The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-11-24
ST. MARYS BOYS TELL HISTORY OF
AMERICAN THANKSGIVING DAYS

AhuAhD6AVAu6 was HCFCI uOiG apt
~ expressed than by George Wash
ington, who said: 1T is the duty of
all nations to acknowledge the
Providence of Almighty God, to
obey His will, to be grateful for
His benefits and humbly to implore
His protection and favor; also. to
unite most humbly in offering
prayers and applications to the
great Lord and Ruler OF Nations
and beseech Him to pardon our ma
tional and other transgressions.
Thanksgiving Day was not al
ways observed in November, as the
proclamation issued by John Ad-
ans goes to prove. In appointing
Wednesday May 9th, 1898, as day
or prayer and thanksgiving, he
said: AS the safety and prosperity
Of nation necessarily depend on
the protection and blessing of God,
and as 1t Is the duty Of nation to
acknowledge this truth, a day Of
solemn humiliation, fasting and
prayer should be appointed"
II Jefferson appointed day of
thanksgiving we can find no record
of it. Probably there was none, for
Jefferson was strongly suspected Of
yoltarian tendencies.
Thanksgiving In August
As the war of 1912 was being
waged during James Madison's ad-
ministration he especially asked
for peace in his message. He brief
ly said: II recommend the third
Thursday of August next, as the
day on which the several religious
denominations shall offer thanks
and at the same time their vows
and alteration to Almighty God,
when they may ask His merciful
forgiveness and assistance, that He
will protect the American people,
and that the blessings OF peace !
will be hastily restored" This was
issued at Washington, July 9th,
1872.
Lincoln Wanted United Nation
The next proclamation of which |
we have record is the one issued by
Abraham Lincoln at Washington,
March 80, 1853 1t is all very beau
tiful, but the limits of this occas-
Ion will not permit 1t quoted in its |
entirety. Its tone, however, is less
Of joyful Thanksgiving than Of self !
accusation and repentance.
Whereas the Senate of the Unit |
ed States, deyoutly recognizing the
supreme authority and just govern
ment of Almighty God In all the af-
fairs of men and of nations, has by |
resolution requested the Presi-
dent to designate and set apart a
da yof national prayer and humilia-
ton.
Now, therefore, In compliance
with the request and fully concur
ring In the views of the Senate, /
do by this, my proclamation, desig-
nate and set apart, Thursday, tho
both day Of April, 1868, as day Of
national humiliation, fasting and
prayer.
''All this being done in sincerity
and truth, let us then rest humbly
In the hope, authorized by the d.
vine teachings that the united cry
of the nation will be heard on high
and answered with blessings no
less than the pardon of our nation
al sins, and the restoration Of our
now divided country to it's former
happy condition Of unity and
peace"
Lincoln's successor. in the presi-
Dental office followed the example
OF his lamented predecessor, and is
sued a proclamation dated October
28, 1865, which we give In part. 1t
will be noticed that Thanksgiving
Day did not occur in November
that year.
Whereas 1t has pleased AL
mighty God during the year which
is now coming to an end, to relieve
our country from the fearful scour-
age of civil war, and to permit us
to secure the blessings Of peace,
unity and harmony with a great
enlargement Of civil liberty.
Thanksgiving In December.
Now therefore be 1t known that
l.. Andrew Jackson, President of the
TniA a. |