Show AUTOCRAT OF THE DAY 71 k VIL IN 0 come gallant bardl come emperor of your kind ana in codr prostrate fortunes we shall find the juiciest joys that e ver palate elt moist fragrant odors that oer nos ril T and in the gravy of thy soul we sense The fullness of misfortunes becom ense A for though you die civo all you ha 0 to give you die that we your worshipers may avel A A GIVING THANKS IN DARK DAYS OF revolution GEORGE thanksgiving if dey day proclamation at valley forge took tooh great pains to put before lie ie isol irl adlers the dous dons reason for tills this most special acknowledgment of tho the divine good goodness noss we vo of today look ing back with a full knowledge of tho the great trials and sufferings placed upon the continental army in that winter of misery at valley forge way may perhaps wonder at tho the falth faith thus thua unfolded there Is however one fact which we accustomed to observe the last thursday of november IH as thanksgiving day should not overlook it la Is thanksgiving day as we know it with a dennite place pinco upon our calendar did not come into existence until 1803 thanksgiving day originated with the pilgrims who set aside a day for thanksgiving at plymouth immediately after their first harvest in 1021 1621 the massachusetts day bay colony first observed such a 0 day in and frequently thereafter until 1080 1680 when it DECEMBER became an annual festival lit in that colony connecticut also hail had a ell similar festival annually front from 1017 onward usually these duya for thanksgiving followed the harvest and were set aside primarily to give thanks thank 3 to the lord for the blessings lie he hild had bestowed upon the colonists chloal coloal ats during the revolution the continental congress appointed one or more days for thanksgiving each year except P in 1777 17 when not even a congress nian iii iii could find any blessings to point out olit to I 1 its his constituents 0 na as rea reason son for re rejoicing Jo IcIng these revolutionary thanksgiving days usually i vere pro founded upon somo some military success and fortune smiled smile wanly indeed upon the continental army in 1777 1 77 07 tho lie winter of despair at valley forgo valley foroe forge observation W I 1 thail thanksgiving day proclamation at valley forgo forge came after the snows and tile the hunger and the sufferings buffe rings of that winter of 1777 78 had departed and spring smiled soled ag again gain upon the fertile valleys of f pennsylvania the occasion ocen slon wits waa tile the en entrance of france into the war as an ally ot 0 the flip Col colonies onles the valley forge r orge thanksgiving may 1778 ita 48 was a military celebration with the lie chaplain of brigade dirve directed ted to offer up p thanks and wid dellver a discourse sult able to the occasion then there was waa cannon alre and bliumas and erles erica of lon ng live jive the king of li framel ranel loep live the friendly endly 11 urn penn awers iw nw pra ers and finally a run icing fire and the the american states celebrations of P peace ace another special thanksgiving day was ordered or by 0 general washington ht at newhurn New hiiri h on the hudson april 11 19 eggli bohrs to ft the lay arly from the shot fired ut rt IA Angton pence peace had tin been assured ever the if hut but the th quips flon lind become alarmingly nolle over ever since n e llie low was it I 1 possible IhIe to krep keep even a remnant of the he army alive to r receive tho the treaty of pence six months more of this starvation this utter titter discouragement ns as to the uso use of it nil all the harassed general dared not think of what his poor boys might bo driven to do to end it nil all the joy with which tho information was at last received from sir ouy guy carleton that a cessation of hostilities was announced can scarcely be imagined immediately the alie coin commander in chief issued ills his proclamation and directed that a public religious service and thanksgiving should take place on MAY 7 1778 the he same evening april 10 this was wag probably tile the happ happiest lest thanksgiving america has over ever experienced writes estelle harris in tho bicentennial news published by the alexandria va gazette in operation cooperation co with tho the united states commis commission slon for the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of birth A country itry gained glory and honor and homo home laronne tho the bend of the lie road december 11 1783 the gloriously solemn day appointed by congress dr john rog nog tera era preached ills his fOR comous sermon announcing noun cing we have taken our place among the nations and empires of the earth presidential proclamation the first presidential thanksgiving named november 20 1789 As for far its as the people were concerned they could join in with any an and all services for they felt the nation wits was saved again now that the great washington ans at tho the holm helin As aa for father george lie was loo 00 oo busy to write much lit in J I 1 ay 1 APRIL 19 1783 that diary of tits his that Is such a pro clous legacy to tits his people hero here Is all he fie says saya november 20 26 being the day for a thanksgiving I 1 went to st chapel though it was most inclement and stormy but tow few people at church the signing of the confederation articles was the especial occasion quelling the insurrection in pennsylvania syl vanta was again a deliverance from danger and cause for great rejoicing on the part of all the people and a proclamation was made appointing a day of thanksgiving for the general welfare and stable condition of tho the union this was issued from independence pen dence hall and february uary 10 19 1705 1 was thus set act apart on which day tho the nation was waa with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude to return thanks tor for its national blessings and implore their continuance As with all of george papers this proclamation abounds in patriotism and counsel of tho the highest order both as worthy of emulation today as yesterday much reason for thanks in lo looking oldrig back to these special thanksgiving days of early american history no patriotic heart can help feeling the beauty and appropriateness of these gatherings also the part they played in keeping the little nation as one ideal family until it could walk alone the american fathers holding before it the truths on 1 1 I 1 NOVEMBER 26 1789 the foundation rests liberty equality integrity for whatever else lias has or hits has not happened the foundation of this nation still rests securely tind and there Is much to he be thankful for on it thanksgiving day the stars have not faltered lit in their course and freedom still reigns the good earth hits has blossomed and tin fruited for tier her overlord turin ns as lit in 1507 1007 and 1770 and now tant autumn has marked the finish of tier lier harvest for tills this year old earth Is drawing back tier ait rap tier her ond nd tier her into tier hor storeroom to lie be covered with snowy instead of green grass con serving mid an renewing nil all her power milking ready for next win bummers imers spread of glory spiritual significance tile dinner muy be as it often lias has been hallowed and take on a sacramental character if it Is not more than a mere inere feast it Is wholly out of keeping with the true spirit of the day which Is one of profound spiritual significance emphasizing as it does the rel relation atlon between god and tin man it Is possible to spirit arlt the most commonplace and even nia terla things as one meal in the upper tipper room was twenty centuries ago and hits has survived hoth both AS a sacrifice wid a iniz ine philadelphia lodger luelli lulL lI firt first proclamation the first thanksgiving tiny day procla gutlon ever issued by a president wits was signed hv bv george washington in laso the th original la Is said to lo be in ili the pos session of J 1 W V well man who inherited it from tits his wll ivill laam Iti ploy 0 of cornish N 11 II |