United
States to celebrate the Fourth Of July,
In addition 10 their usual observances
Of the day. In such a manner and In
ouNH a Nllit " Attll itnINNllNf lnNdiluts
and religious associations make most
convenient, TO mark the occasion by
some public, or religious, or dcvout
thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
blessings which have been bestowed !
upon US as a nation during the GEN.
tury OF our existence and humhly 10 de- |
vote the continuance Of His favor and
His protection"
The first proclamation issued by Pres |
ident Hayes covered four closely writ
ten pages Of large foolscap and Is stIll |
tied with a large white ribbon. The doc |
ument is most beautifully executed, All |
four OF this presidents messages were
couched in conventional language, |
graceful and studied, and all were very |
much alike.
The original copy Of the first procla-
nation Of President Arthur, issued Nov.
I, 1881, bears corrections In the hand
writing Of Mr.. Blaine, with also a few |
emendations by the president himself |
The last proclamation OF Arthur Is re-
markable on account Of It's brevity. for. !
after a short introduction, It succlnctly
states. In recognition Of this custom
!, Chester A. Arthur, president OF the
United States do hereby designate as