The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26

prompters were committees, usually
OF three. appointed by the Continental
Congress-in the days before we had
President-to draw up each year a
/ proclamation recommending to the
Governors Of the States that a desig-
nated date be observed as q day OF
national thanksgiving and prayer.
These committees appear TO have been
nempers OF Congress, except In If7S,
when the two chaplains of Congress-
we're ordered to prepare the draft
FIRST Thanksgiving In Midsummer.
Turkeyiess and hot was cur first
national Thanksgiving Day, appointed
oy congress, but although held in
midsummer-July. 30. 1775-It set the
Thursday precedent, religio,sly fol-
lowed during the past two genera
tons. although not Immediately re-
spected. for the second national
thanksgiving Day occurred Friday.
May II. 1875. Two years later. Wednes.
day was the day but after Washing
ton took control OF affairs THURSDAY
was preferred
He helped to promote the nation's
thanks on two notable occasions be-
lore he became President, the first be-
Valley Forge. when he directed his
army. December Is. the date appointed
by Congress. to remain in It's pres
ent quarters, and that the chaplain,
| perform divine service with their sew
eral corps and brigados." And It is
somewhat of coincidence that Secre-
tary Of State Knox, who now issues
the Presidents Thanksgiving procIa-
| nation. has his home upon that Same
! ground at Valley Forge. where Wash
| ington thus issued his first Thanks
1 To- hot II
ter of 1777.
He also ordered his troops to observe
May z. 1878. as day of Thanksgiving
for the aid given by France to the
patriot cause. Happily. his orderly
book" outlining in great detail the
ceremony to be observed, has been pre-
| served.
Upon a signal given, tho whole
army Will huzaa Long live the Kips
OF France" he DIRECTS. This huaza
was then to be followed by the boom
Ing OF cannon, a general discharge OF
1 musketry. another huzza, Long live
the European powers!" then more can
| non. more musketry fire and final
huzZa, THE American States!"
Two years OF our history saw two
Thanksgiving Days each. and both
were wartime years. In 1875 May II
and December were both dcsigna tod.
while in 1868 Lincoln designated Thurs
| day, August 6. as a spestal Thanksgiv-
Ing Day, In advance of the autumnal
feast Of the last Thursday in Novem-
ber The summer holiday was a spc-
cial Thanksgiving for victory, as had
been, III fact the only national Thanks
giving Day of 1862
From Madisons time to Lincolns
there were no national Thanksgiving
proclamations by Presidents although
the festival was observed annually
| In New England and in New York. Re
also In the scattered Episcopal congrc-
cations, whose Book OF Common Prayer
1 since 1889 had designated the first
Thursday in each November for giving
thanks In the churches, unless civil
authority should designate another date
for this purpose
| In New England, where It had been
an institution since 1921. Thanksgiving
| Day continued all tho while to outrank
| even Christmas as q festival of, Joy
teasting and family reunion.
New York Opposed ,the Holiday.
On becoming Governor of New York
John Jay attempted to establish 1t in
| that State as an annual Institution, but
his political enemies branded his pro.
ciamation as an attempt to stir up reli-
gious prejudice In his favor, and he
| mace no further attempts. Z
Governor Clinton, however, renewed
the effort. and was successful, but
New York's Thanksgiving did not co.
lncide with New England'a, which, until
the middle OF the last century. occurred
week later than the Empire States
! Searching old newspaper files to learn
! how Thanksgiving was celebrated IN
these times, found the other day 9
] statement that in 1858, 10000 people
after eating one Thanksgiving simmer
In New York City, had gone to thetI
early homes In New England 20 enjoy
another. week later.
! Thanksgiving aoon became y an AN.
nual, though local, institution In most
OF the Western States, which had been
settled largely by New ~ orkers and
New EnslaRders. but the South wa