PUBLIC HUMILIATION, PRAYER AND FASTING

PROCLAIMED

President Abraham Lincoln's Call to Prayer.

By S. R. Break.

April 30, 1863, was a dark day for America. The army had encountered disastrous defeats, public debt was piling high and treasonable agitators were busy against the government. Foreign powers were favorable to the Confederacy and the war was talked of as a failure. European interference in the affairs of Mexico seemed imminent, contrary to the Monroe doctrine. The country was fully occupied and could not engage in another war.

In response to a resolution passed by the Senate requesting the President to call a national day of prayer, Lincoln had issued a proclamation, in which among other things, he said:

Whereas, it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do by this, my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

The proclamation was issued on the 30th day of March, 1863. It was just a little over two months afterwards that the whole national outlook was changed, and the war assumed an aspect favorble to the Union.

In another proclamation issued August 6th of the same year Lincoln said in part: "It has pleased Almighty God to hearken to the supplications and prayers of an afflicted people and to vouchsafe to the army and navy of the United States victories on land and sea so signal and effective as to furnish reasonable grounds for augmented confidence that the union of these States will be maintained, their constitution preserved, and their peace and prosperity permanently restored."

President Woodrow Wilson's Call to Prayer.

WASHINGTON, May 11, 1918.-National Memorial Day, Thursday, May 30, is designated by President Wilson in a proclamation issued today as a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting. The people of the nation are asked to gather that day in their places of worship and pray for the victory of the American

armies, which will bring a peace founded upon mercy, justice and good will.

The proclamation, issued in response to a resolution by Congress, follows:

"By the President of the United States.

"A Proclamation.

"Whereas, the Congress of the United States, on the 2d day of April last, passed the following resolution:

"Resolved, by the Senate (the house of representatives concurring), that it being a duty peculiarly incumbent in a time of war humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence on Almighty God, and to implore His aid and protection, the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, respectfully requested to recommend a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of our cause, His blessings on our arms, and a speedy restoration of an honorable and lasting peace to the nations of the earth.

All Creeds to Join.

"And, whereas, It has always been the reverent habit of the people of the United States to turn in humble appeal to the Almighty God for His guidance in the affairs of their common life;

"Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, the 30th day of May, a day already freighted with sacred and stimulating memories, a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, and do exhort my fellow citizens of all faiths and creeds to assemble on that day in their several places of worship and there, as well as in their homes, to pray Álmighty God that He may forgive our sins and shortcomings as a people and purify our hearts to see and love the truth and to accept and defend all things that are just and right, and to purpose only those righteous acts and judgments which are in conformity with His will; beseeching Him that He will give victory to our armies as they fight for freedom, wisdom to those who take counsel on our behalf in these days of dark struggle and perplexity, and steadfastness to our people to make sacrifice to the utmost support of what is just and true, bringing us at last the peace in which men's hearts can be at rest, because it is founded upon mercy, justice and good will.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

"Done in the District of Columbia this eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and forty-secWOODROW WILSON,

ond.

"By the President.

"Robert Lansing.

"Secretary of State."

President Wilson proclaims May 30th, the Memorial or Decor

ation Day to prayer. Both Presidents were requested by the National Senate to call the nation together for prayer. And in both instances Almighty God is acknowledged as the Universal Ruler in heaven and on the earth, "Who doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What doest thou?" Dan. 4:35.

CHAPTER XXII.

EFFICACY OF PRAYER (Continued).

Prayer and Answer to Prayer-Personal Experience.

I. Prayer for Rain.

The year 1883 was a dry year in eastern Nebraska. Grain had a yellowish appearance and the corn was withering. Being then pastor of a Swedish church at Swedeburgh, Nebraska, called "FRIDHEM" (Home of the Free), I also attended an annex congregation in Lancaster County called Bethlehem. In this annex I held a mid-week service. After adjournment, an elderly sister, Mrs. Hedberg, came to me and said:

"Brother Hallner, why don't you announce a prayer meeting to pray for rain? Everything is drying up here, but this needn't be if GOD'S children would only come together and pray for rain." "That's right," I assented.

"You should not delay," she insisted, "for some of the grain and some of the corn also, will have withered and dwindled away beyond repair."

"All right, Sister Hedberg, I'll see about it, but I have another appointment now and must hasten away," I said and left.

I had not that kind of faith at that moment. To pray for rain or anything else in general and in a general way, that was easy enough, but to be sure that prayer for rain could bring rain immediately, so as to save our withered crop, as Sister Hedberg insisted, that was another proposition.

Yet I remembered Apostle James' assertion, that Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James 5:17, 18.

Turning to 1 Kings 18:42-45 for the record referred to, I find that man Elias (or Elijah) praying for rain, and sending his servant to look seven times in succession, and a copious rain fell the same day.

Meditating upon this example, and looking up the Bible promises and assurances of answer to prayer instantly, faith developed and by the Sunday following I was absolutely sure that if my congregation prayed for rain we would have it, and our crop would be saved.

So after the forenoon service, I announced a prayer meeting for rain at four o'clock that afternoon, repeating the promises and assurances of answer to our prayers the same as I had been blessed to trust in the LORD GOD of heaven myself.

But one of our elders, John Martinson, protested. He contended that this drought may be a chastisement for our sins, and he considered it wrong to pray to be spared, as he put it. “God

knew what was best for us, and that he graciously gave, and with that we should be satisfied and thankful."

"Brother John Martinson," said I, "you stay at home and make up with your GOD. We are not only permitted to present our needs and desires in humble supplication to our heavenly Father, but we are demanded to do it. But we must approach the Mercy Seat of GOD in faith, not doubting. So I request you all to make the closest self-examination to ascertain if you have the faith. Only those of you come who trust GOD unreservedly, absolutely and have the faith that as surely as we come together to pray for rain, we shall have it now and our crops shall be saved. Remember, that we are going to pray for rain in sufficient quantity right now to save our crops."

The Four o'Clock Prayer Meeting.

At four o'clock nearly the whole church membership, and Brother Martinson among them, was assembled. A short discourse, setting forth Scriptural EXHORTATION TO PRAY, ANSWERS TO PRAYERS and EXAMPLES of praying saints, their attitude and GOD'S dealing with them, as also His answer to their prayers, introduced the session of general prayer.

My dear brother John Martinson was one of the first. Brokenheartedly and in a contrite spirit he confessed his sins and his utter unworthiness, and praying that he might not be a stumbling-block in the way to anyone, or a hindrance in the way for GOD'S fullest blessings to His children. This humble supplication fired the whole congregation. I have seldom if ever attended any kind of religious worship so thrilling and emotional as this one.

At adjournment, every supplicator felt assured that rain would pour down very soon; soon enough to save our crops.

Monday morning the skies were overcast with clouds, but about noon it began to clear, the clouds scattering without a single drop of rain.

Our church was situated on a prominence or elevation. I went to it and into it. My supplication now was more argument than prayer. I had assured these artless, trusting, abiding Christians that there would be no failure, because there could not be; for as sure as GOD is GOD and the Bible His holy word, so sure would we have an answer to our prayers in a copious rainfall. And if we were now disappointed in this, never, no, never again would I-never could I—again repeat another promise, never again face these same people. Then, again, who would place his trust in GOD any more if He failed us now. What a set back in missionary work! What a blow to the honor of GOD'S holy name! How would the surrounding community deride the simpletons up there in the Mission Church. What sighing, wailing, appealing, pleading and arguing this was.

Blessed Rainfall; Crops Saved.

The clouds gathered again toward sundown, and hope quickened. I went to bed as usual, resting my soul on the promises