Fasting

[Drygoods]

Good Day All,

Can someone explain why January 4, 1861, was set aside as a day of fasting???? And it may not have been a national one, simply a suggestion, however I have read many diary entries for days of fasting during the CW, but never one written before the war even started. I can understand the political climate as it was then, but find it surprising that the papers were urging a national fast day. Your thoughts? I found the below quote rather interesting from the diary entry of Priscilla Bond, of Maryland.

Friday, January 4, 1861...
This day is set apart as a fast day throughout the U.S. and prayer should be in every heart -- for our country stands in need of it more now than ever. Lord preserve us and give the "Heads" of our country knowledge to act right. Put it in their hearts, to act just in all the affairs of The nation.

If such a thing were suggested today, I seriously doubt that the country would go along with it, but it seemed common enough then. This is a fine example of interpretation that no one uses today, but would be of interest.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Fasting

It appears that the day of fasting was called for by President Buchanan as a means of seeking spiritual reprieve from the secession crisis; a national penance for the actions of those Southern states that chose to break the Constitution. It seems from what I found that the fast was not uniformly kept, due mostly to the high levels of distaste with Buchanan and how he managed the entire situation. My information is from Providence and the Invention of United States, 1607-1876 by Nicholas Guyatt. Google book preview here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=nCV...um=9&ct=result

[Drygoods]

Re: Fasting

Thank you very much Mr. Welch, from your resource, I found several other articles, such as;The President's Fast: A Discourse Upon Our National Crimes and Follies, Preached in the Broadway Tabernacle Church, January 4, 1861
By Joseph Parrish Thompson
Published by T. Holman, printer, 1861
26 pages

Your link and information is much appreciated!:D

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Fasting

I am glad to have been of assistance.

[J_V]

Re: Fasting

Hi,

The scope of the book just referenced has more to do with the subject of Americanism, as opposed to the subject of wartime fasting itself.

For another look at fasting, I'd suggest getting a copy of Christ in the Camp: Or Religion in Lee's Army, also available through Google Books. I am aware that you are looking for fasting declarations on the national scale, and this book contains appeals to the people of the Confederate States from Jefferson Davis, who declared several days of fasting throughout the War. (I suppose we could argue about the CS's national status, but that would be a red herring.)

Finally, one should understand fasting as an extension of other acts of religious obediance, like prayer, rather than a means of self-penitence only. There was a penitent application for the practice, but it was also used in The Bible to petition the Lord about national and personal matters, and subsequently by Christian societies through the 19th century up to the present time.