Show GREAT FESTIVAL thanksgiving day Is essentially american the first prayer in congress with the exception ot christmas and new year s celebrations our united states holidays commemorate some historical event the birth of a few of our great american leaders or in more recent years they are set aside for some public service in det arence to the wishes of some exten sive organization as arbor day labor day etc we have no national holl day not even the fourth of july congress has at various times appointed special holidays but there Is no general law upon the subject thanksgiving the first essentially american feast day is a holiday in all the states though in some it Is not a statutory holiday the first general thanksgiving of which we have any record was that kept by the pilgrim settlers of massachusetts bay colony in the yea the long severe new england a inters with snows from five to seven months the short hot summers the sterile sandy soil which even today to day is productive in places only through high alon left these brave forefathers of ours in almost starving condition so low had become their supplies tor subsistence that at last a day of fast ing and prayer was appointed when all were to unite in supplication for divine succor happily abundant food and other necessities arrived be fore the appointed fast day so their tasting was changed to feasting and prayer and supplication to praise and thanksgiving this thanksgiving service was often repeated through the remaining years of that century congress recommended days of thanksgiving annually during the revolutionary war and in 1784 for the return of peace the following is a copy of the first prayer in congress 0 lord our heavenly father high and mighty king of kings and lord of lords who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reig nest with power supreme and un controlled over all the kingdoms em pires and governments look down in mercy we beseech thee on these american states who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on thy gra clous protection desiring to be hence forth dependent only on thee to thee they have for right of their cause to thee do they now look up for that countenance and support which thou alone canet give take them therefore heavenly bather under thy nurturing care give them wisdom in council and valor in the field defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries con vince them of the unrighteousness of their cause and it they still persist in their sanguinary purposes oh let the voice of thine own unerring jus tice sounding in their hearts con strain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle be abou present 0 god of wisdom and direct the councils of this honorable assembly enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation that the scene of blood may be speedily closed that order harmony and peace may be effectually restored and truth and justice religion and piety prevail an nourish amongst thy people preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds shower down on them and the they here represent such temporal blessings thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with ever las ing glory in the world to come all this we ask in the name and through the merits of jesus christ thy son our savior amen los angeles times |