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. 6. This proclamation. unlike alt
IT. predecessors. was written on n gllt
edged sheet OF parchment Of unusual
size. Up TO this time November did
moi appear to be popular time for
| Thanksgiving. though. as Is well known.
In classical times II had always been
the autumn. and very ntiy. too. In
which thanks were given to the gods for
plentiful harvests. The appropriateness
OF holding Fuch thank Offering cerc-
monies at the time when all the hnr-
vests and fruits had been gathered In
did not seem 60 occur 10 the American
mind until the year 1853, when Pres
idcnt Lincoln Issued n proclamation
calling attention 20 the fact OF the
country being blessed with fruitful
fields and heaithful skies In the midst
Of civll war Of uneaualcd maEnitudc and
severity" The president then goes on
10 point out the blessings which have
befailon the United States. and sets
forth the last Thursday In November.
without naming the actual date. az "a
day Of Thanksgiving and praise 10 our
bonefcent Father who dwclleth In the
heavens" nut during all that time the
shadow Of war hung darkiy over the
land and the hearts Of the people. and
even the president could not help re-.
fcrrlng again and again In his message
OF thank offering 90 those troubles
which lay 90 heavily on his own heart
nj ihc.tlmo. He fcrvtntly implorca the
interpoaition OF Almighty God to heal
the wounds Of the nation and 10 restore
u M soon rs might be consistent with
the divine purpose 90 the full enjoyment
% peace and harmony. tranquility and
union.
The third regular Thanksgiving proc
lamatlon was issued by Andrew John
son ON oct. p. and appointed the FIRST
Thursday In December as day OF ma.
tionai Thanksgiving ITO the Creator OF
the universe FOR these great deliver
ancea and blessings" This seems to DO
the latest Thanksgiving day ever eel.
cbratcd In this country. The original
draft " this proclamation IL written on
one pnRe OF plain foolscap and IL In the
handwriting Of Secretary seward. II ~
| interesting to note the different
changes. cancellations and interpola-
lions made by the secretary Of state
Mr.. Seward seems TO have changed his
MIND several times during the framing
OF the document. for the page N full
OF scratches and ensures The procla-
nation was finally made very short
I the original document scarcely Milling
| It's one page. The secretary seems to
have had trouble In starting the doe
/ umont. which CHANGED to be the first
/ one after the war. lie nrst begins with
Whereas II has pleased Almighty God
| 20 save the" then changed the save"
| to withhold from" and. finally maxi
I Ing third correction, put In TO re-
l licve the" but, scratching that out, he
/ makes n clean start again by rewriting,
/ Whereas II has pleased Almighty God
| during the year which has now come
| TO ala end TO relieve our beloved coun-
/ Try In the great" but again he changed
| his mind and wrote from the fearful
| scourge ~ civil war and To vouchsafe
TO uS the promise" Here again another
/ change had 10 be made. changing the
the last sentence TO read, "and TO per-
init Us to secure the blessings ~ peace.
unity and harmony with the great en-
largement Of civil liberty" II " also
TO be noticed that Mr. seward Intended
Inserting another sentence before the
word "blcssingH." but apparently wrote
II so badly that the copying clerk In
desperation loft II out entirely. The
rest Of the proclamation IL made up Of
a recommendation for prayer and
THANKSGIVING.
JohnsOn'a second proclamation WINS
the first to name definitely n date,
| Thursday. Nov. 20, 1896, as day Of
thanks. but does not mention II ns the
last Thursday In November. the day
now observed.
The first official thanksgiving procln-
nation OF President Grant was issued
oct. 3. 1868, and Ii written on heavy
! parchment. II Govern two large pages
NJ this parchment and sets forth Nov.
N as the national holiday. General
/ Grant seems 10 have followed n sterco-
typed form N expression In all of his
| documents OF this character, and most
of them, too, are brief
4 special Thanksgiving day was or
dorcd IN June, 1876 setting forth the fol-
lowing Fourth of July. the centennial
anniversary Of the Independence Of the
United States. as day Of national
thank Offering. In this proclamation
Grant SAYS. THE founders ~ the gov
eminent at its birth and In Its feelings
invoked blessings and the protection
OF the divine Providence to the ~ coll
onies, and the 100000 have expanded
Into q nation OF strength and power.
commanding a position which was then
desired and for which forvent prayers
were then offered" In view Of the full
iillment OF those prayers the president
invites the good people OF the United
states 10 celebrate the Fourth OF July.
In addition TO their usual observaneeH
u the day, In such "A manner ana In
such a time MS their respective localities
and religious associations make most
convenient, TO mark the occasion by
some public, or religious. or dovout
Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
blessings which have been bestowed
upon ua as a nation during the cen-
tury OF our existence ana humbly TO de-
vote the continuance OF Ills favor and
His protection"
The first proclamation issued by Pres
ldont Hayes covered four closely writ
ten pngcs Of large fonlscap ana IL stlll
tied with large white ribbon. The doc
ument II 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 prooln-
nation Of President Arthur, issued Nov.
T. 1881, bears corrections In the hand
writing Of Mr, Blaine, with also a few