Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-27


The origin Of the autumn festival OF
Thanksgiving SO dear to New England
hearts, was with the Pilgrim fathers
The first Thanksgiving il h averred'
was celebrated on Nonhegan island
but that celebrated at Plymouth affer
the harvest had been gathered in the
clearings beside the sea by those VINO
had survived the hardships OF thar nrs1
winter. Is the one to which the custom
il commonly traced Since then the
children Of the Purifans, at home or
wheresoeyer scattered, have not failed
IN keen the day. II long ago became
Nea Englands real Old Home day.
II was NOT until the middle of the
civi, War. however, that the first
national Thanksgiving was observed
Then the faith and the hope Of Lincoln
looked through the dark clouds and he
/. sued the first national Thanksgiving
proclamation. making general what
had before been only state and local
custom in New England and where
New England's sons and daughters
were scattered. That proclamation
was issued October 3. 1888, naming
November &c as the day Of Thanksgiv-
ing and in the two score years since
then the day has been observed an
nually on the last Thursday Of Novern-
Der. We are glad to be able TO repro
duce here copy of that first National
THANKSGIVING proclamation. Not only
is it Of much historical interest, but it
mirrors thr great soul of the immortal
Lincoln and is a fine example Of the
purity and simple strength Of his Eng
Lsh:
A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING
BY The President Of The United States
A PROCLAMATION.
The year that is drawing toward its
close has been filled witt blessings Of
fruitful fields and healthful skies To
Iaese bounties which are SO constantly
enjoyed that We are prone 10 forge1 Inc
source rom which they come, others
nave fe-cr- dQuSQ WHICH VI 50 tAlldO1-
binary a nature that they cannot fail 10
penetrate and soften even the hear.
which is habitually insensible to the ever
vatchfui Providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of civil war of unequailed
magnitude and severity. which has some
times seemed TO invite and provoke the
aggression of foreign states. peace has
been preserved with all nations, order
has been maintained. the laws have been
respected and obeyed, and harmony has
prevailed everywhere. except in the
theatre of military conflict, while that
theatre has been greatly contracted by
the advancing armies and navies of the
Union The needful diversion Of wealth.
and strength from the fields of peaceful
industry TO the National defence have not
arrested The plow. the shuttle or the ship.
The axe has enlarged the borders Of our
settlements and the mines, as well OF
iron and coal as of the precious metals.
have yielded even more abundantiy than
heretofore.
Population has steadily increased not
withSta nding the waste that has been
made by the camp. the siege and the oai-
fle-field. and the country, rejoicing IN the
Of augmented strength
and yigor, is permitted to expect continu-
anee of years with large increase of free
dom.
No human council hath devised. nor
hath any mortal hand worked out these
great things. They are the greatest gifts
Of God. who. while dealing with us in
anger for our sins, hath nevertheless re-
meynbSred mercy. 1t has seemed to me
nj that they should be solemnly. rever-
entiaIly. and gratefully acknowledged as
with one heart and voice by the whole
American people.
/ do therefore, invite my fellow citizens
in every part of the United States, and
also those who are at sea. and those who
are so-joarneying in foreign lands, to set
apart the last Thursday of Novembor
next. rs a day Of thanksgiving and pray
er to our beneficent Father, who dwellsth
in the heaven, and i recommend too,
that while Offering UP the Inscriptions
justly due TO Him for such singular de-
liverances and blessings, they do also
with humble penitence for our national
perverseness and disobedience, commend
10 His tender care all those who have
become widows, orphans. mourners or
sufferers, in the lamentable civil strife.
in which We are unavoidably engaged,
and fervently implore the interposition o:
the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of
the nation. and to restore it as soon as
may be consistent with Divine pur-
poses. to the full enjoyment of peace,
harmony. tranquility and union.
In testimony whereof, i have hereunto
SET my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. Done al the
city of Washington. this third day Of
October. in the year Of our Lord, One
Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty
three. and of the Independence of the
United States the Eighty-Eighth-
A. LINCOLN, President
WILLIAM II. SEWARD. Sec'y of State
October >, 1865 A. ..
Washington. D. c., L. S. A.