The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-11-07
PEOPLE URGED
TO give THANKS
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE ISSUES
HIS FIRST THANKSGIVING PRO-
CLAMATION TO u. S. PEOPLE

III Os
Washintgon.-Pre Coolidgei
Thanksgiving day proclamation, is
sued today from the White House
calls to mind that the year ha
brought to the American people tw,
tragic experiences-the death O
President Harding and the Japanes,
earthquake-but says that such ex
periences serve to test and refine
men and nations.
During the year also, the proclama
tion says, the nation has been blessed
with much Of material prosperity
The president asked that the people
gather in their homes and places o.
worship on Thursday, November 20
to give expression to their gratitude
and "Seek the guidance of Almighty
God that they may deserve contin-
suance Of his favor"
The proclamation follows:
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIT
ED STATES OF AMERICA-A PROC
LAMATION.
The American people, from their
earliest days have observed the wise
custom of acknowledging each year
the bounty with which divine prov
idence has favored them. In the be-
ginning, this acknowledgement was a
voluntary return of thanks by the
community for the fruitfullness of the
harvest. Though our mode of life has
greatly changed, this custom has al
ways survived it. 1t has made Thanks
giving day not only one of the oldest
but one of the most Characteristic OBJ
servances of our country. On that
doy. in home and church, in family
and in public the whole nation has
for geerations paid the tribute due
from grateful hearts for blessings be-
slowed.
Gratitude Always
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
thot 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 overwhelming reasons~4fer
thankfulness Thus viewing our sit
uation, we have found warrant for a
more hopeful and confident attitude
toward the future.
In this current year we now ap-
proach the time which has been ac-
cepted by custom as most fitting for
the calm survey of our estate and I
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 with that of
any other community in the world.
The year has brought to our peo
pie two tragic experiences which
have deeply affected them. One was
the death Of our beloved President
Harding, which has been mourned
wherever there is realization OF the
worth Of high ideals, noble purpose
and unseIfish service carried even to
the end of supreme sacrifice. His
loss recalled that nation to less
captious and more charitable atti-
tude. 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 a demonstration of deep and
humane feeling. 1t was wrought in
to the substance Of good works. 1t
created new evidences of our inter-
national friendship, which is guar
antee of world peace 1t replenished
The charitable impulse of the coun-
try.
ssTested and Refined"
BY experiences such as these men
and nations are tested and refined.
We have been blessed with much of
material prosperity. We shall be
better able to appreciate it if we
Use it for their relief. We Will 40
we'll then to render. thanks for the ,
good that has come to us and show
w our actions that we have become
stronger. wiser and truer by the
.hastenings which have been imposed
mon us. We will thus prepare our
selves for the part we must have
n a world which forever needs the
I'LL measure of service. We have been
, most favored people. We ought to
,e a most generous people. We have S
,een a most blessed people. We ought I
o be a most thankful people
Asks General Observance
Wherefore I, Calvin Coolidge, pres
dent of the United States, do here {
" fix and designate Thursday, the t
18th day of November, as Thanks
giving day, and recommend its gen /
raj observance throughout the land t
t is urged that the people gather G
n their homes and their usual places s
If worship, give expression to their ]
gratitude for the benefits and bless f
ngs that gracious Providence has t
bestowed upon them, and seek the f
guidance of Almighty God that they {
nav deserve continuance of his ia {
vOr.
In witness wherefore I have here
into set my hand and caused to be
.ffixed, the great seal of the United Y
Jtatee. s
Done at the city of Washington,
his fifth day of November, in the
,oor 80 o,,,s lord ono Thousand nine