The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

tons should then be made for the poor
| who were sick and visited. The great fire
| of London, beginning September 2,
| 1866, reduced the city from the Tower 10
! Temple Bar to heap Of ashes. On Sep
TENDER 10 a royal proclamation command
ed Wednesday, October 10. to be observed
by all las a Day of Solemn Fasting and
Humiliation
When Charles II opened Parliament in
1873, an address was voted and presented
| asking for the appointment of fast day,
to seek reconciliation with Almighty God
| and His protection against the undermin-
ing contrivances of Popish recusants.'
A proclamation from William and Mary,
| dated Hampton Court, May 20, 1859, stated
that their .Majesties had been compelled
| to declare war against the French King
on account of his supporting the rebellion
| in Ireland, and that they therefore ap-
| pointed a day of fasting and humiliation,
| to be observed June in London ind en-
| June 10 in the provinces.
| Early in May. 1894 the King went to
! Flanders to lead the campaign. day of
| fasting and humiliation for our success by
sea and land was proclaimed by Marie
| r." on May 10, Immediately on the King
| departure.
| In 1926 the King having again left En-
| gland TO direct the war against the French,
| May % was proclaimed as day of fasting
| and humiliation to invoke Gods aid. In
| December OF the same year another day
of national humiliation was proclaimed.
! the chief intention. OF which was for the
imploring a blessing upon the constitu-
| tions of this present Parliament" Early
! in 1I01 came the last of Williams fast
days. The King had parted with his Wing
advisers, and called Tories to his councils
| The first address of this new Parliament
was a request to the King for fast-day
for the preservation of the Protestant re-
ligion and OF the public peace This fast
was proclaimed on March 8 and observed
on April /.
Alternating Forms of Prayer.
During the reign of Queen Anne, on ac-
count OF the continuous wars, alternating
forms Of prayer of humiliation or thanks
giving were frequent. Fast days in con-
nection with the wars were held on June
10. 1902: on January 10, and on April 4,
1904 on February I. 1906; on April g. 1907;
on January H. 1905 on March Is, 1909 and
on January 10, 1712. The forms OF prayer
used en- these occasions were almost iden-
teal.
In r72O the south OF France was visited
with a fearful scourge of the plague. BY
the end OF the year it had spread to other
parts OF Europe. and on Friday. December
l6 England was summoned to observe a
general fast for averting of Gods wrath
from these isles. year later the plague
still ragged on the Continent. and another
las, day was held on December S, 1921,
for the like object.
on the declaration OF war between
France and England in 1144. "A general
fast and humiliation before Almighty
God was ordered for Wednesday. April
II. On April go 17i5, England. under the
Duke of Cumberland, was defeated at Fon-
tenoy This was followed by Prince
Charles Edward landing in Scotland and
proclaiming his father King. He reached
Derby on December 3, and on Wednesday,
December IS a general fast was held TO
"impIore Gods blessing in overC oming the
rebels" A further fast-day, with an al
most identical form of prayer, was also or
dered TO be observed on January I, l146.
The world was alarmed in November,
1855, by the earthquake in which Lisbon
was the chief sufferer By the end OF the
year the peace of Europe seemed threat
ened. and England held February g. 1856,
as a day OF general fasting and humiliation
for imploring a blessing on their fleets
end armies and for humbling themselves