Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-10-04
nation CALLED
Upon TO PRAY
Occasions in History Of U. S.
When Presidents Proclama-
ton Invoked Divine Aid. :

washington, October 3.-With al
the nation kneeling in prayer tomor
row for the end of war in Europe
the epocns in American history were
recalled when the President had pro
claimed a day of general supplica,ion
for divine Intervention to preserve
or restore peace. Between. 1889 and
1881, seven such days we're made. ,
1898: President John Adams named
May 8 as a national day of prayer be-
cause France threatened to make wal
upon the United States. "'
1915: President James Madison
proclaimed January II as a day OF
prayer when trouble was brewing be.
tween the American republic and AL
giers.
To Restore Peace.
1861: President Abraham Lincoln
designated the last Thursday in Sep
TENDER for national prayer for the
restoration Of peace between the
North and South.
1863: President Lincoln called for
a second day of prayer-April 30
recommending that the people keep
the day in all humility and with all
religious solemnity to the end that
the united prayer of the nation may
ascend to the throne of grace and
bring down bountiful blessings upon
our W country"
1854: For the third time during the
war between the states a general day
Of prayer a proclaimed. That was
August l, 1864. Lincoln wrote: In
sincerity and truth let us rest hum
bly, in the hope, authorized by the Di-
vine teachings, that the united cry Of
the nation will be heard on high and
answered with blessings no less than
the pardon Of our national sins and
the restoration of our divided and sui
fering country to its former happy
condition Of unity and peace"
1866: President johnson proclaim
ed June l a day Of prayer in COM
memoration of President Lincoln who
died On April Is the victim Of Booths
bullet. -
1881: President Arthur designated
September rs for general prayer to
mark the burial of President Garfield,
who had died September 19, from an
assassin's bullet. T. 81
10 Unusual Appeal.
i. President Wilson'S call for a day OF
supplication was issued September s,
1t was the first time in American his
tory that the people had been urged
to pray for the restoration of peace in
foreign lands. He requested that "all
God-fearing persons repair to their
places of worship, there to unite their
petitions to Almighty God that, over
ruling the counsel of men, setting
straight the things they cannot gov
ern or alter, taking pity on the ma
tions now in the throes OF conflict, in
His mercy and goodness showing a
way where men can see none. He
vouchsafe. His children healing peace
again, and restore one more that
concord among men and. nations, with
out which there can be neither happi-
ness nor true friendship nor any
wholesome fruit Of toll OF thought in
the world ..a.n. 4.,a 81 ;
While Adams was the first Presi-
dent to proclaim prayer days, yet the
people Of the New England Colonies
initiated periods Of general prayer
early in their history. AS far back
as 1921 Governor Bradford called up
on the people to give. thanks for
bounteous crops. That was in reality
the first Thanksgiving day in the
western hemisphere. A second day Of
prayer was called in the colonies
when drought threatened the crops.
While the people were gathered in
their churches rain began to fall in
The crops were saved.