In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed the fourth Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. Beginning with the first successful Autumn harvest by Pilgrims to the American continent who ventured forth to escape religious persecution in Europe, those who hold this day dear, have looked back on that time and reflected on the meaning of the celebration enjoyed by Pilgrims and Native Americans in that harvest time so many years ago.Edward Winslow of Plymouth Colony writing in Mourt's Relation penned the following about the first Thanksgiving feast, "our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
Individual colonies and later states would also commemorate that time until President George Washington proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. Part of his proclamation reads:
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
Seventy-four years later on October 3rd 1863 President Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the fourth Thursday in November as a time of national Thanksgiving and prayer. While the nation was still in the throws of a violent civil war that at times saw possible intervention by European powers, yet invasion by foreign states was averted and except for the regions where the battles raged, the nation prospered in all things and its population was booming. Lincoln recognized that this phenomenon was not due to human brilliance on his part but by divine graciousness on God's part. Lincoln noted the following in his 1863 proclamation:
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
Our nation is blessed with greatness not because of the result of our human strength or brilliance but because of the pursuit of God by the early settlers and their desire to live as free men. These deeply held convictions carried over into the belief that all men are created equal in the sight of their Creator and that rights are bestowed upon men by God and not by governments as evidenced in the framework of our Constitution.
My prayer this Thanksgiving is that we continue on the path established by the earliest settlers who found the freedom to excercise their faith in the new land and discovered fellowship with the native people that world. May we in like manner seek after, acknowledge and glorify God in everything that we do and while seeking fellowship with all we encounter, may we never betray the faith and core values that have brought us such bountiful blessing today.
Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!
The rest of his George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation can be viewed here.
Abraham Lincoln's proclamation is available here.
Information about Thanksgiving is available here, here and here.