Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-25
First Proclamation
for Thanksgiving

| TT HAT the Thursday in November will be set
aside BY the President for day Of Thanksgiving
and general holiday IL always taken for granted
because OF the yearly repetition OF this act since 1854
The most OF us who read the newspaper announce
ment Of the day chosen have little idea Of the
plicated processes involved in the issuance Of the
annual proclamation
When Governor Bradford issued the first Thanks
giving proclamation. he simply announced Novem
Der 49, 1871, that December 49, 1871 would be observed
throughout the Plymouth Colony a day Of Thanks
giving. He also appointed four TO go fowl
Ing that they might. after special manner
rejoice together"
This q most simple ceremony when contrasted
with the weight of detail and labor which accompany
the Issuance Of the proclamation OF today. Formally
has oeen added TO formality through many years
OF the observance OF the with the result that
the present method Of giving this document TO the
public Is very serious and high ceremony
The presidents task 10 easy one-to say in
words, or In another manner what has been said 80
well and fittngiy many times before. the
exact form has been decided upon and dictated a
stenographer is made and sent the State
department Here Of the clerks who make a spe.
claty OF artistic penmanship engrosses Il upon parch
ment and 1t then returns TO the White House TO
ceve the presidents signature Then Il travels back
TO the State department where the signature Of the
secretary Of state sttests that Of the president and
the great seal OF the State department Is then affixed
Afterward copies OF the document are written out
not Vpewrtten-by clerks of the State department
on the long sheets OF blue paper for official cor
sent 10 each governor or the states
and territories. who in turn makes proclamation Of
his own
But in the meantime the proclamation Of the pres
dent has been made public and the people all over
the country know what day has been chosen for
Thanksgiving
The first THANKSGIVING day proclamation ever
Issued by president was signed by George Wash
ingon In l1s and made by request both houses
Of congress through their joint committee The text
OF this elaborate proclamation following the preamble
is
Now. therefore. do recommend and assign Thurs.
day the seth day OF November next to be devoted by
the people OF these the service OF that great
ana glorious Being who Is the beneficent author of
ali the good thst was that Is. or that will be- That
we may then ali unite IN rendering unto Him our sin
cere and humble thanks for His kind care and pro-
lection OF the people of this country previous 10 their
becoming nation; for the signal and manifold mer-
oies and the favorable interpretations OF His providence
In the course and conclusion OF the late war; for the
great degree OF tranquility union plenty which we
nave since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational
manner In which we have been enabled to establish
constitutions OF government for our safety and han
piness and particularly the national one now lately
instituted for the civil and religious liberty with
which we ere blessed. the means we have OF &C
curing and dffusing useful knowledge and in gem
eral for all the great favors which He hath been
pleased TO confer upon US
And also that we may then unite IN most humble
ouering our prayers and suppllcatons to the Great
Lord and Ruler OF nations beseech Him TO par
don our national and other transgTessons; to enable
US all whether in public private stations, to per-
form our several and relative duties properly and
punctually; TO render national government h,es
ins to the people by constantly being a government
OF wise, just and constitutional laws directly ana
faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect ana guide
oil soVeregns and nations ESPECIALLY such as have |
shown Kindness to us) and to bless them with good
government peace and concord; TO promote the know.
euse ana practice OF true religion and virtue and the
increase OF science among them and and generally
to grant unto all mankind such a degree OF temporal
prosperity as He alone knows to be best.