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PROCLAMATION
Prayer
James
Madison, 1812
Whereas
the Congress of the United States, by a joint resolution
of the two Houses, have signified a request that a day may
be recommended to be observed by the people of the United
States with religious solemnity as a day of public humiliation
and prayer; and
Whereas
such a recommendation will enable the several religious
denominations and societies so disposed to offer at one
and the same time their common vows and adorations to Almighty
God on the solemn occasion produced by the war in which
He has been pleased to permit the injustice of a foreign
power to involve these United States:
I
do therefore recommend the third Thursday in August next
as a convenient day to be set apart for the devout purposes
of rendering the Sovereign of the Universe and the Benefactor
of Mankind the public homage due to His holy attributes;
of acknowledging the transgressions which might justly provoke
the manifestations of His divine displeasure; of seeking
His merciful forgiveness and His assistance in the great
duties of repentance and amendment, and especially of offering
fervent supplications that in the present season of calamity
and war He would take the American people under His peculiar
care and protection; that He would guide their public councils,
animate their patriotism, and bestow His blessing on their
arms; that He would inspire all nations with a love of justice
and of concord and with a reverence for the unerring precept
of our holy religion to do to others as they would require
that others should do to them; and, finally, that, turning
the hearts of our enemies from the violence and injustice
which sway their councils against us, He would hasten a
restoration of the blessings of peace.
Given
at Washington, the 9th day of July, A. D. 1812.
[seal.] JAMES
MADISON.
By
the President:
JAMES
MONROE,
Secretary
of State.
Source:
II A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents
498 (James D. Richardson ed., 1897).
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