Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-08
NATIONAL PRAYER AND HUMILIATION,
A proclamation by the President Of the Uni
ted States Of America.

A proclamation by the President Of the UNI
ted States Of America.
Whereas, The Senate of the United States,
devoutly recognizing the supreme authority
and just government of Almighty God, in a II
the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a
resolution, requested the President to desig-
nate and set apart day for National prayer
and humiliation and,
Whereas, 1t is the duty of nations, as we'll
as of men, to own their dependence upon the
overruling power of God to confess their sins
and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet
with assured hope that genuine repentance
will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recog
nize the sublime truths announced in the Ho-
ly Scriptures, and proven by all history, that
those nations only are blessed whose God is
the Lord
And, iRasmuch as we know that, by His di
vine law, nations, like individuals, are sub
jected to punishments and chastisements in
this world, may we not justly fear that the
awful calamity of civil war, which now DESC
lates the land. may be but punishment in
ficted upon us for our presumptuous SINS, to
the needful end of our national reformation as
whole people? We have been the recipients
of the choicest bounties OF Heaven. We have
been preserved, these many years, in peace
and posterity. We have grown in numbers,
wealth and power as no other nation has ever
grown. But have forgotten God. We have
forgotten the gracious hand which preserved
us in peace. and multiplied and enriched and
streng ihened us and we have vainly imagin-
ed, in the decetfuness OF our hearts, that all
these blessings were produced by some supe-
rior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxca-
ted with unbroken success, we have become
too self sufficient to feel the necessity of re-
deeming and preserving grace, too proud to
pray to the God that made us /!
1t behooves then, to humble ourselves
before the offended Power, to confess our ma
tional sins, and to pray for clemeucy and for
giyeness.
Now. therefore, in compliance with the re-
quest, and fully concurring in the views of
the Senate, do by this my proclamation des-
ignate and set apart Thursday. the 3Oth day
of April, 1868, as day of national humi liza
ton, fasting, and prayer. And l do hereby
request all the people to abstain on that day
from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to
unite, at their several places of public wor-
ship, and their respective homes, in keeping
the holy day to the Lord, and devoting to the
humble ischarge of the religious duties prop
er to that olemn occasion.
All this being done, in sincerity and truth
let us then rest humbly in the hope, author
lied by Divine teachings, that the united cry
of the Nation will be heard on nigh, and an
swered with blessings, less than the par
don of our National sins, aud restoration of
our now divided and suffering country to its
former happy condition of unity and peace.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set my
hand, and caused the seal of the United States
to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this thirteth
:, day OF March. in the year of our Lord
- - one thouaand eight hundred and sixty
three, and of the Independence of the Uni
ted States the eighty-seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President
WILLIAM Fl. SEWARD. Secretary of State