The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26
ORIGIN OF The DAY
First Thanksgiving Day Was OBJ
served Just One Hundred and
Fourteen Years Ago.
Holiday Was Due to q Proclamation
Issued by President George
Washington.
From the Journal Bureau, colorado Building

From the Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington.
Washington. Nov. 26.-By pc
culiar coincidence, Thursday the 26th
OF November. the very day on which
Thanksgiving falls this year, was set
apart by George Washington in the
first year of his administration as q
national thanksgiving. His first
whereas" recited the duty Of all
mankind to be thankful, while his
second read:
Whereas, Both houses Of congress have,
by their joint committee. requested me
! TO recon,men end to the people Of the United
States day Of public Thanksgiving and
prayer, to be observed by acknowledging
with grateful hearts the many and signal
] favors Of Almighty God. especially by af-
fording them an opportunity peaceably to
establish form of government for their
safety and happiness
! Now, therefore, do I recommend and as
sign Thursday, the Goth day Of November
next. to be devoted by the people Of these
states to the service of that great and
glorious Being who is the benefcent
author Of all the good that was, that is
or that will be; that we may then all unite
in rendering unto him our sincere and
humble thanks for his kind care and
protection of the people Of this country
previous to their becoming a nation; for
favorable interpretations Of His providence
in the course and conclusion Of the late
war; for the great degree of tranquility,
union, and plenty which we have since en-
joyed; for the peaceable and rational man
ner in which we have been enabled to estab-
lish constitutions of government for our
safety and happiness, and particularly
the national one now lately instituted; for
the civil and religious liberty with which
we are blessed, and the means we have
of acquiring and diffusing useful knowl-
edge; and. in general. for all the great
and various favors which he has been
pleased to confer upon u.s. ***
j Given under my hand, at the city of
New York, the Sd day Of October, A. D.,
| 1889. George Washington
The Second Thanksgiving.
But Washington not having had
New England rearing, was not i'm
! pressed with the necessity of an an
nual thanksgiving holiday or else
congress failed to request him to call
one, for there was no proclamation
Of this sort again issued for five years.
/ On New Years day of 1895 he issued
a proclamation naming Thursday,
Feb. 49, as day of public thanks
giving and prayer, chiefly on account
of the overthrow of the whisky re-
bellion in eastern Pennsylvania, as
certain passages of the paper show,
as follows:
When we review the calamities which
afflict so many other no lions. the present
condition Of the United States affords
much matter of consolation and satisfac-
ton. Our exemption hitherto from foreign
war; an increasing prospect of the contin-
uance of that exemption, the great degree
Of internal tranquility we have enjoyed,
the recent confirmation of that tranquil
lily, by the suppression Of an instruction
which SO wantonly threatened it, the
happy course of our public affairs in gen
eral, the unexampled prosperity Of all
classes Of our citizens, are circumstances
which peculiarly mark out the situation
with indications Of the divine beneficence
toward us.
Deeply penetrated with this sentiment.
I, George Washington, President of the
United States, do recommend to all relig
ious societies and denominations and to
all persons whomsoever, within the United
States, to set apart and observe Thursday,
the 18th Of February next, as a day of
public thanksgiving and prayer, and on
that day to meet together and render their
sincere and hearty thanks to the Great
, Ruler of Nations for the manifold and
signal mercies which distinguish our lot
as a nation. particularly for the possess
sion of constitutions of government which
, unite and by their union establish liberty
with order; for the preservation Of our
peace foreign and dom estic; for the sea-
|
spirit Of disorder in the suppression Of the
late instruction.
i The Adams Thanksgiving.
: The next presidential Thanksgiv-
: ing maker was John Adams, and his
: national observances seem a combina-
r ton of the old fast day spirit with
; that Of Thanksgiving. He issued a
proclamation which recited, among
: other things, that "his duty. at all
Y times incumbent is so especially in
t seasons of difficulty or of danger
S when existing or threatening calam,
: tiles, the just Judgment of God against
8 prevalent iniquity, are loud call to
: repentance and reforma ton
AS the United States Of America is a
present placed in hazardous and af'
f1ictive situation by the urfriendly dispo
S power, evinced by repeated refusa1s to re-
: ceive our messengers Of reconciliation ano
e peace, by depredations on our commerce
and the infection Of injuries on very many
: of our fellow-citizens while engaged II
Y their lawful business on the Seas-unde1
e these considerations it has appeared to MI
f that the duty Of imploring the mercy ant
f benedictim of heaven on our country de
: mands at this time a special attention
s from it's inhabitants.
; have therefore thought fit to recon
v mend, and I do hereby recommend tina
!, Wednesday, the. 9th day Of May, be OBJ
: served tllruout the United States as a da.
q of solemn humiliation, fasting and PRAYER
!. that the citizens of these states abstain
= ing on that day from their customar.
+ worldly occupations. offer their devout ad
~ dresses to the father Of n1ercies.
: And finally, recommend that on tn
: said day the duties Of humiliation ant
prayer be accompanied by fervent thanks
: giving to the bestower of every good gift
> not only for his having hitherto protectet
: and preserved the people of these Unitet
States in the Independent enjoyment o
their religious and civil freedom, but ais
for having prospered them in a wonder
full progress Of population, AND for com
ferring on them many and great favor
conducive to the happiness and prosperit
q of a nation.
Given under my hand and the seal Of tn
United States of America, at Philadelphia
: this 23d day Of March A. D. 1898 and O
e the independence Of the said states tn
/ 22d. John Adams.
: The following spring Presiden
= Adams appointed another fast day, al
g luding in his proclamation to "ttf