Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-11-26
ROASTS GOVERNOR
ON PR0CL HMATION
FORMER MILWAUKEE, MINISTER
WAKES WROTH AT FAILURE TO
MENTION THE DEITY.
CENSURES STRESS ON TURKEY.
Pastor Tells His Congregation That They
Should Protest Against Public
Dissertation of the Day.
COMPARES OLD DAYS WITH NEW

MADISON, Wis, Nov 22.-[Special.]
-Caustic criticism of the governor S
Thanksgiving proclamation was offered
Sunday morning by Rev. a. A. Ewing
as preface to mis- sermon in Grace Epis-
copal church. He was formerly pastor
of st. Stephens Episcopal church of Mil
waukee.
Holding up the official copy of the
proclamation, Rev. Ewing said: Il have
here little paper, entitled "A Proclama-
ton by the Governor. 1t bears on one
page cut of a turkey. l suppose it was
by oversight that the football was left
off the last page. | am expected to read
it to my congregation and | will read it,
but with chagrin and under protest
Interprets the Document
He then read the proclamation, SEN
tence by sentence, interpreting as he
went to show that it contained a recon-
mendation that the people should be
thankful for material blessing only. Con
corning the governors recommendation
that the usual customs be observed
throughout the day he said, (which
means, l suppose, overeating and a foot
ball game.
The name of God does not appear
once III the proclamation, except In the
purely conventional where it is dated, in
the year OF our Lord, 1909 | do not
know who was responsible for this
document, but it was issued by the Off
clal OF the state. | read it with humili-
alton as citizen of the state of WiScou-
SIN, because the state officials, in the
name OF the state, issued a frivolous and
undignitied document.
L wish, however, TO protest, and to
nave you protest against the public de-
graduation of such a day.
Recalls Earlier Dictums.
Il happen to have been born in a state
Where Thanksgiving day began and |
can recall as mere lad how | was
moved by the governors proclamation.
1t was always impressiyely worded and
the people were called upon to set apart
day of thanksgiving to Almighty God
for the manifold blessings upon the state
and my heart would thrill at the closing
words, God save the commonwealth of
Massachusetts
Il call upon you in addition to all the
carnival spirit that has a proper place
In the day, to keep it first as a day of
general thanksgiving to Almighty God.
ana II the state is afraid to recognize
religion, let US, as Christians, keep alive
the devotlons and gratitude for own own
generation and the generations to fol-
low"
Another Pastors Views.
OSHKOSH. Wis, Nov. 22.-[Special /
KEY Peter L. Stair. pastor of the AL
gonna Street Methodist church. took oc-
casiOn Sunday to protest against the gov
ernor's Thanksgiving proclamation.
which he declared was an atheistic doe
ument. He said the word of God did
not appear in it in any place and the
name of the Diety had been studiously
avoided
He said the proclamation recognized
the providence of nature but failed to
recognize the providence of God.
He also took exception to the state
ment. Il recommend that the usual GUS
toms be observed" and said that might
mean anything from attending church
service or participating in a football
game