Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-30
THE FAST DAY.


We need not remind our readers that this day
has been set apart by recommendation OF the Ere
sIDENT of the United States as day of solemn
Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer, to the end that
the American People may duly humble themselves
I'm the sight of Almighty God, and fervently sup
plcate His mercy and favor in the presence of the
great judgment which has fallen on our land.
AS trouble does notspring up from the ground, and
as we are assured that the causeess shall not
come upon people, it behooves all loyal citizens
of the nation, this day responding to the invita-
ton Of the President, to make inquistion for the
guilt which has plucked down the just wrath Of
Heaven on all parts of our common country We
are called this day not much to depore the sins
Of others, even of our countrymen who are unhap-
PLY in arms against the constituted authorities, as
our own personal and individual sins, which have
contributed their part to swell the iniquties that
have invited and merited such fearful retribu-
ton. Where SO many garments are rolled in the
blood Of fratricidal contest, it is most meet that
all who mark the operations OF the Divine hand,
a well in its heavy chastisements in the dspen-
sation Of its perennial bounties, should with one
accord clothe themselves in sackcloth and ashes on
day appointed for the confession of sins and the
slpplicaton of the Divine clemency. We are to
purge from our hearts all pride and sel6shness,
with all malice and uncharitableness and, instead
of cherishing that sef-complacency which exults
in the thought of being better than others, we are
rather to inquire wherein ace, individuals and as
n l. II &c J,,kr noJ n ~
our fellow-men, that by returning to the walks of
purity, sobriety, and holiness, we may be wise to
find those ways which are ways of pleasantness and
those paths which are paths of peace.
The spirit in which this self-examination should
be made the motives by which we are melted to
inplore the Throne of Heavenly Grace, are so we'll
defined by the President in his proclamation that
we cannot do better than reproduce its terms as
suggesting the lesson for the day:
THE PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS the Senate Of the United States devoutly
recognising the Supreme Authority and just Government
of Almighty God in all the affairs Of and Of nations,
has, by resolution requested the President to designate
and set apart day for National prayer and humiliation
And whereas tho duty of nations we'll of men,
to their dependence upon the overrung power Of
God to confess their sins aud transgresons in humble
sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance
will lead mercy and pardon and to recognise the sublime
truth announced in the Holy Scripture and proven by all
history that those nations only blessed whose God ia
the Lord
And, insomuch as we know that by His divine law
tons, like individuals, subjected to punishment and
chassements this world may not justly fear that
the awful calamity of civil war; which desolates the
land, may be but punishment inflicted upon for
presumptuous SINS to the needul end of national
formation whole People We have been the recipt
ents Of the choicest bounes of Heaven We have been
preserved these many years peace and prosperity We
have grown in numbers wealth. and power other
ton has grown. But we hay, forgotten God. We
have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved in
peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened
and have vany imagined in the deceitfuness of
hearts, that all these blessings produced by
perior wisdom and virtue Of Intoxicated with
feel the necessity of redeemng and preserving grace too
proud to pray to the God that made us
1t behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the
offended Power to confess national SINS and to pray
for cemency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request and
fully concurripg in the views of the Senate do by this
my proclamation designate and set apart Thursday the
3Oth day of April. 1863, day of national humiliation
fasting and prayer And do hereby request all the Peo
pie to abstain that day from their ordinary secular pu
suits and to unite at their several places Of public
ship and their respective homes keeping the day holy TO
the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge Of the
Geous duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done in sincerity aud TRUTH let then
rest humby the hope authorized by the Divine teach
nes that the united cry Of the Nation will be heard
high and answered with blessings LEES than the pardon
Of national sins and restoration Of divided
and suffering country TO its former happy condition Of
unity and peace.