Middletown transcript., 1915-10-30
WILSON SAYS j. S.
HAS BEEN BLESSED
Points Out MerCIes Of PrOvi-
dence.
THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER rs
Names November Is As Day Of Prayer
and Pralse-Asserts Nation Should
Rejoice Because Of Year
Of Peace.

SnluBLOn.-FreSlQenJ WILSON III
proclamation designating Thursday,
November rs, as Thanksgiving Day.
called attention to the fact that the
United States has been at peace while
most Of Europe has been at war.
I'VE have been able to assert our
rights and the rights of mankind with
out breach of friendship with the great
nations with whom we have had to
DEAL" said the President.
The text follows:
ut has long been the honored GUS
tom of our people to turn in the fruit
full autumn Of the year in praise and
thanksgiving to Almighty God for His
many blessings and mercies to us as
nation. The year that is now drawing
to a close since we last observed our
day of National Thanksgiving has
been, while year Of discipline because
Of the mighty forces of war and of
changes which have disturbed the
world, year Of special blessing for us.
Another year Of peace has been
vOuchsafed US; another year in which
not only to take thought of our duty
to ourselves and to mankind, but also
to adjust ourselves to the many re-
sponsibilities thrust upon us by a war
which has involved almost the whole
Of Europe. We have been able to as
sert our rights and the rights of man
kind without breach of friendship with
the great nations with whom we have
had to deal, and while we have assert
ed rights we have been able also to
perform duties and exercise privileges
of succor and helpfulness which should
serve to demonstrate our desire to
make the offices of friendship the
means of truly disinterested and un-
selfish service.
Our ability to serve all who could
avail themselves of our services in the
midst Of crises has been increased, by
a gracious Providence, by more and
more abundant crops; our ample f1nan-
cial resources have enabled US to
steady the markets of the world and
facilitate necessary movements of COM
merce which the war might otherwise
have rendered impossible; and our peo-
pie have come more and more to a
sober realization of the part they have
been called upon to play in a time
when all the world is shaken by un-
paralleled distresses and disasters.
'The extraordinary circumstances
Of such time have been much to
quicken our national consciousness and
deepen and confirm our confidence In
the principles of peace and freedom by
which we have always sought to be
guided. Out Of darkness and perplex
tiles have come firmer counsels OF
policy and clearer perceptions of the
essential welfare of the nation. We
have prospered while other peoples
were at war, but our prosperity has
been vouchsafed us, we believe, only
that we might the better perform the
functions which war rendered 1t i'm
possible for them to perform.
"Now, therefore, l, Woodrow VIII
son, President of the United States o.
America, do hereby designate Thurs
day, the 25th of November next, as {
day Of thanksgiving and prayer, anC
invite the people throughout the lanC
to cease from their wonted occupations
and in their several homes and places
of worship render thanks to Almight,
God.
"In witness whereof l have hereunt,
} set my hand and caused the seal o
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington
, this goth day of October, in the yea
r Of our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and fifteen, and of the independence o
the United States Of America one hun
dred and fortieth.
by the President: Robert Lansing
7 Secretary Of State.
WOODROW WILSON,"