“And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner,”
Exodus 17:15
[Note: I tried to publish this post on-time, but my internet connection refused to coöperate. Hoping it will work when I click on the “Publish” button today! Itasca]
THANKSGIVING DAY
November 28, 2013
“The First Thanksgiving”
Painting by J. L. G. Ferris, 1932
For a revealing Common Core Standards lesson “assessing” the historical value – or lack of it – of this painting, click here, and follow the links to see the whole lesson.
It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children’s children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. –August 22, 1864 Speech to the One Hundred Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiment;
quote from: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
On this Thanksgiving day, I’m thankful to God for His many blessings: His Love, Mercy, and Grace, and His Wonderful Gift of Salvation purchased by the shed Blood of Christ Jesus.
I’m thankful
for
Our Liberty under God
in this
Greatest Nation on the Face of Earth,
the United States of America!
I’m thankful for God’s stirring of the American Spirit in the hearts of all who love Him, and love America, to hear the ALARM:
America is in Grave Danger!!!
I’m thankful for every American and Resident Alien who dons the gauntlet joining the Great Cause to Save America for the 21st Century, and Beyond – should the LORD tarry.
All-over America, voices are calling our Fellow-Americans to study and learn the true foundation of America and of our United States Constitution.
I’m thankful that every day alarming facts escape the Mainstream Media’s Truth Blockade and the true state of Our Nation under God emerges. Americans must first learn what is really happening before being moved to act. We only know the tip of the ICEBERG and cannot even imagine what we don’t know, yet.
From the man occupying the Office of President of the United States who lies whenever it suits his collectivist/progressive agenda – among which the ObamaCare lies cannot be denied – to all the machinations of those furiously helping him build the control structure for tyranny. As they try to get as much done as possible in fundamentally transforming America before enough Americans wake to the truth.
And, cry,
“NO MORE!!!“
I’m thankful that the country is finally hearing the horrifying truth about Black American Youths “playing” the “Knock-out Game,” in brazen assaults on innocent, unsuspecting Americans of “other races.” If these facts along with the truth about Benghazi, Fast and Furious, six-month-long negotiations leading to capitulation to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and many other acts are hidden from We the People, what else are they hiding, with the Media’s complicity?
The Obama Era is a
coup d’état,
and
Our Free America
is losing the
Collectivist/Progressive War on Liberty,
because we’ve been
blinded by ignorance and lies!
When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty — to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy. –From the August 24, 1855 Letter to Joshua Speed;
quote from: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
But,
I’m thankful that
God is waking the Nation!
WE ARE RISING
to
STAND FOR FREEDOM
across AMERICA!!!
I’m thankful for all who stand and speak for Our Liberty under God, in whatever way they are able.
I’m thankful for the United States of America!!!
God Bless America!!!
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Itasca Small
~ ~ ~
The First
Presidential Proclamation
declaring a
National Day of
Thanksgiving
Excerpt from a brief history of Thanksgiving in America, on “George Washington’s Mount Vernon” website by Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association:
Since the settlement of the colonies, Americans were familiar with setting aside days of thanksgiving, prayer, and fasting in response to significant events. . . .
. . . . In 1789, Representative Elias Boudinot from New Jersey presented a resolution requesting that Congress persuade the now-President Washington to declare a thanksgiving observance in honor of the creation of the new United State Constitution. Congress agreed and passed the resolution creating a joint committee to make their request to the president.
Washington issued a proclamation on October 3, 1789, designating Thursday, November 26 as a national day of thanks. In his proclamation, Washington declared that the necessity for such a day sprung from the Almighty’s care of Americans prior to the Revolution, assistance to them in achieving independence, and help in establishing the constitutional government. Not ignoring the authority of state governments, Washington distributed his proclamation to the governors, requesting that they announce and observe the day within their states. Newspapers throughout the country subsequently published the proclamation and public celebrations were held. Washington himself marked the day by attending services at St. Paul’s Chapel in New York City, and by donating beer and food to imprisoned debtors in the city. Read more: http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/thanksgiving Read details of the debate leading to Congress’ resolution and other facts: http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/thanksgiving-proclamation/
Thanksgiving Proclamation
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 favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled 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.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington
Proclamation text from: http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/washingtons-thanksgiving-proclamation
~
Presidents continued the practice of issuing Thanksgiving Proclamations, but on various dates in different months. Until President Abraham Lincoln issued his proclamation exactly 74 years after Washington’s:
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.
Quoted from the Proclamation:
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. 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. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
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 Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State
From: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
~
That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles — right and wrong — throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. –October 15, 1858 Lincoln/Douglas Debate at Alton, Illinois.
From: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/quotes.htm
~ ~ ~
75 Years Later:
Collectivist/Progressive
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Attempts
Social/Economic Engineering
Changes
Thanksgiving
DIVIDES
OUR NATION
The following excerpt is from a short article on the history of Thanksgiving Day from 1863-1941:
For seventy-five years after President Lincoln issued his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation for the “last Thursday in November,” all but two succeeding presidents honored the tradition established by President Washington. In 1865 and 1869, Presidents Johnson and Grant, respectively, chose a different Thursday. After that, every other president annually issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation, keeping with the last Thursday in November as the date. Keep in mind that the dating was a tradition, as was the Thanksgiving proclamation itself, in fact, and not a legal obligation by the president. Still, for a very long time the last Thursday had been proclaimed, and over time it bec[ame] an accepted fact to most. . . .
Read more: http://sharonlathanauthor.com/final-establishment-of-thanksgiving
America observed Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday in November until 1939. Collectivist/Progressive President Franklin D. Roosevelt, viewing Thanksgiving only through his control mentality, was concerned for the economic aspects of the approaching Christmas shopping season.
He disregarded the true foundation and purpose of Thanksgiving in America: We the People, together as a nation observing a day set-aside to remember God’s Blessings and Providence and to offer Him our solemn thanksgiving.
Roosevelt agreed with retailers who thought Thanksgiving falling on the last day of the month before Christmas would cause the economy to suffer. His Proclamation on October 31, moved it a week to the second-to-last Thursday in November – too short notice for Americans to spread the word, change plans and complete preparations across-the-country. He and his economic advisors apparently either had no regard for the ripple-effects of his untimely declaration, or were ignorant of the Big Picture; as is the normal state of most collectivists. Given their track record throughout the Great Depression of failed social and economic engineering, it isn’t surprising that the upheaval was for nought! The extra shopping days did not boost sales!
For details of the confusion and division that ensued from this example of FDR’s attempts at “social and economic engineering”, also see the article referenced above, here.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
Proclamation of October 31, 1939
The national dispute culminated two years later, when Congress passed the following joint resolution, as amended by the Senate (copy follows, below), establishing Thanksgiving Day as the fourth Thursday in November – avoiding the occasional fifth Thursday in the month – and giving it new legal status as a Federal Holiday. The president signed it into law on December 26, 1941.
~ ~ ~
“The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves.” Samuel Adams
May we always remember – as One Nation truly under God – to Whom we offer Thanks; as we gather together with profound gratitude to Him for all the Myriad Blessings only He can count. Itasca