The copper era., 1908-12-03
Thanksgiving CateChiSm.


 first held?
 In England during the time of Cromwell Thanksgiving services were common occurrences. The discovery of the 'gunpowder plot" in 16O5 was followed by a | thanksgiving in England and that nation observed such day on many like occasions, the last probably be- | ing a national thanksgiving when the Prince of Wales, now Edward VII, recovered from a serious illness. Where and when was the first Thanksgiving observance in the new world.
 The first Thanksgiving held in America was not held within the bounds of the United States, but on the shore of Newfoundland, May 27, 1878, at the time services were held by the Rev. MT. WolfalI, an English minister. He had accompanied an early colony from England. It is claimed that it was the first Christian sermon preached in the new world.
 When was the first Thanksgiving proclamation in the country?
 November I6, 162l; made by Gov ernor Bradford to the Pilgrim Fath- CTS. He announced that since they had just gathered abundant harvests of grain and the cold weather had sent plenty of game to their forests, December 13, 1921, would be observed throughout the Plymouth colony as a day of Thanksgiving.
 Who signed the first Thanksgiving proclamation ever issued by presi- dent.
 George Washington, in 17S2.
 Who originated the modern Thanks giving day, as it is observed in the United States?
 The Thanksgiving, as it occurs to day, dates from 1861, when President Lincoln issued a proclamation for setting apart the last Thursday in November of that year, as day of national Thanksgiving.
 Each succeeding president has an nually proclaimed a Thanksgiving day, which is generally followed by similar proclamations by the gov ernors of the various states.
 Who makes the Thanksgiving proclamation?
 The president of the United States. How is it done?
 The president writes 1t out with his own hand, trying to put in as much of the spirit of the day as possible. This is not an easy task. He must avoid repeating expressions that have been used by preceding presidents, and yet he must cover the same ground that they covered. When he has finished writing it out, it i5 copied and this copy is sent to the state Ge- partment. One of the clerks who is a good penman writes the pruClama tion artistically on parchment. The parchment is then sent back to the White House and the president signs it; after that it is taken back to the state department, where the secre- tary of state adds his name: then the great seal of the state department is affixed. In order to put the great seal on the proclamation a note from the president is necessary, in which he says: '''I hereby authorize and direct the secretary of state to cause the seal of the United States to be affixed to my Thanksgiving proclama- tion, dated this day and signed by me, and for so doing this shall be his warrant"
 What is done with the proclama- tion when it has been thus written and signed?
 A great many clerks in the state department are then ordered to make as many copies of the proclamation as there are governors of states and ten by hand on long sheets of Hue paper. The state department never uses the typewriter or any other means except artistic handwriting for making copies of official core spondence.
 What do the different governors of the states do when they have re- ceived their copies of the presidents proclamation?
 They then write special proclama- tions Of their own, announcing to the people of their states the fact that the president has fixed on such and such a day for the observance of thanksgiving worship and festivities