The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-11-27
FACTS ABOUT THANKSGIVING.


first held?
In England, during the time of
Cromwell Thanksgiving days were com
mon occurrences.
The discovery of the "gunpowder
plot" in 1905 was followed by a
thanksgiving in England and that ma
ton observed such day on many
like occasions, the last probably being
a national thanksgiving when the
Prince of Wales, now Edward VII, re-
covered 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, 1878, 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 Christian sermon preached in the
new world
When was the first Thanksgiving
proclamation in this country?
November 10, 1921; made by Cover
nor 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 their forests, December ID,
1921, would be observed throughout the
Plymouth colony as day of thanks
giving.
Who signed the first Thanksgiving
proclamation ever issued by presi-
dent?
George Washington, in 1882.
Who originated the modern Thanks
giving day, as it is observed in the
United States?
The Thanksgiving as it 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 day of ma
tional thanksgiving.
Each succeeding president has annu.
ally proclaimed thanksgiving day,
which is generally followed by similar
proclamations by the governors of the
various states.
Who makes the Thanksgiving proc
lamation?
The president of the United State.
How is it 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 rot 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 department.
One of the clerks who is good pen
man writes the proclamation artist
cally 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 depart
ment, where the secretary of state
adds his name; then the great seal of
the state department is affixed. In or
der to put the great seal on the pro-
clamation note from the president is
necessary, in which he says: 81 here
by authorize and direct the secretary
of state to cause the seal of the United
States to be affixed to my Thanksgiv-
ing proclamation, 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 de-
partment are then ordered to make as
many copies of the procla nation as
there are governors of states and terri
tories. These copies are written by
hand on long sheets of blue paper. The
state department never uses the type
writer or any other means except ar
tistie handwriting for making copies
of official correspondence.
What do the different governors OF