[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14914]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

  (Mr. FORBES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Congressional 
Prayer Caucus to note the importance of prayer in the founding of our 
country.
  This week in 1791, John Hancock, a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence and the Governor of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation 
declaring a day of public Thanksgiving.
  John Hancock said in part, ``I have thought fit to appoint a day of 
public Thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God for all his goodness 
towards us, above all, not only to continue to us the enjoyment of our 
civil rights and liberties, but the great and most important blessing, 
the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do earnestly recommend that we may join 
the penitent confession of our sins and implore the further continuance 
of the Divine Protection and blessings of Heaven upon this people, 
especially that He would be graciously pleased to direct and prosper 
the administration of the Federal Government and the other States in 
the Union, to bless the allies of the United States, and to afford His 
almighty aid to all people, who are virtuously struggling for the 
rights of men, so that universal happiness may be established in the 
world, that all may bow to the scepter of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
the whole Earth be filled with His glory.''

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