Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-11-28

1862. The state papers at Washington
do not show any such proclamation.
They do show, however, that the presl-
dent proclaimed the last Thursday Of
September, 1861, as day Of "humilia
ton. fasting and prayer" In accord
ance with joint resolution Of con-
gress requesting him to do so. This
was In no sense thanksgiving proc
lamation. 1t was specifically a day Of
supplication that our arms may be
blessed and made effectual for the re-
establishment Of law, order and peace
throughout the wide extent Of OUT
country and that the inestimable boon
OF civil and religious liberty, earned
under his guidance and blessings by
the labors and sufferings of our ia
theirs, may be restored in all its origi
nal excellence"
Again, In 1863, the president set
apart April 80 as a day Of national
humiliation. fasting and prayer" fol-
lowing resolution of the senate to
that effect. The first Thursday of Au-
gust, 1864. was also designated by Lin
coin as Il day Of national humiliation
and prayer at the instance Of congress,
both houses concurring
President Johnson's first Thanksgiv-
Ing proclamation changed the date to
the first Thursday in. December, but
the next year the successor of Abra-
ham Lincoln returned to the great
emancipator's chosen last Thursday III
November, and the corresponding day
every year since 1866 with one excep.
ton has been proclaimed for thanks
giving. The exception was by Presi
dent Grant, who in his list proclana.
ton for 1869 placed the date one week
earlier. Nov. 49,
President Johnson Gid not mention
the death Of Lincoln as a national loss
In his first Thanksgiving proclamation.
though in a proclamation shortly after
the assassination he tittingly deplored
the tragedy Both Arthur and Roose-
welt, successors Of Garfield and Nc
Kinley, made fitting mention Of the
removal of their predecessors in their
first Thanksgiving proclamations.
To President Grant belongs the dis
| tinction Of having issued the greatest
number of proclamations for giving
thanks. In addition to his eight annu-
! al proclamations Of the autumnul
Thanksgiving, he issued Il proclamation
requesting the people to recognize the
centennial Of our nation July 4, 1876,
''by some public religious and devout
thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
blessings which have been bestowed
upon us as nation during the CEN
| fury Of our existence and humbly to
invoke IL continuance of his favor and
! of his protection"
George Washington as president Is
sued two Thanksgiving proclamations,
the first one being in 1889, the first
year of his presidency. This was at
the request of both houses of congress.
Washington set Thursday, Nov. 20, as
q day for giving thanks for the new
/ constitution and for civil and religious
! liberty. His document was quite long.
Washington made but one other
Thanksgi giving proclamation. This was
issued on New Years day, 1895, the
president setting apart Thursday, Feb
10, as day Of public thanksgiving
and prayer" for manifold blessings
but "particularly for the possession OF
constitutions of government which
unite and by their union establish lib
erty with order"
Though we see that it was Washing
ton who first named the last Thursday
in November for Thanksgiving day. II
was Abraham Lincoln who first re
turned to that day and named it twice
In succession. thus establishing the
custom.