The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-11-08
NOVEMBER 10Th
THANKSGIVING DAY
President Coolidge Issues Proclaim.
ton Regarding its Obser.
vance

Washington. ID. c., Nov. g. Presi-
giving day proclamation. designating
Thursday, November 20, as the ma
tional day of prayer and Thanksgiving.
In his proclamation, he said:
The American people, from their
earliest days, have observed the wise
custom of acknowledging each year
the bounty with which Divine provi-
dence has favored them. In the be-
ginning, this acknowledgment was a
voluntary return of thanks by the
community for the fruitfulness OF the
harvest. Though our code of life has
greatly changed, this custom has al
ways survived 1t has made Thanks
giving day not only n OF the oldest,
but one Of the most characteristic
observances of 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 thoughts in this way
upon the favors 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 failed to find reason for
being grateful to God for a generous
preponderance OF the good. Even in
the least propitious times a 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 helpful and
confident attitude for the Future.
In the current year we now ap-
proach the time which has been ac-
cep'Nd 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
thought and more especially il 1--WE
compare it with 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 Harding which has been
mourned wherever thene is a realiza-
ton of the worth of high ideals, noble
purposes and unselfsh service car
ried wen to the end OF supreme sac
rifan. His loss recalled the nation to
a less captious and more charitable
attitude. IL sobered the whole thought
of the country. A little later came
the unparalleled disaster to the friendly
people Of Japan. This callcd forth
from the people of the United States
demonstrations of deep and humane
feeling. II was wrought into the sub
stance of good works. II 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 il If W. remem
Ter the %privations others have suffer
ed and we shall be the more worthy
of it il we use il for their relief. We
will do well then to render thanks for
the good that has come to us and
show by our actions that We have be-
come stronger, wiser and truer by the
Christening which has been imposed
upon us. We will thus prepare our
selves for the part we must take in
a world which foaever needs the full
measure of service. We have been
a most favored people. We ought to
I've the most generous people. We
ought TO be the most thankful people.
Wherefore. |, Calvin Coolidge, pres
ident of the United States, do hereby
fix and designate Thursday, the 10Th
day of November, as Thanksgiving
day and recommend its general OBJ
serva ice throughout the land 1t Is
urged that the people gathering ! n
their homes and their usual places
of worship give expression Of their
gratitude for the benefits and bless
ings that a gracious Providence has
bestowed upon them and seek the
guidance of Almighty God that they
may deserve a continuance Of His
favor