The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-04-16


t A PROCLAMATION. u
WHEIRAs the Senate Of the United
States, deyoutly recognizing the Supreme
Authority aod Just Governnient Of Al.
mighty God. 10 the affairs Of men and Of
natIons. has, by resolution, requested
The President to designate and set aparts
day for National prayer and Illumination:
And whereas il is the duly of nations,
as We'll as Of mcn. TO own Iheifs depet.
dence upon tie ovsrru'ing power Or God;
to confess their sins and transgressions,
IN humble sorrow, yet with assured hope
thlt genuine repentance will lead 10 msr.
ey and pardon. and to recognize the sub.
ime trutl announced 10 tbs Holy Scrip.
lures anil proven by all history, that
those uadpns ouly are blessed whose God
is The Lord: 4
AMI iosomuch as we know that, By
HIS diyins law. nations, like individuals,
are subje tied to puoishments and chas.
tl'etnents 10 this world, may We not juSt-
y fear that the awful ealsGsity Of eiyil,
war, mhTeh nov dcsolales the land, may
be but punishment Inflicted upon US
ior.our presumptnous sius, TO the need:
fu end OF our national reformation as Q
whole People? We have been tie rseip.
tents Of the choisesL 6ounliss Of Heaven.
We have b eh preserved, these many years.
10 peace and prosperity. We have
grown in numbers, wealth, aud power as
no otAer nation has ever grown. But
we have forgotten God. We have forget
ten the gracious hand which preserved US
lin pea g. and multiplied and enriched
and srrsnglhened Us: and We hg7e vaiuIy
Imagined, in ths dsceil!uInsss Of our
llssr,s, ttist al !hsss blessings were pre-.
ducd by some superior wsdOm aud yif;
tue Of our own. ..-.
Intoxicated With unbrpksp success. we
havs become too sslfsuficient to feel the
necessity Of rsdeeming aud preserving
grace, lOd pfCtl to pray to the God thar
made fsl -if-a5t ~, ,.-F.-. Z
It bchooVes US. then. TO humble our ,
selves before the offended Power, to con-.
fess our natioaal SINS, and 10 pray for
c emency ami forgiveness. ~
Now, therefore. 10 compliance with The
request, aud fully coneurriug IN the views
Of Che Ssns.e, I do. BY this my proclama.
ton, designate and set apart Tbursdsy.;
the 3oth day of April. 1868. as a day Of
natfonai humiliation, fasting and prayer.
And do befeby request all the People
to abstain on that day from their ordinary
secular -pursuiIs. and to GDite. at thsif
several places Of public worship aud their
respec i've lrousea, III Keeping the dAy ~.
| " TO the Ford, and devo,ed to the hum.
BILE discharge of the Religious duties pros
per 10 that solemn occssi H.. s..
All this bsiIg done, in sincerity and
truth, let US then rest hurAbFy in the
hope, authorize BY the Divine teachings.
that the uhi;sd cry Of the Nation will bs'
heard on high. aud answered with bless
ings, no less than the pardon Of our na.
lionai sins. and restoration Of our now
divided and suffering country TO its form.
er happy condition Of unity and peace.
In witness whereof, p have bersuuto ser
my hand, and caussd the seal Of the Unit.
ed, States TO be affixed.
Zone al the City of Washington tLis
thlrtieth day of March. in the year
g Of our Lord one thousand eight
FL. S Hundred and sixty three. and Of
the independence Of the Bnitsd
E.ates .ths eighty. seventh.
..- ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary OF State