The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-11-28
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1923.
PRESIDENTS THANKSGIVING PROCLAMA-
TION, 1928.

THE American people, from their earliest
days, have observed the wise custom OF
= acknowledging each year the bounty with
which Divine Providence has favored them. IN
the beginnings this acknowledgment was a volun-
tary return of thanks by the community for the
fruitfulness of the harvest. Though our mode OF
life has greatly changed, this custom 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 al
together wise and desirable. 1t has given OPP
portunity justly to balance the good and evil
which we have experienced. In that we have
never failed to find reasons for being grateful to
God for generous preponderance Of the good.
Even in the least propitious times, broad con-
temptation of our whole position has never failed
to disclose overwhelming reasons for thankful
ness. Thus viewing our situation, we have found
warrant for more hopeful and confident attitude
toward the future
In this current year, we now approach the
time which has been accepted by custom most
fitting for the calm survey of our estate and the
return of thanks. We shall the more keenly real
ize good fortune, if will, in deep sincerity,
give to it due thought and more especially if we
will 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
the death of our beloved President Harding,
which has been mourned wherever there is real
ization of the worth of high ideals, noble purpose
and unselfsh service carried even to the end of
supreme sacrifice His loss recalled the nation
to less captious and more charitable attitude.
1t sobered the whole thought of the country. A
little later came the unparalleled disaster to the
friendly people Of Japan. This called forth from
the people of the United States demonstration
of deep and humane feeling. 1t was wrought
into the substance Of good works. 1t created new
evidence of our international friendship which is
a guarantee of world peace. 1t replenished the
charitable impulse of the country.
BY experiences such as these, men and ma
lions are tested and refined. We have been bless
ed with much of material prosperity. We shall
be better able to appreciate it if we remember
the privatons others have suffered, and we shall
be the more worthy of it if we use it for their
relief. We will do WE'LL then, to render thanks
for the good that has come to us and show by
actions that we have become stronger, wiser
and truer by the Christening which has been i'm
posed upon us. We will thus prepare ourselves
for the part must have in world which for
ever needs the full measure of service. We have
been most favored people. We ought to be a
most generous people. We have been a most
blessed people. We ought to be most thankful
people,
Wherefore, l, Calvin Coolidge, President of
the United States, do hereby fix and designate
Thursday, the 29th day of November, as Thanks
giving Day, and recommend it's general obser-
vance throughout the land. 1t is urged that the
people gather in their homes and their usual
places of worship, give expression to their graft
tude for the benefits and blessings that graci-
Gus Providence has bestowed upon them, and seek
the guidance of Almighty God that they may de-
serve continuance of His favor
In witness whereof, have hereunto set my
hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of
the United States.
Done at the City of Washington this 9Th day
OF November, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand nine hundred and twenty three, and of the
Independence of the United States the one humid
red and forty-eighth
CALVIN COOTJDGE