The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-11-15
MUCH TO Be THANKFUL
FOR, SAYS COOLIDGE
Two Tragedies Have Darkened
the Year, Harding's Death
and Japan's Catastrophe.

Thanksgiving Day proclamation, says:
BY the President of the United
States of America proclamation:
The American people. from their
earliest days, have observed the wise
custom of acknowledging each year
the bounty with which Divine Frovi-
dence has favored them. In the be-
ginnings, this acknowledgment was a
voluntary return of thanks by the
community for the fruitfulness of the
harvest. Though our mode of life
has been greatly changed, this Gus
tom has always survived. 1t has made
Thanksgiving Day not only one of
the oldest but one of the most char
acteristic observances of our country.
On that day, in home and church, in
family and in public gatherings, the
whole Nation has for generations paid
the tribute due from grateful hearts
for blessings bestowed.
To center our thought in this way
upon the favor which we have been
shown has been altogether wise and
desirable. 1t has given opportunity
justly to balance the good and the evil
which we have experienced In that,
we have never sailed to find reasons
for being grateful to God for gener-
GUS preponderance of the good. Even
in the least propitious times, broad
contemplation of our whole position
has never failed to disclose over
whelming reasons for thankfulness,
Thus viewing our situation, We have
found warrant for a more hopeful and
confident attitude toy ard the future.
In this current year, we now ap-
proach the time which has been &C
cepted by custom as most fitting for
the calm survey of our estate and the
return of thanks We shall the more
keenly realize our good fortune if we
will, in deep sincerity, give to it due
thought, and more especially if we
will compare it 7 h that of any other
community in the world.
The year has brought to our people
two tragic experiences which have
deeply affected them. One was the
death of our beloved President Har-
ding, which has been mourned wher-
ever there is realization of the
worth of high ideals. noble purpose
and unselfish service carried even to
the end of supreme sacrifice. His loss
recalled the Nation to a less saptious
and more charitable attitude. 1t
sobered the whole thought of the
country. A little later came the un-
paraTeled disaster to the friendly peo-
pie of Japan This called forth from
the people of the United States a
demonstration of deep and humane
feeling. 1t was wrought into the sub
stance Of good works. 1t created new
evidences of our international friend
ship which is a guarantee of world
peace. 1t replenished the charitable
impulse of the country.
By experiences such as these, men
and nations are tested and refined.
We have been blessed with much of
material prosperity. We shall be bet
ter able to appreciate it if we remem-
Der the privations others have suf-
fered, and we shall be the more
worthy of it if we use it for their re-
lief We will do well, then, to render
thanks for the root that has come to
us and show by our actions thai we
have become stronger, wiser and
truer by the chastenings which have
been imposed upon US. We will thus
prepare ourselves for the part we
must have in a world which forever
needs the full measure of service. We
have been a most favored people. We
ought to be a mo- generous people.
We have been :; most blessed people.
We ought to be a most thankful peo-
pie.
Wherefore, 1, Calvin Coolidge, Pres
ident of the United States, do hereby
fix and designate Thursday, the TWEEN
ty-ninth day of November, as Thanks
giving Day and recommend it's general
observance throughout the land. 1t is
urged that the people gather in their
homes and their usual places of wor-
ship, give expression to their gratitude
for the benefits and blessings that a
gracious Providence has bestowed
upon them and seek the guidance of
Almighty God that they may deserve
a continuance Of His favor
In witness whereof, have hereunto
set my hand caused to be affixed the
great seal of the United States.
CALVIN COOLIDGE.