Thanksgiving Proclamation (1881)

On November 14, 1881, Mississippi Governor John Marshall Stone issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation for all Mississippians to observe November 24 as a day to “abstain from our accustomed avocations, and assemble in our respective places of worship, there to join in praises to Almighty God for His goodness and mercy, and offer up our prayers for a continuance of His Divine favors.”  This order was in response to Proclamation 252 issued by President Chester Arthur asking citizens to observe November 24 as a day away “from their secular labors and meeting in their several places of worship…”  
The full text of the Mississippi Proclamation reads…

State of Mississippi

Executive Department

THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION.

In view of the manifold blessings which we have enjoyed during the year now drawing to a close, and in devout recognition of Him who has ordered peace, health and happiness to our people, I, J. M. Stone, Governor of the State of Mississippi, do appoint

Thursday, the Twenty-fourth Day of November, inst.,

                  in pursuance of the recommendation of the President of the United States, as a day of

*THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE*

Upon that day let us abstain from our accustomed avocations, and assemble in our respective places of worship, there to join in the praises to Almighty God for His goodness and mercy, and offer up our prayers for a continuance of His Divine favors. 

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my  hand, and caused the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi to be affixed. 
Done at the Executive Office in the City of Jackson, this 14th day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, and of the Independence of the United States, the one hundred and sixth.

By the Governor:
Henry C. Myers                                                                                                             J. M. Stone
Secretary of State

This document can be found in the Mississippi Broadside Collection (AM 97-55).  For more information about this item or Special Collections, contact Jennifer Brannock at or 601.266.4347. To see more Items of the Month, click here.

Text by Jennifer Brannock, Curator of Rare Books and Mississippiana