The Montgomery tribune., 1908-11-20
THE ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING
First Thanksgiving Procla-
nation Issued by a Pres
ident of the IT, S.
Other Facts.

InrOuRn tne courtesy OF heV' |
ii. d. Thompson, pastor of the
First NJ. E. church, we are enabled
to print the first Thanksgiving |!
Proclamation written by a presi-
dent of the U. S. While day of
thanks was often observed prev
ious to President Washington's
Proclamation, its legal existence
dates from that time.
The Columbian Cyclopedia
gives us the following facts rela-
tive to the establishment of the
day of thanks.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
On extraordinary occasions such
a day has been appointed in
other countries, and such was it's
origin in this country, as after
the first harvest in the Plymouth
colony (1821), when Gov. Brad
ford sent out men to get wild
fowl to help the feast; also in
gratitude for rain after drouth
1923, and for supplies of sorely
needed food received by ship 1882
all in the same colony; on
later occasions the form of pro.
clamation in 1880 indicated that
the, feast had become an annual
observance. From the documents
ary of the second and successful
colony Of Mass. Bay, it seems
that such day was annual with
little interruption from 1882, three
years after the settlement. In the
| New Netherlands (New York; a
feast of the kind is on record re-
peatedly from the sixth year of
Gov. Kieft, 1854, to the last year
of Gov. Stuyvesant, 1854; and un-
der the English governors in 1855
and 60. 1t was recommended an
nually by congress during the
revolution; but there was an in
termission after that, perhaps due
to q prevalence of deism and
skepticism, until 1850, when pres.
ident Washington appointed q
day of thanksgiving for this
adoption of the federal constitu-
Ition. Subsequently various days
in Nov. were recommended by
presidents and governors until, in
the third year of the civil war,
under president Lincoln, the reg.
ular observance of q national
thanksgiving began.
Following is the proclamation
issued by General Washington
legalizing Thanksgiving Day:
APRocLAMATIoN
| WHEREAs-It is the duty of all
Nations to acknowledge the Provi-
dence of Almighty God, to obey
His Will, to be grateful for his
benefits, and humbly to implore
his Protection and Favour:
! And whereas both houses OF
Congress have, by their joint COM
mittee, requested me "To recon-
mend to the People of the United
States, Day of Public Thanks
giving and Prayer, to be observed
by acknowledging with grateful
Hearts the many Signal Favours
of Almighty God, especially by
affording them an opportunity
peaceably to establish a Form OF
Government for their Safety and
Happiness"
Now, Therefore, do recommend
and assign Thursday the Twenty
Sixth Day of November next, to
be devoted by the People of these
States to the Service of that great
nd glorious Being who is the
beneticent 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
a nd humble Thanks for his kind
Care and Protection OF the People
} of this Country previous to theil
: b ecoming Nation for the sig.
n al and Manifold Mercies and the
favorable Interposition of his
rovidence in the Course and Con.
clusion o. the late War; for the
great Degree of Tranquility
Union and Plenty which we have
, since enjoyed;- for the peaeeable
and rational Manner in which We
, have been enabled to establish
, @ constitutions of Government fol
J our Safety and Happiness, ani
particularly for the national ont
now lately instituted ;-the civi
! and religious Liberty with which
!. we are blessed, and the means WI
have OF acquiring and diffusint
KIN owledge;- and in general TO
. all the great and various Favour
which He hath been pleased t
: confer upon US.