The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-26
The Day We Give Thanks

frosty breath read. the. proclamation.
When he came to the close and lifted
up his eye to heaven. saying. God
save the commonwealth of Massachu-
setts," 1t seemed as If Massachusetts
We're bigger than the entire universe
besides. and as If 1t were under the
special favor and protection of God.
The Thanksgiving sermon. which in
point OF merit aimed to surpass all
other OF the yea always
touched upon politics-lightly. Of
course. and no with too much definite
ness. for slavery was not then n thing
Of the past. and New England had
mercantile relations With the south
which rendered the slavery question a
cases. but in the main 1t was not the
New England clergy who aimed the
deadly blow at slavery-it was the
New England poets. Whittier. Long
fellow. Lowell and the others.
Jcffcrson's Objections.
Not in%frequently there have been
protests against the right of civil au-
thorities to appoint days Of religious
Hastings or festivals. 1t Is maintained
that this is a strictly ecclesiastical
function. and as such is an interfer-
trary to the spirit of the constitution.
On this ground Thomas Jefferson re-
fused to follow h example of WASH
ington. He said: II consider the gov
eminent OF the United States as inter.
dtcted by the constitution from inter-
meddling with religious institutions.
their doctrine. discipline or exercise.
Fasting and prayer are religious en-
e%rcises: enjoining them is an act of
religious discipline. Every religious
body has a right to determine for
itself the time for these exercises and
the objects proper to them. according
TO its own peculiar tenets and this
right a never be safer than in their
own hands. where the constitution has
deposited it. Civil powers alone have
been given to the president Of the
to direct the religious exercises Of his
constituents"
During the civil war President Lin
coin issued proclanations for special
Thanksgivings. Since his time the in
stftutton has been national and an.
nual. 1t is aid that President Grant
on n occasion issued a proclamation
Fourth Of July by religious observe
ances. This was an innovation which
the people at once recognized as an
interference. Thanksgiving day was
c~ountenanced by custom and allowed
to pass. hut few would be disposed to
permit further infringement on the
rights Of the church. President Grant
evidently forgot his own advice TO the
people. given only a few months be-.
fore In his memorable speech at Des
Moines. keep the church and the
state forever separate"
ven If the sentiment should pre-
vain mat the appointment Of a day for
thanksgiving is no part Of the function
OF a state, there can be no objection
70 the appointment Of a day for a
harvest home festival. which indeed is
the real significance Of the day at the
present time. Almost every nation
has had a feast Of this character.
A Unique Proclamation.
Since the first recorded Thankse;y.
ing proclamation by the court Of Mas
~Sachusetts, though many Of them have
neen promulgated. the form remains
largely the same The nation, state or
municipality &c admonished Of the no.
priety of giving thanks. Many times
special events are mentioned, bu.
usually they are couched in hieh
sounding terms and brief plati,udes.
occasionally. however. the form va
r1es and becomes conspicuous therefor.
IN 1889 Governor Atkinson Of West
virginia startled the country BY his
proclamation. In a few brief lines he
called upon the people Of his state TO
observe the day and appended twenty
hve texts OF scripture. all bearing
upon the subjects of giving thanks.
Congress BY special enactment in
1870 made the fourth Thursday in No.
vember Of each year a legal holiday
in the District Of Columbia and the
territories of the United States. SINH