OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 263 



War in general, and particularly that of the said Articles, which forbids 

 Profane swearing and all other immoralities ; of which all such Officers 

 are desired to take Notice. It is left to each State to issue out Procla- 

 mations, fixing the day that appear most proper for their several bounds ; 

 'being laid before the Council, and the same being considered;' there- 

 upon, 



^'■Ordered, That Thursday the third day of April, be appointed for the 

 said purpose. A Draft of a Proclamation thereof being laid before the 

 Council, was read and approved, and is in the words following, viz : 

 ^^By the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 



"A PROCLAMATION. 

 " Whereas^ the Hon'ble the Continental Congress, pointing out to Pub- 

 lic bodies, as well as private persons, the duty of reverencing the Prov- 

 idence of God, and looking up to him as the Supreme disposer of all 

 events, and the Arbiter of the fate of Nations; did, on the 11th day of 

 December last, resolve to recommend to the several States the appoint- 

 ment of a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation, to implore of Al- 

 mighty God the forgiveness of the many Sins prevailing among all 

 Eanks, and by the Countenance and assistance of his Providence, in the 

 prosecution of the most just and necessary War into which the United 

 States have been forced by Great Britain, and which is still likely to be 

 continued by the same violence and injustice that has hitherto animated 

 the Enemies of American Freedom, and did, also, in the most earnest 

 manner, recommend to all the members of the United States, and par- 

 ticularly to the Officers, Civil and Military, under them, the exercise of 

 Eepentance and Eeformation, leaving it to each State to fix on such day 

 for the same as may be most proper for its bounds : 



" We, therefore, do hereby recommend to all the People of this Com- 

 monwealth, to observe and keep Thursday the third day of April next, 

 as a day of Solemn Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer, for the purposes 

 before mentioned, of which the inhabitants of this State are desired to 

 take notice. 



''Given in Council, under my hand and the Seal of the State, at Phila- 

 delphia, this Seventh day of March, in the Year, &c., 1777. 



"Tho's. Wharton, jun'r., President. 



"Attest — T. Matlack, Sec'y. 



"God Save THE Commonwealth." 



Whereupon, Ordered, That the same be Published in all the Papers, 

 English and German, and that Five Hundred Copies be struck oft" and 

 forwarded by the earliest opportunity to the distant parts of the State, 

 Three Hundred English and Two Hundred German. 



Adjourned to Monday next, Three O'Clock Afternoon. 



In Council of Safety, June 3, 1777. 



