The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1917-11-15
Thanksgiving Proclamation
-RX- <f41%s H. "A
President of the United States

Washington, Nov. 8-President Wilson last night issued his 1917
Thanksgiving proclamation, calling on the nation, even in the midst
of the sorrow and great peril Of a world shaken by wal, to thank God
for the blessings that are better than mere peace of mind and prosper
iy Of enterprise.
The proclamation. fixing Thursday. Nov goth a q THANKSGIVING
day, follows:
"By the President of the United States of America:
"A
ut has long been the 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. That
custom we can follow now, even in the midst Of the tragedy of a
world shaken by war and unreasonable disaster; in the midst Of sor-
row and great peril, because even amidst the darkness that has gath
cred about us we can see the great blessing God has bestowed upon
u.s. blessings that are better than mere peace Of mind and prosperity
of enterprise.
TO SERVE MANKIND.
eve have been given the opportunity to serve mankind as we
once served ourselves in the great day of our Declaration of indie
pendence, by taking up arms against a tyranny that threatened r.
master and debase men everywhere, and joining with other free peo-
pies in demanding for all the nations of the world what we then de-
manded and obtained for ourselves, In this dav If the reve,atio - I.
our duty, not only to defend our own rights as a nation, but to defend
also the rights of free men turnout the world, thre has been vouch-
united action. We have been brought to one mnd and purpose. A
new vgor of common counsel and common action has been revealed
in us. We should especially thank GOD that in such circumstances,
in the midst of the greatest enterprise the spirits of men have eve
entered upon, we have, if we but observe a reasonable and practica-
BILE economy, abundance with which to supply the needs of those as
ISOLATED with us, az well as our own. A new light shines about us.
The great duties of a day awaken a new and greater national spirit
in rs. We shall never again be divided or wonder what stuff we are
made of.
LOOK FOR GUIDANCE.
"And while we render thanks for these things, let us pray Almighty
God that in all humbleness of spirit we may look always to Him for
guidance; that we may be kept constant in the spirit and purpose Of
service; that by His grace our minds may be directed and our hands
strengthened, and that in His good time liberty and security and peace
and the comradeshp of a common justice be vouchsafed all the nations
of the world.
Wherefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States Of
America do hereby designate Thursday, the twenty ninth day Of Nov
ember next, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, and invite the peo-
pie throughout the land to cease upon that day from their ordinary oc-
equations and in their several homes and places Of worship to render
thanks to God, the Great Ruler Of Nations.
"n witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done in the District of Columbia, this 9TH day of November, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, and Of the
independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and
fortysecond. WOODROW WILSON.
by the President.
ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State"