Today’s American Minute

By Bill Federer

On Oct. 25, 1887, President Grover Cleveland issued a Proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer: “The goodness and the mercy of God, which have followed the American people during all the days of the past year, claim their grateful recognition. … I, Grover Cleveland, president of the United States, do hereby designate … a day of thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by all the people of the land. … Let all secular work and employment be suspended, and let our people assemble in … worship and with prayer and songs of praise give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all that He has done.”