Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-01

The hour of adversely is not the only &C.
casion when the wise man pauses to consider
his ways, and reflect upon the vanity of hui
man pursuits
To nations, las to individuals, prosperity brings
its dangers; and happy is that people, whose
sense Of dependence upon Divine goodness
does not require to be quickened by any OF
these affective /dispensatons, through which
Providence at times makes known the sover-
eighty of His will as well as the endurance Of
His mercy.
Favored as is our Commonwealth in every-
thing that can bless her as community, pros
pered as she is i'll her basket and her store
with her sons reaping the sure reward of we'll
directed industry, it is fit occasion to aWak-
en- serious reflection, and turn men for brief
period, at least, from the tolls and pleasures of
life to contemplation of the power and good
ness of Him from whom these blessings flow.
When our fathers set apart, at the opening
Of the year, day for solemn prayer and rehg-
ious meditation, they manifested becoming
sense of reliance upon the Divine protection
which had sustained them in the hour of their
weakness and danger, and left upon record an
example which their prosperity should never
forget.
The same Providence that watched over the
fathers, still guards the sons, and sheds through
the fundamentally of the same means, bles-
sings upon our whole community.
In the light, then, of Revelation, as well as
Of their own past history, let the people of
Massachusetts keep day for the solemn com
memoration of the mercies of the past, and of
prayer for needed blessings for the future. Let
them come together in their respective places
of worship, and, laying aside for while the
cares of business, and the pursuits of gain
and pleasure, seek, in faith and humility, for
Divine favor in all their lawful undertakings.
Let the prayers of a whole community go up
to the Father of all goodness, that He will
crown the coming year with His mercies, and
pour out his blessings upon our beloved Com
monwealth in all her varied interests that
our whole country may share in the riches of
His bounty; that her counsels may be guided
by wisdom, and no act be done which can
bring just reproach upon the nation, or weak
en- the bonds which unite her as one people
that war may cease in the whole earth, and
the rod of the oppressor be everywhere brok-
en-. And, above all, that the Gospel of His
Son may have full course and be glorifed; its
light be made to shine upon lands that now
lie in darkness, and its saving influences be
known and acknowledged of all men.
And to this end, l do, by and with the adj
vice of the Council, appoint THURSDAY,
the sixth day of APRIL next, day of FAST
ING, HUMILIATION, AND PRAYER,
earnestly inviting Christians Of every denomi-
nation to assemble on that day, and to regard
it as set apart for the service of Almighty
God. And may it prove such fast as he re-
quired of his people of old-an acceptable day
to the Lord.
Giren at the Council Chamber, in Boston, this
eighth day of March, IN the gear of or Lord
one thousand eight hundred and .ftty-fo1w,
and Of the Independence cfthe United States
the Secenty-eighth.
EMORY WASHBURN.
By His Excellency the Governor, with the adj
vice and consent of the Council.
EpHRAIM NJ. WRIGHT, Secretary.
God save the Commonwealth Of Massachu-
sets.
AMERICAN Board OF COMMISSIONERS OF
FohE1GN M1ssIoNs.-The receipts of this So
ciety, by donations and legacies, for the month
of February, were as follows: