Andrew Johnson kept up the precedent of his predecessor in making a Thanksgiving Proclamation. However for some reason he set the date on December 7, the only time Thanksgiving has been celebrated on that date. His other Thanksgiving Proclamations were for the last Thursday in November and the tradition held until the Great Depression when FDR altered it to the fourth Thursday in November. If Johnson had established a new tradition in 1865, then seventy-six years later Americans would have had another reason to be enraged by the Japanese sneak attack. Here is the text of the Proclamation:
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Whereas it has pleased Almighty God during the year which is now coming to an end to relieve our beloved country from the fearful scourge of civil war and to permit us to secure the blessings of peace, unity, and harmony, with a great enlargement of civil liberty; and
Whereas our Heavenly Father has also during the year graciously averted from us the calamities of foreign war, pestilence, and famine, while our granaries are full of the fruits of an abundant season; and
Whereas righteousness exalteth a nation, while sin is a reproach to any people:
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby recommend to the people thereof that they do set apart and observe the first Thursday of December next as a day of national thanksgiving to the Creator of the Universe for these great deliverances and blessings.
And I do further recommend that on that occasion the whole people make confession of our national sins against His infinite goodness, and with one heart and one mind implore the divine guidance in the ways of national virtue and holiness.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 28th day of October, A.D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninetieth.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President:
WILLIAM H SEWARD,
Secretary of State.
“And I do further recommend that on that occasion the whole people make confession of our national sins against His infinite goodness, and with one heart and one mind implore the divine guidance in the ways of national virtue and holiness.”
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We need our current President to say the same.
Scenes from the trenches.
I have been written up twice by my liberal co-workers, for asking our residents to bow their heads for a Thanksgiving meal prayer.
Seriously.
The management has given me two written notices of warning to dismiss, if I do not stop this practice. The family’s that pay good money to keep their parents living here have stood by my convictions to the point of writing letters to allow a communal pray be given at the beginning of only one dinner per year…thanksgiving day prayer.
The management team countered with a rule to gather prior to entering the dining room for those who wish to give thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day. Unreal huh!
The two homosexual’s that complained were gitty that I was reprimanded for my offerings of Prayer.
Happy turkey day for the homosexuals, as for God fearing men and women.. Happy Thanksgiving to you.