Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-08
Presidents Experimentation for Day q g
Humiliation and PRAYER.

WHEREAS, The Senate of the United States.
devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and
just government OF Almighty God, in all the
affairs OF men and nations. has, by "A resolution,
requested the President to designate and set apart
day for national PRAYER and humiliation.
And, whereas. 1t is the duty of nations. as well
"a OF men, to own their dependence upon the
overriding power of God. 10 confess their sins and
transgresSions, in humble sorrow, yet with as
sured hope that genuine repentance will lead to
mercy and pardon and to recognize the sublime
truth. announced in the Holy Scriptures and
proven by all history. that those nations only are
blessed whose God is the Lord;
And, inasmuch as We know that, by His divine
law. nations, like individuals, are subjected to
punishments and chastisements in this world
may We not Justly fear that the awful calamity OF
civil war, which now desolates the land NAV be
but punishment inflicted upon us for our pre-
sumptuous sins, in the needfu end of our national
reformation Il whole pe0plef We have been
the recipients Of tie choicest bounties of Heaven.
We have been preserved, these manv wears, in
peace and prosperity.
We have grown in numbers, wealth and power
as 40 other nation has ever grOwn But we have
forgotten God We have forgotten the gracious
hand which preserved Us in peace and multiplied
and enriched and strengthened u: and we have
vainly imagined IN the deceftulnesS of our hearts
that all these blessings were produced by some
superior wisdom and virtue of our own Intox;-
Gated with uubrokeD Success we have become too
self sufficient 20 feel the necessity OF redeeming
and preserving grace. too proud to pray to the
God that made u.
Ii behoOveS US. then, to humble ourselves be
fore the offended Power, To confess our National
sins. and 10 pray for cemency and forgiveness
Now, therefore in compliance with the request
and fully concurring in the views Of the Senate
do, by this, my proclamation, designate, and set
apart, Thursday. the 3Oth dav OF April 1863 as
day OF National humiliation, fasting and PRAYER
And do hereby request all the people 10 abstain
on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits
AMI 10 unite. At their several places of worship
AID their respective homes, in keeping the da,
holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble dis
charge OF the religious duties proper to that sol
emn occasion
All this being done, in sincerely and truth lie
u then rest humbly in the hope, authorized bl
the Divine teachings, that the united cry OF tn,
nation may be heard on high. aud answered will
blessings, no less than the pardon Of eur Naliona
sins, and the restoration OF our now divided an,
suffering country 10 It's former happy condition o
unity aud peace
In witness whereof have hereunto set m
hand and caused the seal of the United States {,
be affixed
Done at the City of Washington. this thirtetl
day of March, in the year of our Lord on
L. =. thousand eight hundred and sixty tire
and OF the Independence oi the Unte
States the eighty seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY the President:
WM II SEWARD, Secretary of State