Courier Democrat., 1918-05-16
President Sets May 80 For Public
Humiliation, Fasting and
Prayer. -.
WANTS SPEEDY PEACE
Protestant Churches Will Prepare
Common Service Program and
Catholic Churches Will Issue
Message to Parishioners.

Washington, May l4.-President
Wilson designates Thursday, May 80.
as Memorial day in proclamation
issued as a day of public humiliation,
prayer and fasting.
The people of the nation are asked
to gather in that day in their places
of worship and pray for the victory
of the American arms which will
bring a peace founded upon mercy,
justice and good will.
The proclamation, issued in re.
sponse to resolution by. Congress.
follows:
"By the President of the United States
A Proclamation.
whereas, the Congress Of the Unit.
ed States on the second day of April
last, passed the following resolutions:
Resolved, by the Senate (the
House of Representative concurring)
that it being duty peculiarly incum.
bent In time of war humbly and
devoutly to acknowledge our depend
ence on Almighty God and to implore
His aid and protection, the President
of the United States be and he is
hereby respe ctfully requested to rec
ommend a day of public humiliation,
prayer and fasting, to be observed by
the people of the United States with
religious solemnity and the offer Of
fervent supplications to Almighty God
for the safety and welfare of OUT
cause, His blessings or cur arms and
speedy restoration of an honorable and
lasting peace to the nations of the
earth:
"And whereas. 1t has always been
the reverent habit of the people of
the United States to turn In humble
appeal to Almighty God for his guild.
ance in the affairs of their common
life,
Nov. therefore, I, Woodrow Will
son, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim Thurs.
day, the thirtieth day of May, day
already freighted with sacred and
stimulating memories, day: Of public
humiliation, prayer and fasting, and
do exhort my fellow citizens of all
faiths and creeds to assemble on that
day in their places Of worship and
there, as we'll as in their homes, to
pray Almighty God tha He may for.
give our sins and shortcomings as
a people, and purify our hearts to see
and love the truth, to accept and de-
fend all things just and right, and
to purpose only those righteous acts
and judgments which are in conform
ity with His will, beseeching Him
tha He will give victory to our armies
as they fight for freedom, wisdom to
those who take counsel on our behalf
in these days of dark struggle and
perplexity and steadfastness to our
people to make sacrifice to the utmost
support Of what is just and true
bringing US at last the peace in which
mems hearts can be at rest because
it is founded upon mercy, justice and
good will.
"1n witness whereof have hereuntc
set my hand and caused the seal o1
the United States to be affixed
Done in the District of Columbia
this eleventh day of May in the year
of our Lord nineteen hundred an6
eighteen and Of the independence o.
the United States, the one hundred
and forty-second.
WOODROW WILSON,.
'By the President:
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State"
The Federal council of the Church
es Of Christ in America, the genera
:ecretary, the Rev. Charles S. Mac
Farland, announced would contribute
to carrying out the Presidents proc
lamation by preparing a common
program for all Protestant churche
for use on Memorial day. The Rom
an Catholic churches will issue
message to their parishioners.
TEUTS. H0l n Rl!SS n0WAGEI