The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-11-16
AMERICA GIVEN
OPPORTUNITY To
SERVE MANKIND
Should Thank God for
Blessings Greater Than
Mere Peace Of Mind.
PROCLAMATION IS ISSUED
BY PRESIDENT WILSON

WASHINGTON. November Pres
ident Wilson issued tonight his 1917
Thanksgiving proclamation. calling up
on the nation. even IN the midst vi tie
horror and great peril of a world shaken
i'y War. to thank tiod Tor blr..ings that
are H. tier than mere p-.s- oi mind and
prosperity oi ~nt-rprl.~-. The procls-
m~t'"n. liking Thursday. November ~.
~ Thanksgiving bay. follows
Thanksgiving. 1919.
''hy the President of the tnitsd STAT.
Of America:
"A fkOOI.AM ALTON.
1T has been the honorci custom of
our Irople to turn in the fruitful autumn
oi ti'e year Ia prHis- ami thanksgiving 70
Almighty ''od for his many blessing.
and nercIes to - . nation. That cus-
tom Nc can follow even IN the nidss of
tragedy oi = world shaken 10y var and
unreasonable disaster. in the u,,si-s OF
sorro~ and great peril. tecauss even
amidst ,he darkness that has xathsr,d
about us. we can sss the great btsssanm
God has bestowed upon us. blessings thss
are bsttsr than mere pescs OF Inind and
prosperity OF sntsrpriss.
We have been gwen the opportunity
"a serve mankind =. We once served our
s~lve- IN the day oi our Declaration of
Independence, by taking up arms sxainss
= u rsnny that threatened ~ nssssr and
tiet,n~S- fs...u rVerv "A l..rs .,.l ,.....- -.
other iroc people ia demanding for eli
tile nations OF the world what We than
demanded and obtained for Ourselves.
I'm tins day VI the revelation OF our
duty not only a. defend our own rishta
~ nation, but % defend aIso shs
right. Of free men throughout ths world.
there hz. i,een vouchssfsd us in full and
inspiring measure tile rssalusion and
spirit OF united action. We have b<.o
brought "a one mind and porposs.
new vigor of common counsel and COM
mon scuon has bscn revealed in ". We
should especially thank God that in such
circumstances. In tie midst Of ths sr~as-
est cnts'prise the spirits OF msn have sv-
er entered upon. We have, IL We bot OH
serve sa.sonsble aud practicable econ
omy, abundance with which % snppiv
the nsesis OF those sssocistsd with us A
veil our own
"A new light shines about M Tn.
great duties Of . day awaken . new and
Greater national spirit In us. We shaIi
never again ic divided or wonder what
stuh 40 are male of.
"And:~hile ~e renderjthanks for ths,s
things, let ne pray Almighty God thss In
all humbiene-. Of spirit ~s may look a.
~sys 10 him for guidapcs: thss
Ne may b~ kept constant in the spiris
and purPo-e Of service. that by his sracs
our minis may lie directed and our
hands strengthened. and that in his GOOD
time liberty and serurity and pescs and
tie cO'urs'iesiIip Of . common iussios
may ~ vOuch-.iei u all tire nssions Of
the earth.
Therefore, ], Woodro~ Wilson. pre-
ident Of the nitsd Stste~ 81 An~rscs.
10 hereby designate Thursday. the .ysh
day Of November. next. - . day Of
Thanksgiving and prayer. and invite the
pople throughOut the land 10 css.s
upon that day from .iisir ordinary occu-
Dstions and IN their several botnes and
''isoes Oi worship % render thanks 20
God. the great ruler Of nations.
In witness whereof have hsrsunto
-et my hand and caused the sesl Of shs
United states 10 he snixed
Done IN tie District oi Columbia.
the 'th day ot November, In tie year Of
Our Lord. 1917. and u the Indspsndsncs
OF tie JnItei Of Americs the l4zd.
WOODROW WILSON.
BY the President,
ROBERT LANSING.