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"Come Ye Thankful
People Come"
Henry Alford (1810-1871)
The first Thanksgiving was decreed by Governor Bradford in 1621 to
commemorate the Pilgrims' harvest. Later George Washington
proclaimed November 26, 1789 as a national day of thanksgiving, but
the holiday was not repeated on a national basis until Abraham
Lincoln named it a national Harvest Festival on November 28, 1861.
After that time, the holiday was proclaimed annually by the
President and the governors of each state. Finally, in 1941,
Congress passed a bill naming the fourth Thursday of November as
Thanksgiving Day.
Henry Alford wrote this hymn in 1844 to be used for the English
harvest festivals, a movable feast which varied according to the
harvest time in the different villages that celebrated it. Henry
was regarded as a gifted Christian leader, a distinguished
theologian and scholar. He was also a writer, poet, artist and
musician.
The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful heart.
Carry this truth with you this week as we all celebrate
Thanksgiving.
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