The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-11-19

government a blessing to the people by constantly
being a government of wise, just and constitu
uonal laws, directly and faithfully executed and
oDeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and
nations. especially such as have shown kindness
to as. and to bless them with good government
ana peace and concord; to promote the knowledge
and practice Of true religion and virtue and the
increase of science among them and and gen.
orally to grant unto all mankind such degree
or temporal prosperity He alone knows to be
best.
Given under my hand the city of New
York. the third day of October, in the year of our
Lord, one thousand hundred and eighty
nine.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
There is. as stated. statutory provision for
our Thanksgiving proclamations nor for their
date. In evidence of this President Andrew John
sons first Thanksgiving proclamation designated
the first Thursday in December, 1865. If we speak
of Thanksgiving day as national institution II
dates back to the Revolution, but If we have In
mind the annual harvest Thanksgiving day 1t be-
comes nationalized through the adoption OF 1t by
the several states and the first appointment was
by Abraham Lincoln November 90, 1868 That
proclamation is In part, as follows:
"The year that is drawing to its close has been
filed with the blessings of fruitful fields and
healthful skies Needful diversions of health
and of strength from the fields of peaceful indus
try to the national defense have not arrested the
plow the shuttle or the ship the ak has enlarged
the borders of settlements. and the mines, as
well of iron and of coal as of precious metals,
have Welded even abundanty 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-
joicng in the consciousness of augmented
strength and vigor is permitted to expect contin-
uance of years with large increase of freedom
NO human counsel hath devised, nor hath
anv mortal hand worked out these great things.
They are the gracious gift of the most high God
who, while dealing with us in anger for our SINS
hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
oIt has seemed to fit and proper that
they should be solemnly. fervently and gratefully
acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice,
by the whole American people do, therefore
invite nv fellow citizens in every part of the
IIntaa states and also those who are at sea and
those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set
apart and observe the last Thursday In November
next as n day of Thanksgiving and praise TO our
benefcent Father, who dweeth in the heavens
And 7 recommend to them that while offering up
the Inscriptions justly due to Him for such sngn-
lar deliverances and blessings they do Also with
humble penitence for our national perverseness
and disobedience, commend to His tender care all
those who have become widows. orphans mourn
ers or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife In
which we are now unavoidably engaged and
fervant1v implore the nterposition of the Almighty
hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to
restore If as soon as may be consistent with the
Divine nurposes to the full enjoyment of peace,
harmony tranquility and union
.In testimony whereof 1 have hereunto set my
hand and caused Che 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"
Co n 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
cetebration Of Thanksgiving.