Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-11-11
Thanksgiving DAY NOVEMBER "a.
President Roosevelt issues Formal Procla'
nation.

Washington, D. c. (SpeciaD.-lhe
President issued the Thanksgiving
Day proclamation, setting aside Thurs
day, November "a, ito be observed as
day OF festival and thanksgiving by
all the people of the United States, at
home and abroad"
The proclamation was issued from
the State Department Tuesday alter
noon by Secretary Hay. 1t is as toll
lows:
By the President OF the United
States Of America.
a Proclamation:
1t has pleased Almighty GOD 10
bring the American people in safety
and honor through another year, and
in accordance with the long, unbroE-
EN- custom handed down TO us by our
forefathers, the time has come when
special day shall be set apart in
which to thank Him who holds all
nations in the hollow OF His hand Tor
the mercies thus vouchsafed to us. -.
During the century and quarter OF
our national life we as people have
been blessed beyond all others, and
for this we owe humble and heartfelt
thanks to the Author Of all blessings.
The year that has closed has been
one of peace within our own borders
as we'll as between lis and all other
nations. The harvests have been
abundant, and those who work, wneth-
er with hand or brain, are prospering
greatly. Reward has waited upon hon
est effort. We have been able to do
our duty to ourselves and to others.
Never has there been 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 boast
fulness or vainglory, but with full and
reverent realization that our strength
is as 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
severally 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 in the unending strug-
gle to do our duty fearlessly and hon
cstly, with charity and good will, with
respect for ourselves and with love
toward our fellow-men.
In this great republic the effort to
combine national strength with per-
sonal freedom is being tried on
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. IN
Our land should feel the grave respon-
siblity resting upon him or her, for in
the last analysis this success must de-
pend upon the high average of our
individual citizenship; upon the way
in which each of US does his duty by
himself and his neighbor.
Now, therefore, |, Theodore Roose-
welt, President of the United States,
do hereby appoint and set apart Thurs
day, the twenty-fourth Of this Novem-
Der, to be observed as a day of festi-
val and thanksgiving by all the people
of the United States, at home and
abroad, and to recommend that on
that day they cease from their ordi-
nary occupations and gather in their
several places of worship or in their
homes, devoutly to give thanks unto
Almighty God for the benefits He has
conferred upon us as individuals and
as a 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
first day OF November, in the year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and four, and OF the independence Of
the United States the one hundred and
twenty-ninth.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
By the Presidents:
JOHN HAY,
Secretary Of State