We have been discussing the role of prayer in the founding of our great country, not just from the early clergy but the Founding Fathers themselves. This week, let’s take a look at the many times the Founding Fathers, not the clergy, declared a day of prayer and fasting for a crisis that was threatening the nation.
There is a scripture (word) given by God to the nation of Israel in II Chronicles 7:14; it reads, “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Never before in our history are we at a point like we are now in the targeted and planned destruction of our foundations. All of the freedoms afforded us by the Constitution are now being threatened by our own lawmakers. We need some real miracles from Heaven!
In Colonial days, the Colonists often declared days of Prayer during droughts, Indian attacks, threats from other nations, and the insecurity of our own colonies, always threatening to unravel.
A notable Day of Prayer was in 1746 when the French Admiral d’Anville sailed for New England with the most powerful fleet of the time- 70 ships with 13,000 troops. His intention was to recapture Louisburg, Nova Scotia, and destroy Boston to New York, reaching as far as Georgia. Massachusetts Governor William Shirley declared a Day of Prayer and Fasting on October 16, 1746. They met in Boston’s Old South Meeting House, and the Rev. Thomas Prince prayed a most fervent prayer for protection and defeat of the enemies’ threats; he began…”Send THY tempest Lord upon the water..scatter the ships of our tormentors!”
Historian Catherine Drinker Bowen relates that as he finished praying, the sky darkened, the winds shrieked, and church bells rang “a wild, uneven sound…though no man was in the steeple.” Well, a hurricane actually sank and scattered the entire French fleet. With 4,000 sick and 2,000 dead, including Admiral d’Anville, French Vice-Admiral d’Estournelle threw himself on his sword. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a most apropos Ballad about the event. Admiral d’Anville has sworn by cross and crown, to ravage with fire and steel our helpless Boston Town…From mouth to mouth spread tidings of dismay, I stood in the Old South saying humbly: “Let us pray!… Like a potter’s vessel broke, the great ships of the line were carried away as smoke or sank in the brine.”
On May 24, 1774, Thomas Jefferson drafted a Resolution for a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer to be observed as the British blockaded Boston’s Harbor. It was introduced in the Virginia House of Burgess, and with the support of Patrick Henry, Richard Lee, and George Mason, it passed unanimously! Members of the House were ordered to attend as the Reverend Mr. Price was appointed to read prayers and the Reverend Mr. Gwatkin to preach a sermon. Can you believe this? Where is the separation of church and state, as touted so arrogantly today?
George Washington wrote in his diary on June 1, 1774: “Went to church, fasted all day.”
On April 15th, 1775, just a few days before the Battle of Lexington, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, led by John Hancock, declared: “ In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments…the 11th of May next be set apart as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting, Prayer…to confess the sins…to implore the Forgiveness of all our Transgression.”
On April 19.1775, Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull proclaimed a Day of Prayer and Fasting.
On June 12, 1775, less than two months after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress, under President John Hancock, declared, “Congress…considering there present critical, alarming and calamitous state…do earnestly recommend, that Thursday the 12th of July next, be observed by the inhabitants of all English colonies on this Continent, as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer….”
On July 5, 1775, the Georgia Provincial Congress passed: “ A motion…that this Congress apply to his Excellency the Governor…requesting him to a appoint a Day of Fasting and Prayer throughout this Province…due to disputes between America and the Parent State.
November 8, 1783, at the end of the Revolutionary War, Massachusetts Governor John Hancock issued: “ These Citizens of these United States have every reason for praise and gratitude to the God of their salvation…I do..appoint..the 11th day of December next (the day recommended by Congress to all States) to be religiously observed as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, that all people may then assemble to celebrate..that he hath been pleased to continue to us the Light of the Blessed Gospel…That we also offer up fervent supplications..to cause pure Religion and Virtue to flourish..and to fill the world with His glory.”
So, friend, as you can see from these examples, and mind you, I can give you close to 100 or more the government, not just the church, called on God to bring deliverance from their enemies and to help the new nation grow strong on every level. The fallacy of interpretation today of the Separation of Church and State is one we need to address as often as we can. In the meantime, let us give ourselves to prayer and fasting for the salvation of our current situations, which are myriad and problematic, to say the least. God has promised He will heal our land if we will pray….
Until Next Week…
Allen
