Still Giving Thanks 145 Years Later

Proclamation of Thanksgiving
President Abraham Lincoln
October 3, 1863

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 defense, 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 consciousness 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.

About Sharon Lindbloom

Sharon surrendered her life to the Lord Jesus Christ in 1979. Deeply passionate about Truth, Sharon loves serving as a full-time volunteer research associate with Mormonism Research Ministry. Sharon and her husband live in Minnesota.
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4 Responses to Still Giving Thanks 145 Years Later

  1. LDSSTITANIC says:

    Trying out the new system…having trouble figuring out how the comments are organized…maybe I'm not enough of a techie!!

    Hope everyone has a blessed holiday weekend!!

    Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the
    fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those
    who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of
    your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and
    the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
    you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
    (Book of Common Prayer 1979)

  2. gloria says:

    Hello. Just found your great blog here. 🙂 I am a former mormon and now am happy to say a born again believer in the :"real" Jesus! PTL!!
    Great blog, I am enjoying it.
    God bless,
    gloria in NW Missouri

  3. germit says:

    welcome gloria; your 'news' is welcomed by some, and probably not so welcomed by others; I hope Mormon Coffee proves to be an encouragement to you. let us know if your personal journey out of mormonism is posted on anther blog so we can catch up . GERMIT

  4. Martin_J says:

    Gloria,

    Welcome, on two counts.

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