The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-03
STATE or N AIN e
A PROCLAIM ALTON
For . Day Of Pubic Humiliation, Fast.
ing and Prayer.

A CONTEMPLATION Of the devout and ear.
nest characteristics OF our foreiathers, gil,
the mind with grateful recollec ions, and
decpens our reverence for all that was coui.
mendablc in the customs which marked their
times. In spirit Of flial Animation, we
would, at this season Of the year. call to
mind their habituui relian,e upon Divine
Pr whence for all temporal " well ~ spirit
uL blessings, and recognize that expressive
Sign Vi their unialt~riog trust in Con which
appears In their strict observance oi the SOL
emn Fast.
For tic axe Of honnring their example,
and Of seeking the go,d which may b, do
rivcd irom consccraiing = secular day Ia mel.
itation and tho hun,laing ourselves together
before the LoRp, d. hereby, .ith tho ad-
vice Of . Council. appoint THURSDAY.
THE SIXTEENTH DAY ~ APRIL MKT. ~ hsob.
served ASA Day Of Pab.ic Humiliation Fast.
M and Prayer And invite tie Isoplo of
this State Ia abstain Oh that day iroli all UNI
necessary labor. and u devote themselves at
their affairs Of public and private worship to
the important nsSs for which the day Is thus
set apart.
Peryadel with sense Of our insigni6ance
in this theatre Of Cons handiwork, and im-
pressed with the vanity and futility which
enter ~ largely into the record Of human
life, let us hu nbl, ourselves before our Ma.
ker. and mourn that We too have proved 10
recrant to the unsel6sh principles which
would be the glory Of u truly Christian Com
monwealth.
Let US not fail to plead for wider spread
OF that sentiment Of brotherhood which
would make neighbours OF all mankind, and
Tor the crnoval Of every form al intolerance
whether religious, social or political. Let
US invoke for every human being the incs,i-
mablc blessings of libsrty, intelligence and
domestic happiness. Let us pn,y III t health
and plenty may DO the common lot aud that
peace, contentment and pure religion may
prevail throughout our borlers.
And as citizens ola confederited Republic,
whose Constitution was ayowclly adopted to
establish JusricE, and IN secure the blessings
Of LIBERrr, lot us on this day of public hui
initiation confess our rcmissness IN the years
that are past, which has impcrillsd the very
objects for which our National Government
wis formed. In an hour like this, when
A." Judgment is turned away backward and
justice standeth aar of; when truth Is fal-
len in the street. and equity cannot enter"
let us deplore before Gop the Y .tional deca.
dence IRON those inspired and inspiring prin-
ciplcs which were cher shed by tho fathers
pf the Republic, and our individual folly in
suffering any tnnsitory interests of State or
National policy TO usurp tho place of tho
transcendent questions which concern the
liberty and equality Of man.
And may We all, by our daily lives hence
forth vince our faith in that divine truth,
that the sum Of human duty. whether M
men, as patriots, or rs Christians il 10 love
COP with all the heart. and our neighbor as
ourselves.
Given Mt the Council Chamber. at Augusta.
this Tycnty-third day of March. in the
year One Thousand Eight Hundred and
Flity-scyen, and of the Independence Of
the United States the Eishty-frst
JOSEPH II. WILLIAMS.
by the Governor
ALDEN JACKSON Secretary of State.