The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1914-11-04
PROCLAMATION BY
PRESIDENT WILSON.
New Advantages for Ameri-
can Nation and Closer
World Ties, by Reason
of War, Referred to
insFixing Thanks
giving Date.

dent Wilson today issued a
proclamation de ignating
Thursday. November 2Gth. as
Thanksgiving Day.
The proclamation, which re
fers to the fact that the United
States is ut peace while the
rest of the world is at war, fol-
lows:
"By the President of the
United States of America:
"a Proclamation
ut has long been honored
custom of our people to turn in
the fruitful autumn of the year
in praise and thanksgiving TO
Almighty God for His many
blessings and mercies to us as a
Nation! The year that is now
drawing to close since we last
observed our day of national
thanksgiving has been, while n
year of discipline because of
the mighty forces of war and
of change which have disturb
ed the world, also a year OF
special blessing for us.
cit has been vouchsafed to
us to remain at peace, with
honor, and in some part To sue
cor the suffering and supply
the needs of those who are in
want. We have been privi-
lodged by our own peace and
self-control in some degree TO
steady the counsels and shape
the hopes and purposes of a day
of fear and distress. Our peo-
pie have looked upon their own
life as Nation with deeper
comprehension, a fuller realiza
ton of their responsibilities as
well as of their blessings, and n
keener sense of the moral and
practical significance of what
their part among the Nations
of the world may come to be.
"The hurtful effects of for
eign war in their own industrial
and commercial affairs have
made them feel the more fully
and see the more clearly their
mutual inter.dependence upon
one another and has stirred
them to helpful co operation,
such as they have seldom prac-
ticed before. They have been
quickened by great moral
stimulation. Their uumistak
able ardor for peace, their ear
nest pity and disinterested sym
patty for those who are suffer.
ing, their readiness to help and
to think of the needs of others,
has revealed to themselves as
well as to the world.
"Onr crops will feed all who
need food; the self-possession
of our people amidst the most
serious anxieties and difficulties
and the steadiness ard resource
fulness of our business men will
serve other Nations as well as
our own.
The business of the country
has been supplied with new in.
strumentalities and the com
merce of the world with new
channels of trade aud inter
course. The Panama canal
has been opened to the com.
inerch of Nations. The two
continents of America have
been bound in closer ties OF
friendship. New instrumental
tiles of International trade have
been created which will also be
new Observation-Disclosures of &C,
quaintance, intercourse and
mutual service. Never before
have the people of the United
States been so situated for their
own advantage or the advan.
tage of their neighbors, or SC
equipped to serve themselves
and mankind.
NOW, therefore, 1, Woodrow
Wilson, President of the United
States of America, do hereby
designate Thursday, the TWEEN
ty. sixth day of November next
as day of thanksgiving and
prayer, and invite the people
throughout the land to cease
from their wonted occupations
and in their several homes and
places Of worship render thanks
to Almighty God