The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-11-24
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THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

Incidentally" remarked the man with
a basket on his arm as he came into the
presence of the New York Sun editor, 81
might mention the fact that if you want
the finest and latest turkey for your
Thanksgiving dinner, my store is the place
to get it; but that is not what am here
for. / came in to bring you an item OF in
terest. You may not know, notwithstand
ing an editor knows more than anybody
else on earth, that the first proclamation
of Thanksgiving day that is to be found in
printed form is the one issued by Francis
Bernard, captain general and governor in
chief in and over his majesty's province
OF the Massachusetts, bay in New England,
and vice admiral of the same, in 1867"
The editor admitted that it had not oc-
CURED to him previously.
I'm glad I'm giving you something new"
continued the turkey man, "and now let me
read it to you SO you may compare it with
the modern style 1t is headed:
"a PROCLAMATION FOR A PUBLIC
THANKSGIVING.
LAS the business of the year is now
drawing toward a conclusion, we are re-
minded, according to the laudable usage of
the Province, to join together In grateful
acknowledgment Of the manifold merciee
of the Divine Providence conferred upon
Us in the passing Year: Wherefore, l have
thought fl. to appoint. and do, with the
advice Of his Majesty's Council, appoint
Thursday, the Third Day of December
next, to be deg Of public Thanksgiving,
that we may thereupon with one Heart and
Voice return our most Humble Thanks to
Almighty God for the gracious DISPENSE
lions of His Providence since the last re-
iigious Anniversary of this kind, and es-
pecially for-that He has been pleased to
preserve and maintain our most gracious
Sovereign, King George, in Health and
Wealth, in Peace and Honor, and to extend
the Blessings of his Government to the re-
hottest part Of his Domlnions that He hath
gracious Queen Charlotte, their Royal
Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Prin-
cess Dowager of Wales, and all the Royal
family, and by the frequent increase OF
the Royal issue to assure us the Continue
ton OF the Blessings which we derive from
that illuStrious House; that He hath beer
pleased to prosper the whole British EN-
plre by the Preservation of Peace, the En-
Sources of National Wealth; and now par.
ticularly that He hath been pleased t
favor the people Of this Province witt
healthy and kindly Seasons, and to bless
the Labour of their Hands with Sufn
cheney of the Produce of the Earth and o.
And I do exhort all Ministers OF thu
Gospel with their several Congregations
within this Province, that they assemble
on the said Day in Solemn manner to re-
turn their most humble thanks TO Almight,
God for these and all other of His Merce
vouchsafed unto us, and to beseech Hin
notwithstanding our Unworthiness. to con
tnue HE gracious Providence over u.s. Ant
/ command and enjoin all Magistrates ant
Civil Officers to see that the said Day b.
observed as Day set apart for religion
worship, and that no servile Labour be per
formed thereon,
Given at the Council Chamber In Bos
ton the Fourth Day of November, 1867, Il
the Eighth Year Of the Reign of our Sow
ereign Lord George the Third, by the Grsc
of God, of Great Britain, France. and Ire
land. King, Defender Of the Faith, SC:
FRA. BERNARD.
by His Excellency's Command.
"A OLIVER. Sec'ry.
"'God Save The King"