Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[972] preserve the Union, order, tranquility, and independence of the United States; that He would protect us from the assaults of open enemies, and from the snares of insidious friends; that He would suffer no weapon formed against us to prosper, but would set as naught the councils of those who devise mischief against us.

That He would vouchsafe His blessings on our university, our colleges and seminaries of learning; that He would bless all means used for propagating true religion, and promote the pious purposes of those who endeavor to disseminate a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures that all may learn His will and obey His commandments.

And it is recommended that all unnecessary labor and recreation be suspended on that day; and I do specially exhort the ministers of the gospel on that day to feed their flocks the divine word, and not discourse upon political and other secular topics which divert the serious thoughts of the people from the humble worship of the Father.

Given at the council chamber in Boston this 11th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1883, and in the 107th year of the independence of the United States of America.

Benjamin F. Butler.

By his Excellency the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council.

Henry B. Peirce, Secretary.

God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Now, be it known that the good and pious gentlemen who occupied many of the pulpits in Massachusetts were quite active politicians, and it was very common for them to preach political sermons on Fast and Thanksgiving Days. Just as the professors of colleges know all about political economy, and therefore nearly all of them teach free trade, so these clergymen believed they knew all about finance, when the only financial operation which most of them had, except drawing their salaries, was to count the money in the contribution-boxes. I learned on the Monday before Fast Day that a great many of the clergymen had refused to read such a blasphemous proclamation as mine to their congregations; and that some had read it and commented upon it as they read, and that some after reading it carefully emphasized the customary closing phrase, “God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts” with great fervor, as if under the present governor there was great necessity for such intervention in that