Ever Irreverent

On Saturday, in our series recounting life in Hudson during World War I, Gossips reported that Mayor Charles S. Harvey, responding to a petition signed by the clergymen of Hudson, issued a proclamation "setting aside a few minutes each day at noon for the purpose of prayer to Almighty God for the blessing upon our cause." The proclamation set forth that "beginning Sunday, October 20th, 1918, during a few minutes following the striking of the noon hour on the fire alarm, all citizens of this community, whatever their employments may be and wherever their location, reverently pause and with bowed heads lift up their prayers to the God of Battles for the success of our arms and the restoration of a just and lasting peace based upon the high and noble principles set forth by the President of these United States." 

The proclamation inspires visions of everything in Hudson coming to a halt as people bow their heads in a fervent effort to bring the war to an end by the power of prayer, but, as revealed in this editorial that appeared in the Columbia Republican on November 5, 1918, the reality was somewhat different.
   

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