, 1861-10-10
National Fast Address.
SEATTLE, Sept. eth, Il

EDTToR HERALD: In accordance with the Pro-
clamation of the President Of the United States,
the good people Of Seattle and vicinity assembled
in the University building yesterday, at eleven
o'clock AM, where they were first greeted by
concordant strains from the Seattle Brass Band,
which had previously met in the cupoa Of the
building After the reading Of the fty.eighth
chapter of Isaiah, the singing of an appropriate
hymn, and the offering Of a suitable prayer, the
following address was delivered by Rev. Daniel
Bagley:-
Feliop- Citizens:
We are convened to-day by the following Pro-
clamation by the President of the United States
Whsre1s, A joint committee Of both houses Of
Congress has waited on the President Of the
| United States, and requested him to recommend
day Of public humiliation, prayer and fasting,
| to be observed by the people Of the United
States with religious solemnities and the offering
Of icrvent supplication to Almighty God for the
safety and welfare Of these States his blessings
on their arms and speedy restoration o: peace;
| And Whereas, II is fit and becoming in all peo-
| pie, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the
supreme government Of God, to bow in humble
submission to his chastisements, to confess and
dep'ore their sins and tranSgressons in the full
conviction that the fear Of the Lord is the begin
ming Of wisdom, and to pray with all fcrvency
and contrtion for the pardon Of their past otien-
ses, and for a blessing upon their present and
prospective action; -
| And Whereds, When our beloved country, once
| by the blessings Of >;od united, prosperous aud
happy. is now afflicted with faction and civil war
| it is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand
Of God in this visitation, and in sorrOwtul re.
IN, mhrance Of our own faults and crimes, as a
nation, and as individuals, to humble ourselves
before him, and to pray for his mercy-to pray
that we may he spared further punishment
though justly deserved; that our arms may be
blessed aud madc eifectual for the re-eStablish-
mcnt Of law, order aud peace throughout our
country, and that the inestimable boon Of civil
and religious liberty, earned under his guidance
and blessing by the labors and sufierings Of our
| fathers may b. restored to all its original excel
lence Therefore, ], Abraham Lincoln, Pres-
dent Of the United States, do appoint the last
Thu sday in September next as a day Of humil.
iation, prayer and fasting for all the people OF
the nation, and do earnestly recommend to all
tire people, and especially to all ministers aud
achcrs Of religion, Of all denominations and tOall
| heads Of families to observe aud keep that day
according 10 their several creeds and modes OF
worship, in all humility, and with oil religious
solcmnity, to the end that the united prayer Of
the nation may ascend to the Throne Of Grace,
and bring down plentiful blessings upon our
country.
In testimony whereof, have hereunto Sc my
hand and caused the great seal Of the United
States to be affixed this 18th day Of August A.
d. 1861, aad Of the Independence Of the United
States of America the eighty.sixth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President
WV. II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.
It is fitting we should thus summon to our aid
Religion as an element Of power, for governments
are the ordination Of God. Romans, 18th chap,
lst verse Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers; for there is no power but Of God
the powers that be are ordained Of God. 9Th
verse: Render therefore to all their dues tribute
to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom
/ fear TO whom fear; honor to whom honor.
1t is fitting that we should thus summon to our
aid Religion as an element Of power for our coun-
| try has right to be remembered in our devOtiOns
to Deity aud TO call upon us to pay those devoti'ns
in this time Of distress, because as patriots we
cannot fail TO invoke her aid BE il remembered
that nothing has more at stake than Religion and
its ordinances; for who does not remember that in
revolutionary times she eonsecrated our banners,
baptised our swords blessed our soldiers, and in
spired our leaders upon the battlefield? II is well
| we should thus summon to our aid Religion, for
1
ciples at once our boast and Onr glory. "GOd Gre
ated Of one blood all the nations Of men, to dwell
upon all the face Of the Garth" From her we draw
the inspiration, that ave hold these truths to be
seleevident that all men are created equal endowed
BY their Creator with certain inalenabe rights;
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
Of happiness"
1t Is well that we should thus summon to our
aid Religion, for she alone can render governments
l ht,n of
ing the passions Of the children Of men. When
she shall exert her saving power over all lands, men
will beat their swords into ploughshares and their
spears into pruning-hOoks."
Il Is fitting that We should thus summon TO our
aid Religion as an element Of power, for she alone
can correct past errors and avert merited punish
ment. We are verify guilty. / need not refer at
this time TO the vices and crimes practised in all
our communities, for Il is more appropriate for
to speak Of those public sins which are justly
chargeable to us as people. 1t is iearfully true
that in our national and political life we have per-
s.stently disrcgarIled the Lord our God. How has
corruption long grown rank in high places! How
have truth and Righteousness become so far ban
ished from the arena Of politics that the conscien-
tiOus Christian man, who fears God and will not
descend to the fAlsehoOd and artfce and low dem
sgoguism Of party, nor buy mems votes with mo-
npy, us one would buy cattle in the market places,
such man Is wellnigh osracsed from public Office.
Public virtue has been dcbauched. Who does not
know tlNy bribery, Wholesale peculation, perjury
and phnic faith are familiar words, every day
charged upon mutitudes in public life? Who
seeks to- cOnceal the fact that men Feeking in vice
have been promoted 70 our halls Of legislation, or
have been chOsetY to- places upon the benches Of
Justice! Oh dOesinot truth compel me to declare
that drunkenness, dehauchcry, gambling, sabbath
bteaking. spOla6On atl kindred crimes have black