Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1901 — The First Thanksgiving [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The First Thanksgiving

NCIDENTALL Y,” remarked the man with a basket on his arm as he came into the presence of the editor, “I might mention the fact that if you want the finest and fattest turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner, my store is the place to get

it, but that is not what I am here. for. I came In to bring you an item of interest. You may not know, notwithstanding an editor knows more than anybody else on earth, that the first proclamation of Thanksgiving Day that is to be found In printed form is the one issued by Francis Bernard, Captain-Qeneral and Governor-in-Chlef In and over his Majesty’s province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and Vice-Admiral of the same in 17t>7.” The editor admitted that it had not occurred to him previously. “I’m glad I’m giving you something new,” continued the turkey man, “and now let me read it to you, so you may compare It with the modern style. It is headed ‘A Proclamation for a Public Thanksgiving:’ “ ‘As ine business of the year is now drawing toward a conclusion, we are reminded, according to the laudable usage of the Providence, to Join together in a grateful acknowledgment of the manifold mercies of the Divine Providence conferred upon Us in the passing Year: Wherefore, I have thought fit to appoint, and I do, with tne advice of his Majesty’s Council, ap-

point Thursday, the Third Day of December next, to be a day of public Thanksgiving, that we may thereupon with one Heart and Voice return our most Humble Thanks to Almighty God for the gracious Dispensations of His Providence since the last religious Anniversary of this kind, and especially so He has been pleased to preserve and maintain our most gracious Sovereign, King George, in Health and Wealth, in Peace and Honor, and to extend the Blessings of his Government to the remotest part of his Dominions; that He hath been pleased to bless and preserve our gracious Queen Charlotte, their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Dowager of Wales, and all the Royal family, and by the frequent Increase of the Royal Issue to assure us the Continuation of the filessings which we derive from that Illustrious House; that He hath been pleased to prosper the whole British Empire by the Preservation of Peace, the Encrease of Trade, and the opening of new Sources of National Wealth; and now particularly that He hath been pleased to favor the people of this Province with healthy and kindly Seasons, and to bless the Labour of their Hands with a Sufficiency of the Produce of the Earth and of the Sea. “ ‘And I do exhort all Ministers of the Gospel with their several Congregations, within this Province, that they assemble on the said Day in a Solemn manner to return their most humble thanks to Almighty God for these and all other of Her Mercies 'vouchsafed unto us, and to beseech Him notwithstanding our unworthiness, to continue His gracious Providence over us. And I command and enjoin all Magistrates and Civil Officers to see that the said Day be observed as a Day set apart for religious worship, and that no servile Labour be performed thereon. “ ‘Given at the Council Chamber in Boston the Fourth Day of November, 1767, in the Eightn Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. “Fra Bernard. “ 'By His Excellency’s Command. “ ‘A. Oliver, Sec’ry. “ ‘God Save the King,’ "Remember what I told you about the place for Thanksgiving turkeys," said the turkrey man, laying the paper on the desk and walking out —New York Sun.

Happiness has less use for comfort than indolence has. I Satire is the salt of wit rubbed on a sore spot. Love and a sliver dollar are tested by the ring.

“INCIDENTALLY,” SAID THE MAN.