East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-11-24

Where were Thanksgiving services
first held?
In England, during the time OF
Cromwell thanksgiving days were
common occurrences.
The discovery Of the "gunpowder
plot" in 1905 was followed by a
thanksgiving In England and that ma
ton observed such a day on many like
occasions, the last probably being a
national thanksgiving when the Prince
OF Wales, now Edward VII, recover
ed from a serious illness.
Where and when was the first
Thanksgiving observance in the New
World?
The first thanksgiving held in Am
erica was not held within the bounds
of the United States. but on the shore
of Newfoundland, May 27, 1873, at
the time services were held by the
Rev. Mr.. Wolfall, an English minis
ter He had accompanied an early
colony from England. 1t is claimed
that It was the first Christian sermon
preached in the new world.
When was the first Thanksgiving
proclamation in this country?
November 10, 1921; made by Gov
ernor Bradford to the Pilgrim Faith
ers. 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 12, 1861, would be observ-
ed throughout the Plymouth colony
as a day Of thanksgiving.
Who signed the first Thanksgiving
proclamation ever issued by presi-
dent?
George Washington, in 1882,
Who originated the modern
Thanksgiving day, as II is observed in
the United States?
The Thanksgiving as 1t occurs to-
day dates from 1864. when President
Lincoln issued a proclamation for set
ting apart the last Thursday in No
vember of that year as a day of ma
tional thanksgiving.
Each succeeding president has an
nually proclaimed a Thanksgiving day
which is generally followed by the
governors of the various states.
Who makes the Thanksgiving proc
clamation?
The president Of the United States.
How is 1t done'
The president writes it 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 cover. When he has
finished writing It out, It is copied
and this copy is sent to the state de-
partment. One Of the clerks who is
good penman. writes the proclama-
tin artistically on parchment. The
parchment Is then sent back to the
White House. and the president signs
Il; after that It is taken back to the
state department. where the secretary
OF state adds his name; then the great
seal of the state departmnt Is affixed
In order to put the great seal on the
proclamation a note from the presi-
dent is necessary. in which he says:
81 hereby authorize and direct the
secretary Of state to cause the seal
of the United States to be affixed to
my Thanksgiving proclamation. dat
ed this day and signed by me, and for
SO doing this shall be his warrant"
What is done with the proclamation
when 1t has been thus written and
signed?
A great many clerks in the state de-
partment 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 pa
per. The state department never
uses the typewriter or any other
means of writing except artistic hand
writing for making copies of official
What do the different governors