Show GIVING THANKS IN DARK DAYS OP revolution gionan WASH 17 Thanks gly ing day proclamation at valley forge took great pains to put before the eol sol diers the tremendous reason for or this most special acknowledgment of the divine goodness 11 we of today looking back with a full knowledge of the great trials and buffering sufferings placed upon the continental army in that winter cf it at valley forge may perhaps wonder at the faith falth thus unfolded there ashow Is however one fact which we accius towed to observe the last thursday of november as thanksgiving day should not overlook it la Is thanks giving day as we enow it with a definite place upon our calendar did not come into existence eil stence until ism 1 thank thanksgiving giving day originated with tha pilgrims who set aside a day DECEMBER 13 1621 for thanks thanksgiving givin at 11 mouth immediately after their first harvest in 10 1021 11 the massachusetts bay col ony first observed such a day in I 1 1030 and frequently thereafter until 1080 1680 when it became an annual festival in that colony connecticut also had a similar fe felir cl annually from onward usually these daya days for thanksgiving followed full owed the harvest and were set aside bartly to give thanks to tho lord for or the blessings be he bad had bestowed upon the colonists during the revolution the conter artal cin congress gress all pointed one or more day days for fo r thanksgiving each year except in when not even a congress congressman ma could find any blessings to pol point aa it cut out to his constituents as reason for rejoicing these revolutionary thanksgiving days usually were founded upon some sonie military success bud and fortune smiled wanly warily indeed upon the continental army in 1777 the winter of despair at valley forge valley foro forge observation day proclamation nt at valley ally N 1 orge came aft natt r the snows and the huc hunger gerand and the sufferings of that terrible win ter of had bad departed and spring smiled aaen upon llie the fertile valleys of pennsylvania the occasion wae was the entrance of france into the war as an nn ally of the colonies the valley nalley forge thanksgiving may 1778 was a mil roll tary ce alra bration tion with the chaplain of brig lade directed to offer up thanks and deliver a discourse suitable to the occasion acca ilon then there was cannon armon fire and buzzas and cries of ot lon lan live the king ning of franco francel I 1 long live the friendly Hur european orean low lowers eral 1 and finally a generi lim rvin ning ring fire and the american stalest celebration celebrations of peace another special thanksgiving day was vas ordered by general washington ashl ng at newburgh on the I T april io 10 1783 eight year to the say day from the shot orr orf I 1 at lexing ton ultimate peace pence had been assured ever since lie the surrender of Corri nallis but tho the question habbe bad become alarmingly acute ever gince since how vas was it possible to keep even a remnant of the army alive to receive the treaty of pence six months more of this starvation thil this utter discouragement as to the use of it all the harassed general dared not think of what his poof boye boys might be driven to do to end it all the joy with which the informs tion was at last received from sir guy carleton that a cessation of v MAY 7 1778 hostilities was announced can a scarcely be imagined immediately the commander in chief issued bis his pr 0 and directed that a public religious service and thanks giving should take place on the evening april 10 19 this was probably pro batly baLly the happiest ing aine ica has ever experienced writes estelle harris in the bacen tennial news published by the alex andria va gazette in cooperation with the united states commission for the celebration of the two hun dreith anniversary of birth A country gained glory and honor and home around the bend of the road december 11 1783 the gloriously solemn day appointed by 4 LID I 1 k APRIL congress con gres dr john rogers preached his famous bermon announcing we have taken our place among the nations and empires of the earth presidential proclamation the first presidential thanksgiving proclamation named november 20 1789 1780 As far a as the people were concerned they could join in with any and all services for they felt the nation wis ras bayed saved that the great washington was at the helm ae As for father george himself be he was entirely too busy to write much in that diary or of his that ie Is such a pi in eklous legacy legac y to hie his people clere ie Is all he says say november 20 being tho the day appointed for a thanksgiving I 1 went to st pauls paula chapel though it was most inclement and stormy but few peo pie at church I 1 the signing of the confederation articles was the es pedal occasion Cu fuelling elling the insurrection in to perin sylvania was again a deliverance from rom danger and cause for fo r great clig en the part of all the peo pie and a proclamation was made a day of thanksgiving for the general welfare and stable condition of the union this was Is sued from independence hall and february rebr uary 10 19 1703 was man thus set se a apart on which day the nation was with devout reverence and abrec gratitude to return thanks NOVEMBER 26 1789 for its national blessings and im alore their continuance As with all of george papers this proclamation abounds in patri otisa and counsel of the highest or der both as worthy of emulation today as yesterday much reason for thanks in looking back to these special thanksgiving days of early ameri can history no patriotic heart can help feeling the beauty and ampro or these gatherings also the part they played in keeping leeping the little nation as one ideal family un til III it could walk alone the amer lean can fathers holding before it the truths on which the foundation rests liberty equality integrity for whatever hat ever else has or has not happened the foundation of this na tion still rests securely and there Is much to be thankful tor for on aba thanks aks giving day the stars have havo rot pot fal in their course and freedom fret doro still at 11 reigns the good earth has lo 10 and fruited for her over lord man as in and 1770 and now that autumn has ha marked the of her harvest tor for this year old earth Is drawing back her sap her and her chemicals into her storeroom to be covered with snowy blankets instead of erwi grass gratts conse alne yin and renew ing all her power making ready for next summers spread of glory echo of pilgrim romance Rera anca the kettle which john alden have given ills his beloved pris cilia cilla to start housekeeping Is believed by antique authorities to have been found ut waterloo ater loo N Y Brou brought glit to america on the may stay flower and believed to have been u used in prep arii g the first thanks elvin feast the blackened recep tal tali now Is known as the conant kettle named after ane family which acquired it froni from alden thought to have been the original loal owner |