The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-04-22
National Prayer aud Humiliation.

PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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 OF nations
mas, oy resolution. requested the Presi
dent to designate and set apart day for
Natlolal 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, 10 con-
less their sins and transgression, in humble
sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine
repentance will lead to mercy and pardon,
and to recognize the sublime truths announ.
ced ia the Holy Scriptures and proven bv
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 sub
jected to punishments and Establishments in
this world, may we not justly fear that the
awful calamity Of civil war, which now des-
o!ates the land, may be but a punishment
inflicted upon US for our presumptuous sins.
to the needful end Of our national reforma.
ton as whole People? We have been
'''> ASC' PCHso VI ttlO StlOlCcSL UOuntlcS or
Heaven. We have been preserved these
many years, in peace and prosperity. We
have grown in numbers, wealth, and DO wer
as no 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 US; and we have vainly imac
ined. in the deceitfulness Of our hearts, that
all these blessings were produced by some
superior wisdom and virtue Of our own
Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have
become too self sufficient to feel the neces-
slty OF redecming and preserving grace too
proud to pray to the God that made US
1t beaoovcs us, then, to humble ourselves
before the offended Power, to confess our
national eins,"nd to pray for clcmency and
forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the
request, and July c"ncurr;ng in the views
OF the Senate, do by this nv procla1na-
ton designate and set apart Thursday the
Both day Of April, 1868, as day of nation .
al humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I
do hereby reqHes: all the people to abstain
on that day from their ordinary secular pur-
suits, ard to unite, at their several places
ofpub'1c worship and their respective homes
in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and
devoted to the humble Discharge Of the re-
lisious duties proper to that solemn occasion
sion.
All this being done, in sincerity and truth
let us then rest hu,nbly in the no pc, author
lied by Divine teachings. that the united
cry # the nation will he heard on high, and
answered with blessings no less than the
pardon Of our national sins and the restor
alton Of our now divided and suffering coun.
try to its former happy condition of unity
and peace.
In witness whereof l have hercunto set
my hand, and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done in the city Of Washington this Goth
day Of March, in the year Of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty three,
and Of the independence Of the United
States the eighty seventh.
l.. ). ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY the President
WILLIAM II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.