The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-10-01
A Nation on its Knees

Europe a charnel house; and this al
the instance Of the president, as sci
forth in the following proclamation;
Whereas, great nations Of the
world have taken up arms against one
another, and war now draws millions
OF men into battle whom the counsel
OF statesmen has not been able 10 save
from the terrible sacrifice; and,
Whereas, in this as in ell things,
it is our privilege and duty to seek
counsel and succor Of Almighty God,
humbling ourselves before Him, con-
tossing our weakness and our lack Of
any wisdom equal to these things; and,
Whereas, it is the especial wish
and longing Of the people Of the Uni
ted States in prayer and council and
all friendless, to serve the cause Of
peace;
Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson,
President Of the United States Of
America, do designate Sunday, the 4th
day Of October next, dag Of prayer
and supplication, and do request all
God'fearing persons to repair on that
day to their places Of worship, there TO
unite their petitions TO Almighty God,
that, overriding the counsel Of men,
setting straight the things they can not
govern or alter, taking pity on the
nations now in the throes Of conflict,
in His mercy and goodndss showing a
way where men can see none, He
vouchsaie His children healing peace
again and restore once more that
concord among men and nations
without which there can be neither
happiness, nor true friendship, nor any
wholesome fruit OF toll CT thought in
the world: praying also to this end that
He forgive US our sins, onr ignorance
Of His holy will, our willfulness and
many errors, and lead US in the pats Of
obedience to places Of vision and TO
thoughts and counSels that purge and
make wise.
In witness thereof, l have hereun-
to set my hand and caused the seal Of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City OF Washington. !
this 9th day Of September, in the
year Of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and fourteen, and OF the in
dependence OF the United States Of
America the one hundred and thirtp' |
ninth.
Woodrow Wilson.
BY the Presidents;
VIM. Jennings Bryan,
Secretary Of State"
The President does not ask to pray
for victory for either side in this
conflict, but TO beseech the Lord Of
battles to "overule the counsels Of
men" and to show a way where men
see none" and TO restore once more
that concord among men and nations
without which there can be neither
happiness or true friendship, nor any
wholesome fruit OF toll or thought in
the world" At the same time pray
ing for forgiveness Of our sins, our
ignorance OF His holy will, our williul-
ness, and many erors," and at the
same time asking for vision and
thoughts aud counsel that purge and
make wise"
This proclamation expresses the
deep conviction Of the President that,
Notwithstanding the gross materialism
Of some and the rank infidelity OF 9th
ers, after all God reigns and rules in
this world, and can and will ovenule
the ccunsels Of evil men and bring %
confusion the counsels OF the wicked.
In this he but echoes the voice Of
the ancient psalmists, seers and pro
phets; and his conviction is shared ty
the majority Of the people Of tie
United States.
1t means more than this: that our
God is God who can be approached
by petition Father, who will hear the
prayers Of His children; not, as so
many affirm until they get into real
trouble, a blind force in nature, re-
morseless Law, but a living being
who is working out both through war
and peace the great problem Of ul-
innate human warfare. Anything
short Of this, whether in belief or ne
CATION, leads necessarily to life Of
despair. The prayers Of the people en-
October 4th will be but the modem
voicing Of ancient Israel: Arise o
Lord. and let thine enemies be scat.