The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-11-27
Tha + giving
In 4. llIl11eifn History 7

gratitude standa out preenlinently There is nothing
more charming than grateful disposition It radiates
sunshine whsrever it i feSnd 1t is then gratifying
to know that country SETS aside day in the year to
give thanks to The Almighty for the abundance of his
goodness in our behal k proof that we are at heart
nation that recognizesa Supreme Being in whom we
live and breathe and from whom all good emanates
What heart forsetfuf Of all that is good and ee
waiting not rngua1 teucheren reading the procama-
ton Of the presdsat regarding Thanksgiving Day-no
matter to what peitcsl creed he may adherei After
enmerating the blessings that have descended upon us
in unrestricted and overfowing abundance he says:
Therefore, do desgnatef Thursday, the 9th day of
November next as . day thanksgiving and prayer,
and invite the people throughout the land to cease from
their wanted occupations their several homes and
places of worshisrender thinks to Almighty God''
A proclamation indeed That can only come from one
who represents a Christian nation
1t is to be feared, howayer, that Thanksgiving Day
has degenerated somewhat from its original purpose
The day is too frequently spent in feasting and jol
cation without thought Of its intent and purpose We
have all much to be grateful for because ad
versitiea when looked upon!in the right light bless
ngs. They at least tend 70 bring back to the one
who can help W in ell our needs. &
When reviewing the history of Thanksgiving Day in
our country across interesting material
The observance of this day spreads from Massachusetts,
Bay and Plymouth colonies to other parts of New Ens
land. 1t was not annual occurrence, however, until
from the time it introduced into the colony of Con-
necticuS with the exception.of 1915. =
Shortly after the Inauguration of Washington, by
request of both houses of nongress he recommended
day Of prayer and Thanksgiving to the people oft he
D Union, which Was to be ThqIsday November g. 1789
One heart strangely moved read after 1apsea
of one hundred and seventy-four years the thrilling
words of the proclamation in which the people are be-
sought not only to thank God for His blessings but
also to beseech Him to pardon national and other
tn knn1v
of true religion and virtue and to grant unto all
kind such degree of temporal prosperity He alone
knows to be best What sublime trust! What conf
dence!
Although the day continued to be held in New
England annually it not until 1898, when the
nation is threatened with with European powers
due to feelings of extreme unfriendness that we hear
of next proclamation This to be day of solemn
humiati0n fasting and prayer to be kept the 9th
Of May Of that year., and that 'fervent Thanksgiving
to the besower of every good gift for having protected
preserved and prospered the United States should be
offered up by every Another such proclamation
followed the next year in April.
James Madison issued four proclamations at the re-
quest of congress. The state of New York adopted
Thanksgiving Day in 1817 and its observance spread
southwark gradually. In 1861 January was designa-
ted as day Of solemn prayer and fast by James Bu-
canan In his proclamation he gave utterance to the
following: Ills ommi ipotent only save from
the awful effects of our crimes and foes-our
lngratitude and guilt towards Heavenly Father
In the same year Lincoln appointed the last Thurs
day in September day of prayer for the restoration
of peace, and again in 1861 and 1864. During the
Civil war three procamaons of Thanksgiving Days
made because of the of troops President
johnson also issued three procamatons for the obser
vance of the day In the first he appointed the first
Thursday in December 1865, but returned the laa
Thursday of November the next year, 1866
During Grants administration he appointed Thurs
day. November 49, 1869, the day. but the following
returned to the last Thursday From that time
to the present there has been change.
1t is somewhat disheartening to admit that though
the day is very generally kept holiday throughout
our glorious and gratitude is longer the keynote OF
the celebration
The realization of this fact should spur us on to
contribute might to counteract this tendency We
are all sensitive to ingratitude but how much more
cause has He to be from whom every good gift comes'
That He is sensitive we need but recall the biblical
narrative Of the six lepers that cured and only
one returned to give thanks, and she good Samar
tan!''
And Jesus answering said: 'Were not ten made
clean' and where the ninei There is found
to return and give glory to God but this stranger
ST. JOHNS SCHOOL