American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-11-13
NUMBER ii
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
BY JOHN w. GEARY, GOVERNOR.
From sho creation of the world. in ali
ages and climes, it has been customary
to set apart certain days for special reli-
gious observanees This has not always
been influenced by the light of Christian
knowledge, nor by any proper conception
OF the character of that Great Being'' Who
ruleth the earth in righteous ness" and
''who daily loadeth with his benifts,'
but by an innate sense of tie existence
of an over-ruling Power, by which the
world aud all it cantains are governed
and controlled. Aided by the cultivated
reason, and the teaching of Divine revel.
alton, we, however are taught to recog-
nize In that Supreme Ruler Heavenly
Eather, to whom we are indebted for
existence and all the blessings We enjoy,
and to whome we owe constant and fer
vent thanksgiving and prais 1t is he who
''visiteth the sarth and watersth it :" who
"setteth the burrows and blesseth the
springings thereof" who "erowneth the
with his goodness, and whose paths drop
fatness y who "clotheth the pastures with
focks, and covereth the valleys with corn
who 'maketh the out. goings of the
morning to rejoice" who ''is our refuge
and strength )" who maketh wars to
cease, ana 'saveth us from our euemies;"
whose "throne is for ever and ever, and
who "blesseth the nations whose God is
the Lord" .......
On all sides we have increased assus
rance Of the glowing kindness" of an ALL
wise Parent of Good, who has conducted
our nation through long and terrible
war, and premited our people to rposes
once more in saftey, "withot any to modest
thcm or to make them afraid" The mon.
strous sentiment Of disunon is no longer
tolerated. The Flag of the Union, and
the Constitution are esteemed as the safe
guards of the rights and liberties of the
people, and are revered and defended as
the ark of their political safety.
A kind Providence has not grown
weary of supporting Our continues wants.
A bounteous harvest has rewarded the
labors of the husbandman Flocks and
herds are scattered in countless numbers
over our valleys end hills Commerce
is uninterrupted, and vessels laden with
the products of nature and Of art, speed
unmolested, over the traokless deeps.-
Neither pestilence, famine, political or
social evils, financial embarassments or
commercial distress have been promited
to stay the progress and happiness Of the
people of this great Commonwealth but
peace health, education, morality, relig-
giOn,, social improvement and refinement
with their attendant blessings, have dlled
the cup Of enjoyment and comfort to over
flowing. .a
Recognizing our re sponsiblity to Him
who controls the destiny, of nations as
well as individuals, and "from whom
cometh every good and perfect gift" and
to whome we are deeply indebted for all
these and the richer blessings OF our
common Christianity, let us unltodly
give our most devoted gratitude and
hearty thanksgiving.
/, therefore recommend tnat Thursday
the 2Sth day of November next, be set
apart as day of praise and thanksgiv-
ing, that all secular and worldly business
be suspended, and the people assembled
in their various places of worship to ac..
knowledge their gratitude, and offer up
prayers for continuance Of Divine fa-
| vor. bra
Given under my hand and the Great Seal
of the State, at Harrisburgh, this thir-
ty,frst day of October, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eiget hundred
and sixtySseven, and of the Common
wealth the ninety~seccond it.+
JNO. w. GEARY.
By the Governor;
f. JORDAN, Secretary of State.