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Massachusetts.
Cºmmonwealth 0
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
BEN.J. F. BUTLER,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
PRO CL ATION
e FOR A Fº of
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In conformity with the invariable usage of this Commonwealth, and with a sense of our absolute dependence upon the
beneficent PARENT of Mankind, and of our numerous and aggravated offenses against His holy will and commandments, I have
thought fit to appoint, and by and with the advice and consent of the Council, I do appoint Thursday, the fifth day of April
next, as a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer in this Commonwealth. And I request the ministers and people of
every religious denomination, throughout the same, to assemble on that day in their several places of worship, that we may
unitedly humble ourselves in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, and acknowledge, with deep contrition, our manifold sins and
transgressions; that we may devoutly deprecate His judgments and implore His merciful forgiveness through the merits of
our blessed LORD and REDEEMER. -- ~~~~ T *
While we thus bow, in humble adoration, before the MOST HIGH, let us render Him our unfeigned thanks for the numerous
instances of His continual bounty toward us and our fathers, whom He planted in this fruitful soil; and in an especial man-
ner, that He endowed them with wisdom, to render this a land of piety, freedom and order. And, inasmuch as we have disre-
garded their example and neglected those principles by which they obtained and transmitted to us the inestimable blessings
of the Christian Religion, of Law and of Liberty, let us earnestly beseech Him to heal our backslidings, and to restore us to
that temper and conduct, by which alone we can hope to be happy in this world and in that which is to come.
At the same time that we look with all humility to His grace for the remission of our sins, let us, with one mind and one
voice, supplicate His blessings for us and our beloved country; that He would alike preserve us from the pestilence that
walketh in darkness and the destruction that wasteth at noon-day; that He would graciously smile on the labors of the
husbandmen, and cause the earth to bring forth her increase in due season; that He would relieve our commerce from the
embarassments with which it is burthened, and grant that prosperity may again distinguish our navigation and fisheries, so
that they who “go down to the sea in ships” and do business in great waters, may have abundant reason to praise His Holy
Name.
That He would afford success to our manufactures and prosper all the work of our hands.
That He would graciously condescend to direct the Government of the United States and give them wisdom to discern,
and firmness to pursue, the true interests of the country; that He would preserve us from war, and from all connections that
lead to dishonor and adversity; that He would dispel the clouds that encompass us about, and continue to us the enjoyments
of Peace, Liberty and Religion; that He would influence the Governors of the several States to do everything within their
respective spheres to preserve the Union, Order, Tranquillity and Independence of the United States; that He would protect
us from the assaults of open enemies, and from the snares of insidious friends; that He would suffer no weapon formed
against us to prosper, but would set at naught the councils of those who devise mischief against us. -
That He would vouchsafe His blessings on our University, our colleges and seminaries of learning; that He would
bless all means used for propagating true Religion, and promote the pious purposes of those who endeavor to disseminate a
knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, that all may learn His will and obey His commandments.
It is recommended that all unnecessary labor and recreation be suspended upon that day, and I do specially exhort the
ministers of the Gospel on that day to feed their flocks with the DIVINE Word, and not discourse upon political and other
secular topics which may divert the serious thoughts of the people from humble worship of the FATHER.
Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and
Eighty-three, and in the One Hundred and Seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America.
IEEE Nſa ſ. F. EU'ſ "I L. E. R.
By His Exce//ency the Governor, with the Advice and Consent of the Council. A.
HEAVR Y. B. PAE/RCE, Secretary.
God Save the Commonwealth of Jiassachusetts.

















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