Samuel Adams was a devout Christian, as were most of the Founding
Fathers. They made frequent appeals to God during and after their
struggle for independence won in the Revolutionary War. Realize that
the Founders did not consider this to be against the Constitution, as
some people claim today.
The First
Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom, was created
only four years before this proclamation. It is sometimes interpreted
to mean that public officials cannot make any reference to God or
Biblical values. Samuel Adams would have been aware, as Governor of
Massachusetts, if such a policy existed. Instead, he boldly calls on
all citizens to ask God for His blessings, to turn away from sin and to
seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The Founders did not intend to
prohibit all religious expressions by government officials. Instead,
they desired to guarantee the right of Americans to worship God
according to their own conscience and to prevent any one denomination
of Christians from dictating their practices to others.
For a list of interesting Samuel Adams Facts click here, or, you can read some Samuel Adams Quotes here.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
By the Governor
A Proclamation
For a Day of PUBLIC FASTING, HUMILIATION and PRAYER
THE supreme Ruler of the Universe, having been pleased, in the course
of His Providence, to establish the Independence of the United States
of America, and to cause them to assume their rank, amount the nations
of the Earth, and bless them with Liberty, Peace and Plenty; we ought
to be led by Religious feelings of Gratitude; and to walk before Him,
in all Humility, according to His most Holy Law. - But, as the
depravity of our Hearts has, in so many instances drawn us aside from
the path of duty, so that we have frequently offended our Divine and
Merciful Benefactor; it is therefore highly incumbent on us, according
to the ancient and laudable practice of our pious Ancestors, to open
the year by a public and solemn Fast. - That with true repentance and
contrition of Heart, we may unitedly implore the forgiveness of our
Sins, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and humbly supplicate our
Heavenly Father, to grant us the aids of His Grace, for the amendment
of our Hearts and Lives, and vouchsafe His smiles upon our temporal
concerns:
I HAVE therefore thought fit to appoint, and with the advice and
consent of the Council, I do hereby appoint Thursday, the Second Day of
April next, to be observed as a Day of Public Fasting, Humiliation and
Prayer throughout this Commonwealth: - Calling upon the Ministers of
the Gospel, of every Denomination, with their respective Congregations,
to assemble on that Day, and devoutly implore the Divine forgiveness of
our Sins, - To pray that the Light of the Gospel, and the rights of
Conscience, may be continued to the people of United America; and that
His Holy Word may be improved by them, so that the name of God may be
exalted, and their own Liberty and Happiness secured. - That He would
be graciously pleased to bless our Federal Government; that by a wise
administration, it may be a sure guide and safe protection in national
concerns, for the people who have established, and who support it -
That He would continue to us the invaluable Blessings of Civil Liberty;
guarding us against intestine commotions; and enabling the United
States, in the exercise of such Governmental powers, as are devolved
upon them, so that the honor and dignity of our Nation, upon the Sea
and the Land, may be supported, and Peace with the other Powers of the
World, upon safe and honorable terms, may be maintained.
That he would direct the administration of our Federal and State
Governments, so that the lives, liberties and property of all the
Citizens, and the just rights of the People, as Men and Citizens, may
be forever acknowledged, and at all times defended, by Constitutions,
founded upon equal rights; and by good and wholesome Laws, wisely and
judiciously administered and duly executed.
That he would enable Legislators and Magistrates of this Commonwealth,
to discharge the important duties incumbent on them, that the People
may have good reason to feel themselves happy and safe, and lead quiet
and peaceable lives in all Godliness and Honesty.
That He would incline the Natives of the Wilderness, to listen
to reasonable offers of Peace, that tranquility and security may be
established on the Frontiers Of our Country; - That He would graciously
regard the Lives and Health of the People of this and our sister
States, and preserve them from contagious and wasting diseases: To
crown the ensuing Year with Plenty and Prosperity, by his blessing on
our Husbandry, our Fisheries, our Commerce, and all the labor of our
Hands - to affect our minds with a sense of our entire dependence upon
Him, and of His great goodness towards us, that when we may present
ourselves before Him, at the close of the Year, with our thank -
offerings, our Hearts may by His grace, be prepared to do it in a
manner acceptable to Him.
That He would be graciously pleased to establish the French Republic,
and prosper others who are contending for the Rights of Men, and
dispose all Nations to favor the same principles, and return to Peace
and Friendship.
That He would in his great Mercy, remember the unhappy state of our
Fellow-Citizens and others, who are groaning under bondage, in a
foreign Land. That He would soften the Hearts of those who have led
them captive, inclining that People to show them favor during their
Captivity, and in His own due time open a door for their relief: - And
finally, that He would over-rule all the confusions that are in the
Earth, of the speedy establishment of the Redeemer's Kingdom, which
consisteth in Righteousness and Peace.
And I do recommend to the People of this Commonwealth, to abstain from
all unnecessary Labor and Recreation on the said Day.
GIVEN at the Council-Chamber, in Boston, this Twenty-eighth Day of
February, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Ninety-five, and in the Nineteenth Year of the Independence of the
United States of America.
SAMUEL ADAMS
Attest: John Avery, jun. Secretary
GOD save the COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS!
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