Evening star., 1940-11-22
Thanksgiving
Here Strikes
Religious Note
Mild, Sunny Day
Turns Out Thousands
For Church Services

Washington and 80 States cele-
brated a plentiful but quiet Thanks
giving yesterday with added en-
phasis on the religious meaning OF
the holiday.
The day was mild and sunny and
thousands turned out for church
services, including pan-American
mass at st. Patrick's, special serv-
ice at Washington Cathedral and
community services in several CEN
trail places of worship.
The President and Mrs. Roose-
welt attended church at Hyde Park,
N. Y, where they heard the Rev.
Frank r. Wilson declare that the
peace and security enjoyed by the
United States should not prompt
the people to "just sit back and
gloat on that" He added that I'VE
have an opportunity, a work to do
we must pass our blessings on to
others"
IL States Observe Next Week.
While Thanksgiving was a thing
of the past for residents of WASH
ington, Maryland and Virginia, peo.
pie in II States which disregarded
the Presidents proclamation look
forward to celebrating the holiday
on the traditional date. Next Thurs
day will be Thanksgiving In parts
of New England and in Tennessee,
Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas,
Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, South
Dakota, Pennsylvania and Nevada.
A distinguished group of Latin
American diplomats and State De-
partment officials attended the Pam
American mass at st. Patricks
Church.
A colorful procession preceded the
ceremony in church decorated
with palms and the flags of the
Americas.
The theme of social unity was
discussed in a Thanksgiving Day
address by Bishop James E. Free
man at Washington Cathedral
Seven Reasons for Thanks.
The bishop enumerated seven rea-
sons why the people OF this country
should be thankful:
Despite the war, peaceful Amer
lea is resolved to remain at peace:
in comparison with other countries
this is prosperous Nation; with all
its defects, this country still main
tains a democracy; Christian ideals
and principles hold an unchallenged
place in national life; the spirit Of
amity and good will growing among
all religious bodies, and especially
in Washington, where 26 different
faiths are affiliated in one body; the
spirit Of bigotry and intolerance Is
less manifest here than in other
parts of the world and this country
is still capable of holding national
election to permit the citizens to
exercise their choice of leadership.
The mild weather yesterday
brought out thousands Of strollers
and motorists. The temperature
rose to 66 during the afternoon,
some 13 points above normal.
Many Get Free Dinners.
Throughout the day several thou
sand needy men, women and chill
dren ate free Thanksgiving dinners
at the citys missions.
At the Central Union Mission 600
hungry men were fed, and some
1000 men and women enjoyed a
meal served by the Volunteers Of
America. A free turkey dinner was
provided for those at the Emergency
Home for Women and Children, 413
Fourth street NV.
Christmas decorations began to
go up today in the downtown area
as the city returned to work. The
President, it was said, moved up the
holiday a week to create a longer
pref Christmas shopping period.
Refugees Observe Day.
This Thanksgiving many small
British refugees in various parts of
the country were introduced to
traditional American turkey dinners.
At least one of them, 6-year-old
Valeria Beer of Fromby, England,
enjoyed it very much. The shy little
faxen-haired girl blinked blue eyes
at a roast turkey which weighed al
most half as much as she did.
The child, who is the temporary
ward of Mrs. Ada l.. Smith of the
Flagler Apartments, said she en-
joyed the turkey dinner she ate last
night as much as American ice
cream and the ice water cooler at
the East Silver Spring, Md, school,
where she is a first-grede pur
I'm England" she said, I'VE only
have turkey on Christmas"