The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-11-30
DAY OF PRAYER
IS SET ASIDE
Governor Impresses Need of Divine
Guidance in War.

In a proclamation issued Saturday
to the people of Tennessee, Gov. Tom
C. Rye calls for a day of general pray
er, Thursday, November 20, in which
thanks are to be given for the many
providential blessings of the year
1917, and a continuation of divine bles-
sings invoked.
Gov. Rye gives thought to the SOL
diers of this great country battling IN
foreign lands for humanity, civiliza-
ton and Christianity, and asks that
prayers for their protection and safe
ty be offered by the people.
The proclamation for Thanksgiving
day is as follows:
an keeping with a time honored Gus
tom, we are again approaching the
affairs of prayer for the sacred purpose
of returning thanks to Almighty God
for the manifold blessings we have
been permitted to enjoy during the
year Just closing, and at the same time
humbly beseech a continuation of d.
vine favor.
Heretofore, on similar occasions,
we have been permitted to express our
gratitude, thanks and appreciation for
peace and all its attendant blessings,
but today the vacant place in the home
the khaki uniform, the camp and the
casualty list from the front contin-
ally remind US that we must approach
this Thanksgiving day through the
gathering gloom of lowering wal
clouds, with no certain ray of light
harbinger of the day-dawn of peace
to guide our footsteps.
Believing in the justice of our
cause and trusting implicitly in the
wisdom of a Supreme Being, we should
and do count ourselves blessed in be-
ing permitted to contribute to the
cause Of right and justice especially
when such service honors God and
blesses humanity.
"Now, therefore, /, Tom G. Rye, gov
ernor, in accordance with the procla-
nation heretofore issued by the Presi-
dent Of the United States, do hereby
designate Thursday, November 20, as
a day of Thanksgiving and prayer.
"0n this day | trust that all the
people of the commonwealth will re-
frain from the ordinary occupations OF
life, and, in their several homes and
at places of worship, humbly return
grateful thanks to Almighty God for
the many blessings we have been per-
mitted to enjoy during the twelve
months past.
"In particular this service, under
present environment, we must feel and
know that existing conditions demand
even greater sacrifice and more conse-
Grated service than ever before. Let
us, therefore, meet these conditions
with additional evidences. Of onr annre-
citation and greater expressions Of
thanks and gratitude for the blessings
thrust into our lives by the generous
and loving hand of a heavenly Father.
while we are giving expressions Of
our gratitude and thanks for the spir-
it which has induced u sailors and
soldiers to place their lives upon the
affairs of their countryside ~ungrudg-
ing gift of a splendid citizenship to
the cause Of humanity-let us humbly
trust that God, in His infinite mercy
and wisdom will guide, control, watch
over and protect them wherever they
may be and bring them back to us
again when eternal peace sha
reward for the sacrifice IL
service rendered. Let US all pray that
this day be not long deferred, and that
from out the frightening shadows and
gathering gloom of a long, black night
of wal may emerge a citizenship with
loftier ideals and higher and holier
aspirations than we have wei known
before, a citizenship with a vision of
life enlarged and ennobled and sane
titled by the trials and sufferings thru
which we have passed thoroughly i'm
bued with the idea that the father
hood of God and the brotherhood of
man is a worthy creed, and that the
golden rule is a scuf1ient code of laws
for government.
"Given under my hand and seal of
the state, at the capitol in Nashville,
this twenty-third day of November, in
the year Of our Lord, one thousand,
nine hundred and seventeen, and the
independence of the United States
the one hundred and forty-second.
TOM C. RYE, Governor.
'By the Governor:
IKE B. STEVENS,
Secretary of State"