The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-11-21
THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION
(Continued from page one)

/ BlcenJSH0lal commission IN
statement issued today, relate
the story of the lost proclamation
On September 25, 1889, Ella
Boudinot introduced the following
resolution in the House of Repre-
sentatives:
Resolved, That a joint commit
tee of both Houses be directed t
wait upon the President Of the
United States. to request that ht
would recommend TO the people
of the United States a day OF pub
lie thanksgiving and prayer. to be
observed by acknowledging, with
grateful hearts, the many signal
favors of Almighty God, especial
ly by affording them an opportun'
ity to establish a constitution OF
government for their safety and
happiness"
Harmless as this resolution
seems, there were objections to it.
In reading the annals of Congress
of that period, we find that Repre-
sentatives Aedanus Burke Of
South Caroline though we should
not mimic Europe where they
made a mere mockery of thanks
giving"
Representative Thomas Tudor
Tucker, also of South Carolina,
argued that it was not the bus
mess of Congress to ask for a
national day of thanksgiving.
"They (the people, may not be
inclined to return thanks for d
constitution until they have ex-
perienced that 1t promotes their
safety and happiness"
These objections, however, were
overruled; the resolution was
passed and sent to the Senate for
concurrence. The Senate approx
ed and appointed its committee TO
wait on the President. The joint
committee was made up of Ralph
lizard of South Carolina and Will
liam S. Johnson of Connecticut,
from the Senate; Elias BoudinOt
of New Jersey, Roger Sherman of
Connecticut, and Peter Sylvester
of New York, from the House.
Washington complied with the
request and on October 8. 1889.
issued his proclamation. calling
for a national day of thanksgiving
IN Thursday. November 26.
And then the document dropped
out of sight. It apparently was
misplaced or attached TO some pri-
rate papers in the process Of NOV
ng official records from one city
o another when the Capital was
hanged. However, II happened.
he original manuscript was not
the official archives until 1921
when Dr.. J. c. Fitzpatrick. then
assistant chief of the manuscript
Of the library OF Congress.
nd now editor OF the forthcom-
Nc George Washington Bicenten-
lial commission series OF Wash
ngton Writings. found" the proc
amation. Il was Al an auction
ale being held IN the American
1T galleries OF New YOr1 City,
II. Fitzpatrick. Al expert II
Eashing-onia. examined the docu-
neat and found il 70 b authentic
I was written il long hand By
Jackson. secretary 70 Presi-
lent Washington q the time and
ras signed II George Washing
bold hand Dr.. Fitzpatrick
purchased the document for 5000
.or the library Of Congress where
ID Is nov kept Is Z treasure. and
be amount Of money could remove
L.
The original Proclamation Of
Thanksgiving. and, indeed. the
Presidential proclamation
issued in the United States.
-eads as follows:
BY the President Of the United
States OF America
Whereas il is the duty Of all
nations 70 acknowledge the provi-
5euce of Almighty Cod, 70 obey
his viii 70 be grateful for his
BENEFITS. and humbIy 70 implore
his protection and favor-and
whereas both Houses Of Congress
have D. tteir joint committee re-
euestsd ze 70 recommend 70 the
People q rhs United States 2 day
Of public Thanksgiving and prayer,
70 b. observed D. acknowledging
with grateful hearts tas many sig
nal fevors q Almighty God e.
pecially By aEording -1em Z op
Rrtunity 20 establish Z form Of
government for t1sF safety and
happiness
Nov. therefore d recon-
mend and assign Thursday. the
18th day II November nszt. 70 b
devoted By the People q these
States % the service u that great
and glorious Being who i the
benefcient Author Of al the good
that was, that Is, or that will be.
That We may then all unite II
rendering unto him our sincere
and humble thanks-for hts kir