Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 26.djvu/1594

 PROCLAMATIONS. Nos. 3, 4. 1547 [No. 3.] BY THE PRESIDENT or THE UNITED STATES or AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. A hundred years have passed since the Government which our Arm 4·i¤¤9· forefathers founded was formally organized. At noon on the thir- rmmbie. tieth da§of April, seventeen hundred and eight -nine, in the city of New ork, and in the resence of an assemblage of the heroic U men whose patriotic devotlion had led the Colonies to victory and independence, George Washington took the oath of office as Chief .Mag1strate of the new-born Republic. This impressive act was preceded, at nine o’clock in the morning, in all the churches of the city, gy prayer for God’s blessing on the Government and its first Presi- · en. The centennial of this illustrious event in our history has been I declared a general holiday by act of Congress, to the end that the Ve>\·25.1>·9¤0- people of the whole country may join in commemorative exercises Y appropriate to the day. n order that the joy of the occasion may be associated with a deep thankfulness in the minds of the people for all our blessings in the past, and a devout supplication to God for their gracious continuance in the future, the representatives of the religious creeds, both Christian and Hebrew, have memorialized the Government to designate an hour for Bprayer and thanksgiving on that day. ‘ Now, therefore, I, enjamin Harrison, President of the United 0¤¤¤¤¤¤i¤1f or im States of America, in response to this pious and reasonable request,  ° °l'°°”° do recommend that on uesday April 30th, at the hour of nine mug; April ao, o’clock in the morning, the people of the entire country repair to {,?;,,°§_ ‘ *‘“"’“° their respective places of Divine worship, to implore the favor of God that the blessings of liberty, prosperity an peace may abide with us as a people, and that His hand may lead us in the paths of ‘righteousness and good deeds. {ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set m hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be allixed. Done in the City of Washinglton this 4th_ day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and eighty- 2[SEAL.] nine, and of the Independence o the United States the one hundred and thirteenth. ~ · BENJ. HARRISON. By the President: JAMES G. BLAINE, _ Secretary of State. [N o. 4.] BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. A highly favored People, mindful of their dependence on the November 1,1E. county of Divine Providence, should seek fitting occasion to testify gratitude and ascribe praise to Him who is the author of their many blessings. It behooves us then to look back with thankful hearts over the past year and bless God for his infinite mercy in vouchsafing to our land enduring peace. to our people freedom from pestilence and famine, to our husbandmen abundant harvests, and to them that labor a recompense of their toil.