Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-12

-By His EresHeney
j HIN A. ANDREW, oVEENoR

n EhpSA4 n W AK ION
For Day Of Public THANKSGIVING and Praise
BY the advice and consent of the council do
hereby appoint THURSDAY. the 18th day OF No.
vember next, to be observed by the people of Mas
saehusctts, as a day of public thanksgiving and
praise. And respectfully but earnestly eNhort all
the people of this commonwealth, whom this proc.
lRmation shall reach, wherever they may be- wheth.
or ON sea or land within our Quiet borders or abroad
On distant fields of war. to consecrate that day in
the sight of Almighty God, Heavenly Father
10y heartfelt works of charity, by deyout thanksgv
ing, and by joyful praise. 20 go your way into
his gates with thanksgiving and into Ills courts with
praise; be thankful unto him and speak good of his
name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is ever
lssngn
For all the innrmerabc mercies, for the inliui-
tude of blessings, by which the year has been
crowuedj for health and prosperous industry, for
peaceful homes, for waving fields of grain, for har-
vests rich with all the food OF man, for all the boun
ties of the sea, the wealth of mines, the skill and
thrift OF every handicat Tor the great agencies Of
| Nature herself, working as kindly helpers to the
hands OF men, and for all the fruits of their gigantic
toll; for intellectual activity and moral life; for
every gilt aud fruit of reason OF conscience and
| gion, bless We the Lord and him only praise him
| and magnify him forever.
Let us Ieverently contemplate the wonderful
providence which has led and guided lhe hearts and
minds OF the people, and is shaping and working
out the destiny OF the nation Even in time of war
wearS rejoicing in the growth Of the arts OF peace.
Subjected to the temptations and demorali2lng III
tuence vet the virtues of ObeaTance, patience and
charity are daily illustrating the social life OF our
people no less couspicuousy than their loyal pAtri-
ousm. Side by side with the march of armies, and
the destructive engines of war, move the messtn'
gers of love, with every solace for the body or the
| mind, to soften the soldiers lot alleviate the
| travail OF mortality Sometimes slowly, and with
| hestatng tide, but always surely; sometimes with
recediug eddy, but always AN Undercurreut OF
steady and majestic power has been borne the sym,
Dol of our nationality. The moral sight has been
quickened duty has grown clearer TO the mind. and
faith has grown in the heart, the revelations OF
trial and the discipline OF great suffering have
done their appointed work.
Blending the temper of forgiveness with an I'M
fnching integrity of purpose; weeping with the
bereayed who mourn the beauty of our Israel slain
upon our high places; but catching the sublime
spirit of those who have sealed therteStimony with
their blood. may fail mot to impore on this, our
annual festival, strength from above TO exercise our
selves also in every heroic virtue for the vndcatior
of right and the overthrow OF wrong.
Let us trust that peace shall soon return 70 oul
borders. and union OF hearts and hands revive Oh
the ruins of that injustice and inhumanity which
bred our sorrows when all the inhabitants of the
land will unite to sing, blessed be the Lord Goo
, of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his
people"
Given at the council chamber, in Boston, this first
day of October, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and sixty three and the eighty-eighih OF
the Independence of the United States of America
JOHN A ANDREW
BY his excellency the governor, with the advise
Of the council
OLIVER WARNER, Secretary.
God Sare the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts,.