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(Standard Features Syndicate) On March 4th, 1797, President John Adams (1735-1826) delivered his inaugural address in the City of Philadelphia, and in concluding, stated: “And may that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, Hebraic Influences on President Adams by ERWIN FETTERS STANDARD FEATURES SYNDICATE “Our Best To You Local Sinclair Dealers Best Car Zm-Sinclair Sinclair SINCLAIR refining company 600 Fifth Avervoe. New y 55 Marietta St., N.W. Atlanta 3, Georgia and the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, con tinue His blessing upon this na tion and this Government and give it all possible success and duration consistent with the ends of His providence.” On May 24th, 1797, during a period of stress and strain with the Government of France, upon whom war was to be declared, with the appointment by President Adams of General George Wash ington as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Adams in his answer to the Senate, in which the trouble with France and the negotiations towards an adjustment with the French Republic were the main topic, said: “In a humble reliance on Divine Providence, we may rest assured that while we reiter ate with sincerity our endeavors to accommodate all our differences with France, the independence of our country cannot be diminished, its dignity degraded or its glory tarnished by any nation or com bination of nations, whether friends or enemies.” A Proclamation issued on March 23rd, 1798, by President Adams, begins as follows: “As the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgment of this truth is not only an indispensible duty which the people owe to Him, but a duty whose natural influence is favorable to the promotion of that morality and piety, without which social happiness- can not exist nor the blessings of a free government be enjoyed; and as this duty, at all times incumbent, is so especially in seasons of diffi culty and danger, when existing or threatening calamities, the jus', judgments of God against preval ent iniquity, are a loud call to re pentance and reformation: and as the United States of America arc at present placed in a hazardous and afflictive situation by an un friendly disposition, conduct and demands of a foreign power, evinced by repeated refusals to receive our messengers of recon ciliation and peace, by depreda tions on our commerce, and the infliction of injuries on very many of our fellow-citizens while en gaged in their lawful business on the seas — under these consider ations it has appeared to me that the duty of imploring the mercy and benediction of Heaven on our country demands at this time a special attention from its inhab itants.” “I have therefore thought fit to recommend and I do hereby rec ommend, that Wednesday, the 9th day of May, be observed through out the United States as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer; that the citizens of these States abstaining on that day from their customary worldly occupa tions, offer their devout addresses to the Father of Mercies agreeably to those forms or methods and be coming; acknowledge before God the manifold sins and transgres sions with which we are justly chargeable as individuals and as a nation, beseeching Him * * * *. And he ends his Proclamation with a solemn prayer to God Almighty: “And finally, I recommend that on the said day the duties of humiliation and prayer be accom panied by fervent thanksgiving to the Bestower of Every Good Gift, not only for His having hitherto protected and preserved the peo ple of these United States in the independent enjoyment of their religious and civil freedom, but also for having prospered them in a wonderful progress of popu lation, and for conferring on them many and great favors conducive to the happiness and prosperity of a nation.” In another Proclamation setting aside Thursday, April 25th, 1799, as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer, he begins the solemn admonition: “As no truth is more clearly taught in the Volume of Inspira tion, nor any more fully demon strated by the experience of all ages that a deep sense and a due acknowledgment of the governing providence of a Supreme Being and of the accountableness of men to Him as the searcher of hearts and righteous distributor of re wards and punishments are con ducive equally to the happiness and rectitude of individuals and to the wellbeing of communities * * * * make their acknowledg ments of dependence and obliga- The Southern Israelite <5