The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-11-06
PROCLAMATION
Speaks of Americas Progress and the
Blessings Bestowed on Our
Country


BY the President OF the United
es-Proclamation:
Once again the season is at hand
when. according to the ancient Gus
tom Of our people, it becomes the du-
ty Of the president to appoint day
Of prayer and of thanksgiving to God.
Year by year this nation grows in
strength and worldly power During
th.a century and a quarter that has
elapsed since our entry into the cir
Gle Of Independent peoples, we have
grown and prospered in material
tEimgs 10 a degree never known be-
fore. and not now known in any 9th
~ country. The thirteen colon es
which struggled along the sea coast
Of The Atlantic, and were hemmed in
hu. a few miles west OF tidewater by
fhe Indian-haunted wilderness, have
Ae-I transformed into the mighuiest
.s,u'Ec which The world has ever
II. It's domains stretch across the
continent from one 10 the other Of
the Two greatest oceans. and it exer-
;aea dominion alike in the arctic and
yopic realms. The growth IN wealth
and population has surpassed even
the growth in territory. Nowhere
else in the world is the average Of in
iividual comfort and material we'll
being as high. as in our fortunate
land.
For the very reason that in ma
Jerial Wellbeing We have thus abound
ed, we owe it to the Almighty to
show equal progress in moral and
spiritual things. With a nation as
with the individuals who make mp a
nation material well-being is an in
dispeEsable foundation But the fOun-
datjon avails nothing by itsef. That
life is wasted, and worse than wasted.
which is spent in piling, heap upon
heap. those things which minister
merely 20 the body and TO the power
that rests only on wealth. Upon ma
terial well-being as a foundation
must be raised the structure of the
lofty life of the spirit. if this nation
IS TO properly fulfill its great mission
and to accomplish all that We so ar
IDENTITY hope and desire The things
OF the body are good; the things Of
the intellect better; but best Of all
are the things of the soul; for. in the
nation. as in the Individual. in the
long run it is character that counts.
Let us, therefore. as a people, set our
faces resolutely against evil. and with
broad charity, with kindIiness and
good will toward all men, but with. IN
determination to smile down
wrong, strive with all the strength
that is given us for righteousness in
public and in private life.
Now, therefore, I. Theodore Roose-
welt, president Of the United States.
do set apart Thursday, the 10Th day
Of November next, as a day of gen
eral thanksgiving and prayer and on
that day I recommend that the people
shall cease from their daily work, and.
in their homes. or in their churches,
meet devOutly to thank the Almighty
for the many and great blessings
they have received in the past. and TO
pray that they may Re given strength
so to order Their lives as to deserve |
a continuation of these blessings in |
the future
ON witnesse whereof, | have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
Of the United States to be affixed.
Done in the city of Washington. !
this 21sJ day Of October, in the year
Of our Lord, 1908. and of tn indie
DeEdence Of the United States the |
l33rd.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
BY the President
"ALVEY A. ADEE.
Acting Secretary of State"