Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-11-04
BY HIS EXCELLENCE
JOHN BROOKS,
Governor Of the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts.
A PROCLAMATION,
FOg DAY OF
PUBLIC THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.

THE innumerabe mercIeS and blessings
which the great Ruler of the world and Dis
poser of all events has been pleased to youch-
safe, in the course of his providence, TO the
people OF this State for the past year, de-
mand their best tribute of prase and graft
tude.
have therefore, in conformity to ancient
usage, thought fit to appoint and, by and
with the advice and consent of the Council,
90 hereby appoint THURSDAY, the Fourth
Dap of December ne1t, TO be observed through
out this Commonwealth, as Day OF Praise
and Thanksgiving to God, the Father OF lights
from whom cometh down every good and
perfect gift. And the people of all religious
denominations are requested TO assemble in
their respective places OF public worship on
that day, that with united and devout affec-
ton, we may acknowledge our dependence
upon the divine favour, and present a willing
Offering to the Lord, the source OF all our mer-
cies more especially that, when the hearts,
not only of this people, but OF a large pro-
portion Of the civilized world, were sinking
within them from an apprehension OF scarcity
and want, He has been graciousDy pleased to
manifest his great benignity in granting US a
favourable seed time, in blessing and reward
ing the labours and tolls of tue husbandman,
in causing the earth to yield its increase, and
giving occasion 10 rejoice in the tulness Of the
former, and OF the latter harvest That He
has been pleased TO grant signal success to our
fisheries and permitted us to partake largely
of the abundance OF the seas That our nav
igation and commerce have experienced SO
great degree Of safety and success That
He has been pleased 70 preserve US from
wasting sickness and all other desolating judg-
ments That our Nation has been preserved
in peace and internal tranquility, and in the
enjoyment of high degree of social happi-
ness and that the year has been richly
crowned with the goodness OF God But, a.
bove all, that, in infinite compassion to US as
sinners, He has seen fit to continue to cheer,
TO animate, and bless US with the light, the in
fluences, and the hopes Of the Gospel.
And while our hearts are warmed with
gratitude TO our Heavenly Benefactor, for his
countless mercies, let US pentently confess
our unworthiness, and with humility, implore
the pardon of all our offences against Him,
through the medium of His Son JESUS
CnRIsT, who having tasted death for every
man, was made perfect through suffering, and
became the author Of eternal salvation to all
them who obey him and that christianity
may more and more display its power TO cor
rect the errors, and to control the passions of
men That Con will be pleased TO bless the
President Of the United States, and have him
under His holy keeping That he will afford
His influence in The deliberations ofCongress,
and the Governments and Legislatures of the
several States il the Union That He will or
der the approaching winter in much mercy TO
the people of this State, especially to the poor
and frendiess, and that those into whose lap
the Almighty hath plentifuiiy showered the
good things fthis life, may be disposed pro-
portionaby 10 do good and communicate !:
That he will shed the best Of his blessings up
on our Judges and Magistrates, upon the Min
listers of Religion, upon our University, and
our Colleges, upon our Schools, and the ris-
ing generation That He will regard with
complacency, and aid by bis providence, all
endeayors to invigorate and eXalt the intel
lectual and moral powers Of man That vice
and irrelgion may be subserted by the pow
er of truth, that the sun Of righteousness may
be light TO the whole earth, and that all
flesh may see the salvation of Con.
And | recommend II to the people to refrain
from all labour and amusements which may
interrupt or be Inconsistent with the solemn
ties of the said day.
Given at the Council Chamber, 10 Boston, this
twenty-ninth day of October. in the year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred
and Seventeen, and in the Forty Second q r
the Independence of the United States of
America.
JOHN BROOKS.
By His Ercellency The Governor ieiM odrice and
consent Of Council.