New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
There Have Been Thanksgiv
ings in Summer and at One
Time There Were Two
of Them Annually.

and particularly tho national one lately in.
stituted." He also asked the people -
pray for the protection and guidance %,
/ "all sovereigbs and nations ESPECIALLY such
/ as have shown Kindness 20 u.s. And fis
return Of peace, following the revolution
/ Is referred 20 in a Thanksgiving proclama.
/ ton by the Continental Congress recon-
nendlng thanks 10 God because He hath
/ been graciousiy pleased go 20 conduct w
/ through the perlls and danger Of tho war
| as finally 10 establish the United States in
/ freedom and independency and to give them
name end place among the princes and
nations of earth
Tho rato~'s Grst oH'c.o' ihank-prompt-
ers were committees. usually Of three ap.
pointed b. The Continental Congres'-in
the davs before wo had "a Prcsiden'-io
draw up each year o Irocla nation recon-
mending 10 the -ovcrrois cf The states that
a Designated Iatc be- o'rc-;oG as day n
national Thanksgiving and prayer. These
committee appear 10 have been members
of Congress. except in lI7s, when the two
chaplains Of Congress ,-rc ordered 10 pre-
pare the draft
TurkeNleES
Thanksgiving day. appointed by Congress
but although held in m.dsummer-July p
Init get the Thursday precedent reh-
giously followed during thc last two gem
eratlons. although not Immediately re-
sDected. for the second rational Thanks
, giving day occurred Friday. May Il, l'i'
Two years later Wednesday was the day.
but after Washington took control of az
fairs Thursday wos preferred.
He helped to promote the nations thanks
on two notable occasions before he be-
came President. She arst being during his
desolate winter az VALLEY Forge, whom he
directed his army, December N the dat"
| appointed by Congress, TO remain In Us
present quarters and tia, the chaplain'
perform divine service with their several
CORPS and brigades." And II Is somewhat
Of a coincidence shat Secretary of state
Knox. who now issues the Presidents
/ THANKSGIVING proclamation. has his home
upon that same ground az Valley Forge
where Washington thus Issued his hrst
| Thanksgiving instructions IN that bleak
| winter OF l77I.
\ more festive programme was arranged
! by the general the following spring. when
he ordered his troops 70 observe May "
l77s. as a day Of thanksgiving for the aid
given by France 10 the patriot cause.
Happily. his orderly book outlining IN
great detail the ceremony N be observed
has been preserved.
Upon signal given the whole army
will huzza Long live the King OF France.
lie directs. This huzza was then 10 he tol-
lowed by the booming Of cannon, gen
eral discharge Of musketry, another huzzi'
Long live the European powers. then
more cannon. moro musketry fire ana
Gnal huzza. Tho American states
Tv. years OF our history saw two
Thanksgiving days each. and both Ners
wartime wears. In 1916 May Il and De-
combcr # were both designated. while IN
,Sse Lincoln designated Thursday. August
6 as q special Thanksgiving day In advance
NJ the autumnal feast Of tho last Thurs-
day I'm November. The summer holiday
was a special thanksgiving for victory aS
had been. I'm fact. the only nauonal
Thanksgiving day OF. .ls5-
From Madisons time 10 Lincolns there
were 10 national thanksglvings proclaimed
bv Presidents, although the festival was
observed annually in New England and IN
New York. a. also in the scattered Episco'
pal congregations, whose Book Of Common
Prayer since l7S9 had designated the hrst
Thursday in each November for giving
Continued on fifth page.