Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1898 — Thanksgiving Proclamation and Peace Jubilee. [ARTICLE]

Thanksgiving Proclamation and Peace Jubilee.

The approaching November brings to mind the custom of our ancestors, hallowed by time and rooted in our most sacred traditions, of giving thanks to Almigety God for all the blessings he has vouchsafed to us during the last year. Few years in our history have afforded such cause for thanksgiving. We have been blessed by abundant harvests, our trade and commerce have been wonderfully increased, our public credit has been improved and •strengthened, all sections of our common country have been brought together and knitted into closer bonds of national purpose and unity. The skies have been for a time darkened by the cloud of war, but as we were compelled to take up the sword in the cause of humanity we are permitted to rejoice that the conflict has been of brief duration and the loses we have had to mourn thongh grievous and important, have been so few, considering the great result*? accomplished, as to inspire us with gratitude and praise to the Lord of Hosts. We may laud and magnify his holy name that the cessation of hostilities came so soon as to spare both sides the countless sorrows and disasters that attend protracted war. I do therefore invite all my fellow citizens, as well those at home as those who may be at sea or sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe Thursday, the 24th day of November, as a day of national thanksgiving to come together in their several places of worship for a service of praise and thanks to Almighty God for all the blessings of the year, for the mildness of the seasons and the fruitfulness of the soil, for the continued prosperity of the people, for the devotion and valor of our countrymen, for the glory of our victory and the hope of a righteous peace, and to pray that the divine guidance which has brought us heretofore to safety and honor may be oraHoudy rnntinnpd in the vp3’" c tn come. O w

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

By the President: John Hay, Secretary of State.