Josiah Begole’s declaration for a day of thanksgiving ran in the Ann Arbor Courier on November 19, 1884.
Garnered sheaves and ripened fruits admonish us that another year, crowned with innumerable blessings, is drawing to a close, and in conformity with a time-honored custom endeared us by hallowed associations, I, Josiah W. Begole, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby appoint Thursday, the 27th day of November as a day of public thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God.
“Thanksgiving day” has come to be regarded as the great annual Sabbath of the nation, when citizens of every race, creed end condition, as well as the wayfarer and sojourner in our gates, may, in their chosen places of worship, at their family altars, or at their firesides, in such way and with such observances as seem to them most fitting, render thanks to the Infinite Source of Good for the blessings of the year.
Let us, therefore, laying aside our ordinary occupations, devote the day to religious and social festivities. Let enmities be forgotten and friendships renewed. With hearts free from passion and all uncharitableness let us return thanks for the mercy which has preserved and the bounty which has sustained us as individuals, and as a nation. Rejoicing that our government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” is cherished by all the states of our glorious Union, let us emulate the virtue of the fathers and secure the continued prosperity of the nation by deserving it.
Let our gratitude find expression not only by religious observance, but also in acts of Christian benevolence. While seated at abundantly supplied tables, loving memories filling the vacant chairs, let us not forget the solitary and the poor. “But to do good and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the state to be fixed at the city of Lansing, this 10th day of November, 1884.
By the Governor,
Josiah W. Begole
