Presidents Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley Proclamations for Prayer

A previous post on this blog reviewed the news of a federal judge's ruling that our tradition of declaring a national day of prayer is not constitutional. This was despite evidence presented of 164 such declarations starting with our first Congress (who wrote the Constitution).

Below are the 13 proclamations made just in the years between 1889 and 1899:

1889 - Benjamin Harrison Proclamation on April 4, 1889. A day to “implore the favor of God” set apart on April 30, 1889.65 The centennial of George Washington’s inauguration address as the first President of the United States motivated the call to prayer.

1889 - Benjamin Harrison Proclamation on November 1, 1889. A day of “national thanksgiving and prayer” set apart on November 28, 1889.66 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1890 - Benjamin Harrison Proclamation on November 8, 1890. A day of “prayer and thanksgiving” set apart on November 27, 1890.67 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1891 - Benjamin Harrison Proclamation on November 13, 1891. A day of “joyful thanksgiving to God” set apart on November 26, 1891.68 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1892 - Benjamin Harrison Proclamation on July 21, 1892. A day to express “gratitude to Divine Providence for the devout faith of the discoverer and for the divine care and guidance which has directed our history and so abundantly blessed our people” set apart on October 21, 1892.69 Celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America motivated the call to prayer.


1892 - Benjamin Harrison Proclamation on November 4, 1892. A day for “thanksgiving to God for His mercies and of supplication for His continued care and grace” set apart on November 24, 1892.70 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1893 - Grover Cleveland Proclamation on November 3, 1893. A day of “thanksgiving and praise” set apart on November 30, 1893.71 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1894 - Grover Cleveland Proclamation on November 1, 1894. A day of “thanksgiving and prayer” set apart on November 29, 1894.72 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1895 - Grover Cleveland Proclamation on November 4, 1895. A day of “thanksgiving and prayer” set apart on November 28, 1895.73 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1896 - Grover Cleveland Proclamation on November 4, 1896. A day of “thanksgiving and prayer” set apart on November 26, 1896.74 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1897 - William McKinley Proclamation on October 29, 1897. A day of “national thanksgiving and prayer” set apart on November 25, 1897.75 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1898 - William McKinley Proclamation on October 28, 1898. A day for “giving thanks to Almighty God” set apart on November 24, 1898.76 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.


1899 - William McKinley Proclamation on October 25, 1899. A day for “general thanksgiving and prayer” set apart on November 30, 1899.77 Reflecting on the closing year motivated the call to prayer.

The quotes above and the citations for them can be found in the ACLJ's amicus brief linked from this page:

ACLJ: Court Decision Declaring National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional 'Flawed' - Case Could End Up At Supreme Court