The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

The first Thanksgiving proclama-
ton in America was issued on NoVem-
Der 10, 1921. by Governor 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 IL, 1871,
would be observed throughout the Ply
mouth colony as a day OF thanksglN-
ing. The first national proclamation
was issued by George Washington in
I7s2
Today the president of the United
States issues the proclamation. He
writes Il out with his own hand. try
ing 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 COW
cred.
When he has finished writing 1t out
II Is copied and this copy is sent to
the state department. one OF the
clerks who Is n good penman writes
the proclamation artisttcally on parch-
ment The parchment is then sent
back to the White House, and the
president signs Il. After that 1t is
where the secretary of state adds his
name. Then the great seal OF the
state department is affixed
Many clerks in the state department
are then ordered to make as many
copies OF the proclamation 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
typewriter or any other means except
artistic handwriting for making
copies OF official correspondence.
These governors then write special
tproclamations Of their own, announc-
ing to the people of their States the
| fact that the president has fixed on
such day for the observance of
Thanksgiving. worship and festivities.
| George Washington's PROCLAIM alton.
Whereas, 1t is the duty of all ma
tons to acknowledge the providences
| of Almighty God, to obey His will, to
be grateful far His benefits. and hum
| bly, implore His protection and favor;
and
! Whereas. both houses of congress
have, by their joint committee. re-
quested me ito recommend to the peo-
PIE OF the United States day OF pub
lie Thanksgiving and prayer, to be OBJ
served by acknowledging with grateful
hearts the many signal favors of AL
mighty God. especially by affording
them an opportunity peaceably to es-
tablish form OF government for their
, safety and happiness:
| Now. therefore, do recommend and
assign Thursday. the 2Sth day of No
vember next. TO be devoted by the
/ people OF these States to the service
of that great and glorious Being who
| is the bencAcient Author Of all the
good that was, that is, or that will
| be; that we may them all unite in rem.
dering unto Him our sincere and hum
BILE thanks for His care and protection
ofrtis hers inaaotdoi hwtunei -tnyaa /,
of the people of this country previous
| to their becoming a nation; for the
signal and manifold mercies. and the
| favorable interpretations of His provi =
dence in the course and conclusion OF
the late war: for the great degree oil
tranquility. union and plenty which
I've have since enjoyed; for the peace
able and rational manner in which we
have been enabled to establish con-
situations OF government for our safe
ty and happiness. and particularly the
, national one now instituted; for the
civil and religious liberty with which
we are blessed, and the means we
have of national one now instituted