President John Adams call to National Repentance - March 23, 1798

 Paraphrased into more modern English by Matt Wagner

Original can be found here - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-2386 

By the President of the United States of America,

A PROCLAMATION

23 March 1798

 

Because - The safety and prosperity of any nation completely depends on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God. Acknowledging the truth of this statement isn’t just a duty owed to Him by the people of this nation, but that acknowledgement is also the duty that promotes Morality and Reverence toward God. Without those (Morality and Reverence), social Happiness cannot exist, nor can the Blessings of a Free Government be enjoyed. 

 

Because - The national Duty to acknowledge the blessings and protection of Almighty God is (of course)  necessary at all times. But it is especially more so during times of Difficulty or of Danger. The righteous Judgments of God against widespread Sin - either through existing disaster or pending crisis - are a loud call to Repentance and Renewal.  

 

Because - The United States of America are, right now, in a dangerous and painful situation. This situation came about by a foreign power’s unfriendly Attitude, Actions, and Demands. They repeatedly refuse to receive our Messengers of Reconciliation and Peace. They Attack and Plunder our Commerce. They inflict abuse, insults and injustices on our Fellow-Citizens, who are only going about their legal Business at sea. 

 

Considering these three things; it seems to me that there is a demand on every Inhabitant of our Country to give special attention to their Duty of praying to Heaven for Mercy and Blessing.

 

I therefore think it right to recommend that Wednesday, May Ninth be observed throughout the United States as a day of Solemn Humility, Fasting, and Prayer. On that day, the Citizens of these States should refrain from their daily Activities and Business, and offer their sincere Prayers to the Father of Mercies. This observance of fasting and prayer should be done in the way or method that each individual has adopted as the most suitable and effective.

 

I also recommend that all Religious Congregations humbly acknowledge our many Sins before God; Disobedience that He would be right to charge us for, both Individually and as a Nation. At the same time, they should earnestly ask Him for His infinite Grace and that He would freely remit all of our Offenses through Jesus, the Redeemer of the World. They should also ask that we would be turned toward sincere Repentance and Renewal through His Holy Spirit, so (in that repentance) we would have a reason to hope for His indescribable Favor and Blessings from Heaven. 

 

I ask that these things would be the focus of each and every fervent and heartfelt prayer:

• That our Country would be protected from all the dangers that threaten it

• That our Social and Religious rights would be preserved unviolated in any way, and safely passed on to the next Generation

• That our public Councils and Judges would be given special wisdom and direction during this critical time

• That the American People would be united together in friendship and trust; divinely strengthened with the same Energy and Resilience that had set them apart before and that gave them their vital Advantages

• That the Health of the people in our Land would be preserved, and all of their various businesses (Farming, Economics, Fisheries, Arts, and Manufacturing) would be blessed and bring prosperity

• That the principles of Genuine Reverence toward God and Concrete Morality would influence every Mind and govern Every life...regardless of any individual background

• That the Blessings of Peace, Freedom, and Pure Religion may be speedily extended to all the Nations of the Earth.

 

And Finally I recommend that on the specified day, that these duties of Humility and Prayer would be combined with Thanksgiving - acknowledging God as the Giver of every Good Gift. Do not only thank Him for protecting and preserving the People of these United States in independent Religious and Civil Freedom, but also thank Him for increasing our Population and for showing us many great acts of Kindness and bringing this Nation into Happiness and Prosperity.

 

GIVEN under my Hand and the Seal of the United States of America, at Philadelphia, this twenty-third day of March, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Independence of the said States the twenty-second.

John Adams.

By the President,

Timothy Pickering.

Secretary of State