Thanksgiving Day declared by Pres.
Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863.
“Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizen, wherever they may be then, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to the Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.
And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizen aforesaid, that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust, and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the great Disposer of events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the Land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling-place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to 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 United States of the eighty-eight.”
(Signed) Abraham Lincoln
