Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-11-23

government a blessing to the people by constantly
being government of wise, just and constitu-
tional laws. directly and faithfully executed and
obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and
nations, especially such have shown kindness
to u.s. and to bless them with good government
and peace and concord to promote the knowledge
and practice of true religion and virtue and the
increase of science among them and US, and gen
orally to grant unto all mankind such a degree
of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be
best.
"Giyen under my hand at the city of New
York. the third day of October, in the year of our
Lord, thousand seven hundred and eighty
nine.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.'
There is, as stated statutory provision for
our Thanksgiving proclamations for their
date. In evidence of this President Andrew John
sons first Thanksgiving proclamation designated
the first Thursday in December 1865. If speak
of Thanksgiving day as national institution it
dates back to the Revolution, but if we have in
mind the annual harvest Thanksgiving day it be-
comes natiOnalized through the adoption of it by
the several states and the first appointment was
by Abraham Lincoln November 26, 1863 That
proclamation is, in part follows
'"The year that is drawing to its close has been
filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and
heathful skies Needfu diversions of health
and of strength from the fields of peaceful indus
try to the national defense have not arrested the
pillow, the shuttle the ship; the has enlarged
the borders of settlements, and the mines,
well of iron and of coal as of precious metals
have yielded even more abundantly than hereto
fore. Population has steadily increased notwith
standing the waste that has been made in camp
the siege and the battlefield and the country, re-
joicing in the consciousness of augmented
strength and vigor, is permitted to expect contn-
of years with large increase of freedom.
mo human counsel hath devised, hath
any mortal hand worked out these great things
They the gracious gift of the most high God,
who, while dealing with in anger for SINS
hath nevertheless remembered mercy
ut has seemed to fit and proper that
they should be Solemnly, fervently and gratefully
acknowledged, with heart and one voice.
by the whole American people. l do, therefore,
invite my fellow citizens in every part of the
United States, and also those who are at sea and
those who sojourning in foreign lands, to set
apart and observe the last Thursday in November
next as day of Thanksgiving and praise to
benefcent Father, who dwelieth in the heavens
And recommend to them that while Offering up
the Inscriptions justly due to Him for such singu-
lar deliverances and blessings they do also, with
humble penitence for our national perverseness
s. and disobedience, commend to His tender care all
those who have become widows, orphans. mourn
ers or sufferers in the lamentabe civil strife in
which now unavoidably engaged, and
fervently implore the nterpostiOn of the Almighty
hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to
restore it, as soon may be consistent with the
Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace,
harmony, tranquility and union.
"In testimony whereof / lave hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, the third day
of October, A. d. 1868, and of the Independence
of the United States the eighty-eighth
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
So it was Abraham Lincoln who first named
the last Thursday in November in his proclama-
ton of 1868 and thus fixed the date of the annual
celebration of Thanksgiving.