[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15240]
[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 our Nation's history. 
On October 12, 1844, 167 years ago today, John Chambers, the Governor 
of Iowa Territory, issued a proclamation declaring a day of 
Thanksgiving to God.
  Chambers said, in part, ``I have deemed it proper to recommend a day 
of general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the many and great 
blessings we enjoy as a people and individually, and of prayer and 
supplications for the continuance of His mercy and goodness towards us; 
and for the prosperity, happiness, and ultimate salvation of the 
American people.
  ``We are told that `righteousness exalteth a nation' and are taught 
by divine authority that the voice of thanksgiving and prayer is 
acceptable to our Father in Heaven. Let us then unite our voices in the 
humble hope that they will reach the Throne of Grace and obtain for us 
a continuation and increase of blessings.''

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