The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-30
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1899.
THANKSGIVING DAY.

| This is Thanksgiving day. not of the
old time, perhaps, with all of its orig
inal religious character, but retaining
still many of the old features of the
| festival with all the attendant circum-
stances of gratitude and prayer.
One has much to be thankful for in
this age of combinations that has
seemed to secure almost everything in
sight. Wonderful to say, there is no
/ turkey trust to keep up the price de-
spite the abundance of birds, and it
will be a poor family indeed that can
not afford turkey this Thanksgiving
day.
We have especial reason for gratitude
in the splendid industrial prosperity
which this republic is now enjoying,
the large number now employed, and
the great activity of public and private
charities. That man, woman or child
who goes hungry within the limits of
! Worcester today must be one who has
no mouth with which to ask for what
the stomach Graves.
| While the tenderest love and sym
pathy of the people will go out in a
heartfelt godspeed to victory and peace
for the thousands of brave soldier BOYS
who are fighting under the stars and
stripes, away off on the other side of
the world, we have reason to be thank
full for the success of our arms upon
sea and land in the year that has gone.
The American soldier of today, and
that includes the soldier that Worces-
ter has produced has demonstrated
under the most adverse circumstances
of war that he is the peer of any SOL
der of the world, that he still retains
the same love of country, the same
deathless courage and the same fight
ing ability that characterized his an
cestors all the way from Lexington to
Appomatox. In that alone there is
cause for joyful thanksgiving.
Each recurring Thanksgiving day on
ly marks the more the sincerity of the
people in maintaining the institution
with the same love and reverence that
marked its inception in 1777, during the
I
lamation of that time. comparatively
unknown to the average student of
American history, is a document of
historic value and Importance. 1t is a
model of excellent English and Illus
trates strong fervor of religious senti-
ment. 1t reads
For inasmuch as it is the duty of
all men to adore the superintending
providence of almighty God, to ac-
knowledge with gratitude their obliga-
tons for benefits received, and to i'm
plore such further blessings as they
stand in need of; and it having pleased
MIN in his abundant mercy, not only TO
| continue to us the many bounties of his
common providence, but also to smile
upon us in the prosecution of Just and
necessary war, for the defense and es-
Establishment of our rights and liberties;
| particularly in that he has been
pleased in so great a measure to pros
| per the means used for the support of
| our troops, and to crown our arms with
| the most signal victory. 1t is therefore
| recommended to the legislatures, or ex-
ecutive powers of these United States.
| to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of
December next, for solemn thanksgiv-
ing and praise, that with one heart and
| one voice the people of this country
| may express the grateful feelings of
| their hearts, and consecrate themselves
to the service of their benefactor and
| that together with their sincere ae-
| acknowledgements, they may Join in
penitent confession of their sins where
| by they had forfeited. every favor: and
| their humble and earnest supplication
may be that it may please God
through the merits of Jesus Christ
mercifully to forgive and blot them
| out Of remembrance; that it may please
| him graciously to shower his blessings
| on the government of these states re-
! spectively and prosper the public coun-
Gil of the whole United States: to in
| spire our commanders, both by land
! and sea, and all under them, with that
| wisdom and fortitude which may rem
| der them fit instruments under the
/ providence of almighty God, to secure
! for these United States the greatest of
all blessings independence and peace:
! that it may please him to prosper the
| trade and manufactures of the people
and the labor Of the husbandman, that
| our lan1 may yield its increase to take
schools and seminaries of education SO
| necessary for cultivating the principles
| Of true liberty virtue and piety, under
his nurturing hand, and to prosper the
means of religion for the promotion and
! enlargement of that kingdom which
consists of righteousness, peace and
| joy in the Holy Ghost.
May the love and pleasures and pur-
poses o. Thanksgiving day ever be per-
petuated. May each recurring season
| make the world a better and brighter
one in which to live. May it ever mark
the highest exercise of Christian chart
| ty that shall be as wide as the world
itself May today and all Thanksgiving