The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-11-24
THANKSGIVING CATECHIsM.

Where were Thanksgiving services
first held7
In England, during the time of
Cromwell thanksgiving days were
common occurances.
The discovery of the gunpowder
plot" in 1905 was followed by a
thanksgiving in England and that
nation observed such day on many
like occasions, the last probably be-
ing national thanksgiving when
the Prince of Wales, now Edward
VII, recovered from a serious Ill
ness.
Where and when was the first
Thanksgiving observances 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 81,
1873, at the time services were held
by the Rev Mr.. Wolfall an English
minister. He had accompanied an
early colony from England. 1t is
claimed that it was the first Christ
ian sermon preached in the New
World
When was the first Thanksgiving
proclamation in this country?
November 10, 1921; made by
Governor Bradford to the Pilgrim
Fathers. He announced that since
they had just gathered abundant
harvests of grain and the cold
weather had sent plenty of game to
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 a presi-
dent?
George Washington, in 1892.
Who originated the modern
Thanksgiving day, as it is observed
in the United States?
The Thanksgiving as it occurs to-
day. dates from 1861, when Presi-
dent Lincoln issued proclamation
for setting apart the last Thurs lay
in November of that year, as day
of national Thanksgiving.
Each succeeding president has
annually proclaimed thanksgiving
day, which is followed by similar
proclamations by the governors of
the various states.
Who makes the thanksgiving proc
lamations?
The president of the United States.
How is it done?,
The president write sit out with
his own hand, trying to put in it
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 cover.
When he has finished writing it out,
1t is copied and this copy is sent to
the state department. One of the
clerks who is a good penman writes
the proclamation artistically on
parchment. The parchment is sent
back to the White House. and the
president signs it; after that it is
taken back to the state department,
where the secretary of the state
| adds his name; then the great seal
OF the state department is affixed.
In order to put the great seal on the
proclamation note from the pres-
dent is necessary, in which he says
: 4 hereby authorize and direct the
secretary of the state to cause the
seal of the United States to be af-
fixed to my Thanksgiving proclama~
ton, dated this day and signed by
me. and for so doing this shall be
, his warrant"
What is done with the proclama-
ton 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
territories. These copies are written
: by hand on long sheets of blue paper.
The state department never uses the
/. typewriter or any other means ex-
cept artistic handwriting for making
copies of official correspondence
What do the different governors
of the states do when they have re-
ceived their copies Of the president S
proclamation?
They then write special proclama-
tons or their own. announcing to the
people of their state the. fact that
the president has fixed on such and
such day for the observanc of
Thanksgiving worship and festivities.
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