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State of Maine.

By Albion K. Parris,

Governor of the State of Maine:

A Proclamation,

For a day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer.

While we glory in the title, and rejoice in the privileges of a Free and Independent People, it becomes us to remember; that the terms “free and indpenedent” relate to our fellow creatures only; and that they can have no place in a discription [description] of the relations which subsist between us and our Maker.

On the omnipotent Creator and Sovereign of the Universe, the most powerful nations, no less than the feeblest individual, must be ever entirely dependant [dependent]. From a state of subjection to His providential and Moral Government, it is neither possible nor desirable that we should bee free. As his Creatures, we must forever remain under sacred and indisoluble [indissoluble] obligations to acknowledge His Authoirty, obey His Commands and acquiesce in the wisdom and rectitude of all His dispensations. As sinful creatures, who have been criminally negligent of these duties, and have thus incurred His just displeasure, we are under similar obligations humbly and penitently to acknowledge our offences, and to seek the restoration of His forfeited favor, in the way and manner which He has prescribed. And as creatures, formed for society, and connected with each other by various ties, it seems highly proper that we should carry the social principle into our religious transactions, and unite to confess our sins, in the guilt of which we all more or less largely participate, and to implore mercies which we all equally need.

I have, therefore, through fit to appoint, and with the advice of the Council do appoint Thursday the seventh day of April next, to be observed by the inhabitants of this State, as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. And they are requested to assemble on that day, in their places of religious worship, that we may in a united manner offer our confessions and supplications unto the Most High

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