Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-24
ruE NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
n..ns,ns ssss day ssr ssas Purpose

IL has pleased Almighty Coz 10 prolong our
national life another year. defending us with HE
suardiau care against unfrienjly designs from
abroad. and voachssfng to us in Ills mercy many
and signal victories over the enemy. who Is OF
our osn household. IL has also pleased our
Heavenly Father TO favor as veil our citizens in
their homes az our soldiers in their camps, and
oar sailors on the rivers and seas. with unusual
health he has largely augmented our free pop
ulation BY emancipation and by our immigration,
while he has opened 70 Us new sources of wealth,
and has crowned the ssbor Of our working men
In every department of industry with abundant
reward Moreover He has been pleased TO ani
mate and inspire our minds and hearts with iortt
tude. courage. and resolution sufficient Tor the
great trial Of civil war into which We have beea
brought by our adherence nation % the
Cause OF freedom and humanity. and TO afford 70
us reasonable hopes Of an ultimate and happy de.
liverance from all our dangers and Affections
Nov, therefore, L, Abraham Lincoln. Presi
dent Of the United State-. DO hereby appoint and
set apart the last Thursday in November next.
as q day which 1 desire to he observed by all my
fellow citizens. wherever they may then be. as a
dsy Of thanksgiving and prayer 70 Almighty
God the bene6ceut Creator and Ruler Of the
universe: and LIDO further recommend 70 my Eel
fow-citzens aforesaid that on that occasion they
do reverently humble themselves in the dust,
and from thence offer up penitent and iervent
prayers and supplica,Ons TO the Great Disposer
OF events for a return oftbe inestmable blessings
OF peace. union. and harmony throughout the
laDd. which it has pleased Him 10 assign as a
dwelling place for ourselves and our posteTity
throughout ali generations
In testimony whereof have hereunto set nv
hand aud caused the seal OF the United States TO
be affixed.
Done az the City o. Washington, this Goth
day of October, in the year of our Lord. lsb4
and of the Independence 81 he United State
the eighty ninth.
VIZ II SEWARD. Secretary OF State.
This day will be generally observed through
on ali the States adberng TO the Union, rs
satiossi boiydsy. Ao-t appropriate u IL that
day should be thas set apart annually to recog
nize. as people. an overriding Providence. anc
TO offer the trlbnte Of grateful hearts for th'
blessings He has vouchsafed TO VI. We have
much TO be thankful for Our lives have beer
spared seed time and harvest have not isile'
us. and we have not been visited with pestilenc
of pressiling disease God has indeed been goo
20 rs Although sflliction has been the lot o
many a household through its agency, We hav
not felt otherwise the desdlating evils OF wal
The b!ightening curse Of civil strife has 10
rested within our borders. Our fields and home
have not been laid waste our families have no
been beggared and forced to seek refuge anon
.trangers Who can look upon his family to
day ia health and comfort and not offer III
prayer OF a grateful heart to the Giver of nj
good that his wife and little ones havo bee
spared these terrible calami,ies. which tens @
al. a. f.af ~.
brated this iestivall And Why hav
we escaped these evils Are we better or mor
deserving than those vino have thus suffered
Not with the pride of the Pharisee should "
thank God we are not they. but with the hr
miIity of the publican rather should we exclaim
God be mercifuI 10 US. sinners
That mercy to others show
That mercy show Z
On last Thanksgiving day Ne uttered the sir
cere desire that this anniv ersary should
peace might bless the land" Peace on cart
and good will to~ard man" But dcsolatng W.
continues with increased intensity What da
of thanksgiving and rejoicing. JOY unspeakabl
this would be il the un,a;ur.l strife in our hous
hold had ceased Con grant that il may ere ii
return OF another Thanksgiving day
Were half the power that fills the world with terror.
Were half the wealth bestowed camps and courts
Given redeem the human mind from error,
There were no need Of arsenals and forts"
While the incense Of praise and thanksgivir
asceDds from grateful hearts for blessings il
Vulnerable. received during the past year. q
poor and destitute should no; be iorgotte
There are thousands OF families throughout Il
State whom the war has IMPOVERISHED Tn,
should have our sympathy. not only la word
but in deeds of kindness. God loveth a cheerf
giver. And he that giveth to the poor lende
TO the Lord