The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-23
DAY FOR THANKSGIVING
President Roosevelt Issues the An.
nual Proclamation of Gratitude.
Thursday, the Twenty-fourth of November
Is Set Aide as a Day of Worship
The Message in Full.

Washington. D. C.-The President is.
sued tho Thanksgiving Day proclama-
ton, setting aside Thursday, November
q, "to be observed rs q day Of festival
and thanksgiving by all the people of
the United States, at home and
abroad" The proclamation follows:
at has pleased Almighty God to
bring the American people III safety
and honor through another year, and,
in accordance with the long unbroken
custom handed down to us by our fore
fathers, the time has come when Il
special day shall be set apart i'll which
to thank Him who holds all nations
in the hollow of His hand for the MGR
cies thus vouchsafed to us.
During the century and a quarter
of our National life. we, rs a people,
have been blessed beyond all others,
and for this we owe humble and heart
felt thanks to the Author Of all bless
ings. The year that has closed has
been one of peace within our W
borders as well as between us and all
other nations. The harvests have been
abundant, and those who work, wheth-
er with hand or brain, are prospecting
greatly. Reward has waited upon hon
est effort. We have been enabled to do
u duty to ourselves and to others.
Never has there been Il time when
religious and charitable effort has been
more evident. Much has been given
to us and much will be expected from
us. We speak of what has been done
by this Nation in no spirit Of boastful-
ness or 'vainglory. but with full and
reverent realization that our strength
is rs nothing unless we are helped
from above. Hitherto we have been
given the heart and the strength to do
the tasks allotted to us as they sever
ally arose. We are thankful for all
that has been done for us in the past.
and we pray that in the future we
may be strengthened i'll the unending
struggle to do u duty fearlessiy and
honestly, with charity and good will,
with respect for ourselves and love
toward our fellow men.
"In this great Republic. the effort to
combine National strength with per-
sonal freedom is being tried OIL Il
scale more gigantic than ever before
in the worlds history. Our success
will mean much, not only for our
selves, but for the future of all man
kind, and every man Or woman i'll Il
land should feel the grave resporsi.
bility resting upon him Or her. for III
the last analysis this success must de.
pend upon the high average of u in.
dividual citizenship, upon the way i'll
which each of us does his duty by him.
self and his neighbor.
Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosc-
Welt, President Of the United States.
do hereby appoint and set apart Thurs
day, the 9th day of this November, to
be observed as a day Of festival and
thanksgiving by all the people Of the
United States, at home or abroad, and
do recommend that OH that day they
cease from their ordinary occupations
and gather in their several places CT
worship or in their homes, devoutly
to give thanks unto Almighty God for
the benefits He has conferred upon
us as individuals and as q Nation, and
to beseech Him that in the future His
divine favor may be continued to us.
In witness whereof have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal OF
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City Of Washington,
this LIST day of November. in the year
of our Lord one thousand nine hun
dred and four. and Of the independ-
ence of the United Suites the one hun
dred and twenty-ninth.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"By the President.
JOHN HAY,
"SccretGrY Of State