.MTU1Mg.MTc3NjM

State of Maine.

By the Governor of the State of Maine:

A Proclamation,

For a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer.

The season of the year having returned, in which, from the first settlement of our country, it has been customary for the people to be invited by the civil authority to assemble together to law themselves before the Throne of their Almighty Creator, humbly to acknowledge their manifold transgressions of his Holy law, to supplicate the Divine mercy and forgiveness, and to implore a continuance of His gracious favor and protection:

I have, in conformity with the laudable example of our pious forefathers, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, appointed Thursday, the twenty first day of April next, to be observed throughout this State, as a day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer. And all the people and ministers of the Gospel, of every denomination, are requested to meet on that day in their respective places of public worship, with humble and contrite hearts to offer up their united supplications to that Almighty and Eternal Being, whose mercy endureth forever, and who freely extendeth his pardoning love and gracious favor to all, who truly repent and for sake their transgressions, and with devout sincerity call for Salvation on the name of their Saviour [Savior] and their God.

While we contemplate the regions of the world now suffering under the oppressions of despotic power, or contending for the unalienable rights of civil and religious freedom, and behold the wards, and civil commotions, which rend and agitate the distant nations, let us humble ourselves, that we have been no more thankful to our Heavenly Father for the inumerable [innumerable] privileges and blessings both of a temporal and spiritual nature, which he has abundantly bestowed upon us. Have we not reason to exclaim in the language of inspiration, “He has spoke to us, but we have not heard; He has called unto us, but we have not answered”?

But notwithstanding are past ingratitude, and forgetfulness of the Divine Source, from which all our blessings flow, He still graciously permits us to approach the Seat of His Mercy, and present beofre Him our wants and our complaints. Let us avail ourselves of the inestimable privileges, and pray that He would mercifully continue towards us the manifestations of his marvellous [marvelous[ goodness; that He would smile upon the opening seasons of the year, and bless the labors of the husbandman; that he would prosper our manufactures and the michanic [mechanic] arts, cause our commerce to flourish, and extend his guardian care over all those, who are exposed to the dangers of the deep; and that the exertions and honest industry of every profession and useful