The Lexington advertiser., 1904-11-24
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION.
mississippi Executive Issues Remark.
able THANKSGIVING Proclamation.

monwealth, the seasons have been
propitious, and most bounteously has
the soil responded to tt1 sturdy stroke
of the honest husbardman. In all the
walks of life, among all classes of our
people, in every department Of COM
merce and trade, there Is an air Of
thrift, an expression of satisfaction,
| produced by the consciousness of
Plenty. While the real greatness of
a State or a people is nc: determined
| by the measure of material riches
full bins and boarded gold-bu. rather
by the moral and intellectual quail
ties OF its men and women, yet ma
terial riches are an essential element
| in the process of the development of
the perfect man. The exaltatlon OF
the Ideal-the reaching up after the
perfect-unfailing courage of convic.
ton, and a steadfast purpose to do
right, are the splendid fruit of the
highest civilization. To be thankful
for those qualities, and grateful for
that condition which bless our ma.
terial existence, is beautifully "in &C.
cord with the eternal fitness of
things" Gratitude for favors re-
ceived is payment to the Giver, in the
priceless currency of the human heart
the highest tribute of the soul.
1t is well, therefore, for a people
SO abundantly blessed as the people
of Mississippi have been, to step aside
from the crowded and dusty highway
nf "a Nd ha oh 40 ~
Peace and Prosperity to spend one
day in profound contemplation Of
their indebtedness to the great God
Of the Universe, and to make public
acknowledgement of His infinite good.
ness to them.
Therefore, I, James K. Vardaman,
governor of the State of Mississippi,
do hereby designate and set apart
Thursday, the oath day of November
instant, as a day of thanksgiving and
prayer, and do invoke the observance
of the same by all the people of the
State. On that dav let all secular
business be suspended and let the
people assemble in their usual places
of worship, and with prayer and songs
Of praise deyoutly testify their graft |
tude to the Giver of Every Good and |
Perfect Gift, for all that He has done |
for us in the year that has passed.
for our exemption from the scourge |
Of pestilence, and our deliverance |
from riots and internal disorders, |
which have afflicted other sections |
OF our common country, Grave prob |
lens confront the people of Missis- |
sippi, together with most of the other |
Southern States of this republic; and |
prescribed as they are in dealing with |
such problems by the organic law Of |
the Nation, which law may be en-
foced by an unfriendly hand, 1t will
call for wisdom, courage and patriot
ism Of the highest order to meet the
difficulties and solve them. The right |
thing must be done, but it must be
done at the right time. Often, fear,
will the provocation to deeds of in
discretion be great, but let us remem'
Der that "he that is slow to wrath is l.
of great understanding; but he that
Is hasty of spirit exalteth folly" With
hearts burdened with the great re-
sponsibility of the Present, upon
which Is grated the future, pregnant
with vital interests to our people, let
Us earnestly invoke the counsel of
Him who has promised ''To give light
to them that sit in darkness, and in
the shadow of death, and guide our
feet unto the way of Peace"
And let there also be on the day
thus set apart a reunion of families
and chastened by tender
memories and associations; and let
the social intercourse of friends with
pleasant "reminiscences renew the ties
Of affection and strengthen the, bonds
of kindly feelings"
And while We enjoy the good things
Of the world-the fruits of judicious
toll and prudent living-and give
thanks for the same, be sure that we
do not forget that truly grateful
hearts are inclined to deeds of charity
and love. In the great bank of eter.
nifty, believe, the largest credit will
be given to him who has contributed
most to the sum of human joy-who
has planted a flower in the fainting
heart of despair and kissed it with
The sunshine of hope; and who has
painted the palid cheek of care with
>AS kooc Vi hCdllh anu hdppiuSSS. lIct |
Is therefore remember the poor with
our substance 1t will enhance the
pleasure Of our own condition and
'ender our praise and thanksgiving
more acceptable in the sight of the
Lord.
Done at the capital, in the City OF
Jackson, Mississippi, this the 14th
lay of November, in the year of our
Lord, 1904. 4
In testimony whereof I have here
into. set my hand and caused the
,reat seat of the State of Mississippi
o be affixed.
BY the governor.
JAMES K VARDAMAN.
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