Thanksgiving

Although Abraham Lincoln had issued an earlier "Proclamation for Thanksgiving," July 15, 1863, designating August 6 as the day of observance, this is the proclamation which set the precedent for our national holiday.

PROCLAMATION FOR THANKSGIVING

The second observance of the last Thursday in November was declared by Lincoln in a proclamation dated October 20, 1864. In the following year, President Andrew Johnson, perhaps at Secretary Seward's suggestion, designated the third observance of the day.

PROCLAMATION OF A NATIONAL FAST-DAY - August 12, 1861

PROCLAMATION FOR THANKSGIVING - October 20, 1864

Before we go any further, let me deal with one of the most PARROT-ed phrases ignorantly tossed around our society today:

A few things about this oft muttered 6-word expression (usually... used for the purpose of sounding politically correct...) (Here's a dare: Repeat the phrase... oh, 7 or 8 times... with or without a beer can nearby...!! Try it!! See how intelligent you sound!!) Come to think of it. If you get a whole group trying it, you might sound like a bunch of gobblers who lucked out on Turkey Day. But you had better try it only once. Otherwise, you'll have to look out for members from the local chapter of National Rifle Association prowling your neck of the woods. Anyways, where was I...? The "Separation..." issue:

1. The phrase is NOT... in the Constitution of the United States. Go, check it out!

The philosophic reason America was established is clearly stated throughout the records of our Founders for all to read. Not being gabby folk, they didn't write much. But when they wrote, they regularly expressed sentiment using terms... "for the advancement of the kingdom of God"... or "to the glory of Jesus Christ"... and several other such phrases. Oh, not like today's fearful, bible thumpers barely living, afraid to breath... but like courageous men and women of faith. And as men and women of faith, they lived life to the fullest all the while writing in such a way that some in our society would like expunged from the record... or at the very least, to cover up.

Read most of the original "charters" of each of the first 13 colonies... if you can find a reprint!! Or read the "Declaration of Independence"-'s recognition of being gifted with "...certain unalienable rights endowed by our Creator"... and "...with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence." Read the history of the "Second Continental Congress"... if you care to strengthen your knowledge of, rather than staying ignorant to, our history.

Too bad 99.99999% of the public record and about the same percentage of all public school history textbooks don't use primary source quotes to the extent they pass along our history in tact. Rather, most textbooks read more like "watered down" mush or some muddied "premordial" swill... along the lines of: "In 14-92, Columbus sailed the ocean blue..." (calling that history)... or "Twinkle, twinkle little star... how I wonder what you are..." (and calling THAT astronomy). Hmm??? Book publishers don't have a biased agenda, do they? But, I bet if you ask... they'll have a good excuse... starting with what sounds like... the love of economics!

2. Few people in America even know where the "Separation..." phrase originally came from? Do you?

3. When the one who first penned that "Separation..." phrase, he did NOT do it advancing a sense of meaning: "Anti-church vs. anti-state". He wasn't that stupid!

4. John Adams - graduate of Harvard. Chief Justice Superior Court of Massachusetts, 2 term Vice-President under George Washington, 2nd President of the United States, Ambassador to Great Britian... oh, yeah! and President of the American Bible Society, wrote of our annually celebrated... Fourth of July -- and Day of Independence... that it should be commemorated... "...as the day of deliverance by God Almighty" ...accompanied with the ringing of the Liberty bell... emblazoned with the inscription on its side: "Proclaim liberty throughout the land... " -- a verse taken from the book of Leviticus -- the 4th book of the Bible.

John Adams also said, "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." Well... dem's da facts!!

Follow this link for more complete commentary on Separation of: Church and state... or, state and Church which ever is your preference...

It is in President George Washington's Opening Address to the FIRST meeting of the Congress of the United States... where we learn that Washington states he would be remiss... if he didn't "recognize the hand of God, without Whose intervention... the success" of the Revolution would NOT have happened.

Lincoln's assignment was not to separate institutions, issues and ideals per se... nor to further divide a nation in sectarian debate. Moreover, Lincoln certainly did NOT consider himself to be Pastor of all America. He was elected to lead the nation as President. Well he knew his position of responsibility. Yet, it is interesting to note... his many scriptural references... throughout his lifetime reveals a knowledge of one anchored in biblical verse as well as the priority position they were in his private and public life.

In January 27, 1838 - Lincoln address the subject of The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions... he spoke of:

...the advancement of the noblest of cause -- that of establishing and maintaining civil and religious liberty.... Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defence. -- Let those materials be moulded into general intelligence, sound morality, and, in particular, a reverence for the constitution and laws: and, that we improved to the last; that we remained free to the last; that we revered his name to the last; that, during his long sleep, we permitted no hostile foot to pass over or desecrate his resting place; shall be that which to learn the last trump shall awaken our WASHINGTON.

Upon these let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; and as truly as has been said of the only greater institution, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

In addition, we recall one of Lincoln's most quoted phrases:

...of the people, by the people, and for the people --

which has its origin in the Foreward to the Great People's Bible translated by William Tyndale several centuries earlier.

Enjoy the time set aside for Giving Thanks!

And enjoy reading the following links, too:

Isaiah 18: 1 - 7 - the Prophet sees the Great Nation at the end of history as we know and understand it

The Vision of George Washington at Valley Forge

The Destiny of America -- written in Scotland in the early 1700s found in the Library of Congress almost 150 years later

United States Naval Academy - the Academy Cathedral - Michael, the Archangel

Other Speeches and Writings by Abraham Lincoln

Post Script:

Oh... before I forget. Earlier, I had asked a question: Who first penned that "Separation..." phrase? Do you know?

It was Thomas Jefferson... the one who also scribbled all that other stuff we hear when an individual rightlyfully or wrongfully gets their toes stepped on... or even when such professionals as talkin' headed Media are heard squealing... "freedom of the press"... and wild eyed protestors bellowing "freedom to assemble" (both loud-mouthed groups who often forget that if the FIRST freedom -- the "freedom of religion" goes... theirs will be next.) It was for them as well as our common citizenry, that Jefferson wrote: our Bill of priority Rights as individuals... that articulates the Freedom of Religion -- FIRST. He penned the abused Separation of State and Church phrase in private correspondence he wrote.

And since, HE... brought up the subject, I wonder... isn't somebody just a little curious... what Jefferson wrote about the separation of both powerful institutions? And do you suppose some folk are really too afraid to look? Maybe, they just love whinning and makin' noise?

Reggie Keith