The gold leaf., 1898-11-24
Thanksgiving Proclamation.

lnclQentally, remarked the lEau
with a basket on his arm as he came
INTO the presence Of the editor, Il
might mention the fact that if you
want the finest and fattest 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
TEN Of interest. You may not know,
Notwithstanding an editor knows more
than anybody else on earth, that the
6rst proclamation Of Thanksgiving
Day that is to be found in printed form
S the one issued by Francis Bernard,
Captain-General and Governor-in-
Chief In an over his Majesty's province
of the Massachusetts Bay in New Eng
land, and Vice-Admiral OF the same, in
t767."
The editor admitted that 1t had not
occurred to him previously.
I'm glad I'm giving you something
new" continued the turkey man, "and
compare it with the modern style. 1t
is headed "A Proclamation for Public
Thanksgiving:'
LAS the business Of the year is now
drawing toward a conclusion, we are
reminded, according to the laudable
usage of the Province. to join together
in a grateful acknowledgment Of the
manifold mercies of the Divine Provi-
ience conferred upon Us in the passing
Year: Wherefore, 1 have thought fit to
appoint, and l do, with the advice Of
his Majesty's Council, appoint Thurs
lay, the Third Day Of December next,
20 be a day Of public Thanksgiving,
hat we may thereu2on with one Heart
and Voice return our most Humble
Thanks to Almighty God for the graci-
ous Dispensations of His Providence
since the last religious Anniversary OF
his kind, and especially for-that He
uas been pleased to preserve and main
tain 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 Dominions; that He
hath been pleased to bless and preserve
our gracious Queen Charlotte, their
Royal Highnesses the Prince Of Wales,
the Princess Dowager Of Wales, and all
the Royal family, and by the frequent
ancrease of the Royal Issue to assure US
the Continuation Of the Blessings
which we derive from the Illustrious
House; that He hath been pleased to
prosper the whole British Empire by
the Preservation of Peace, the En-
crease of Trade, and the opening Of
new Sources of National Wealth; and
now particularly that He hath been
pleased to favor the people Of this
Province with healthy and kindly Sea-
sons, and to Bless the Labour Of their
Hands with a Suf1iciency Of the Pro-
duce of the Earth and of the Sea-
/ land l do exhort all Ministers OF
the Gospel with their several Congre-
cations, within this Province, that they
assemble on the said Day in a Solemn
manner to return their most humble
thanks to Almighty God for these and
all other of His Mercies vouchsafed un
to us, and to beseech Him notwith-
standing our Unworthiness, to continue
His gracious Providence over us. And
| command and enjoin all Magistrates
and Civil Officers to see that the said
Day be observed as Day set apart for
religious worship, and that no servile
Labour be performed thereon.
"'Given at the Council Chamber in
Boston the Fourth Day OF November,
1767, in the Eighth Year Of the Reign
Of our Sovereign Lord George the
Third, by the Grace Of God, Of Great
Britain, France, and Ireland, King,
Defender of the Faith, &c.
FRA BERNARD.
by His Excellency's Command.
A. OLIVER, Sec'ry.
"'God Save The King
Remember what 1 told you about
the place for Thanksgiving turkeys"
said the turkey man, laying the paper
on the desk and walking out.