Categories: Historical Documents

Michigan 2000

State of Michigan

EXECUTIVE DECLARATION

Governor John Engler

Hereby Issues this Executive Declaration

In Observance of

November 19 – 25, 2000

as

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK

WHEREAS, our nation was established on the foundation of our Judeo-Christian heritage, as our Founders knew that America’s experiment in ordered liberty could not succeed unless the American people remained mindful of God’s blessings and faithful to His will; and

WHEREAS, in Michigan, we are fortunate to have been blessed with beautiful rivers, lakes, fields, forests, and a people who, through hard work and intellectual effort and toil, have made cultural, industrial, agricultural, and educational advancements for the enrichment of life for our citizens; and

WHEREAS, In addition to having many blessings for which to be thankful, our society is also faced with difficult challenges, international unrest, and uncertain and changing times which test our people and challenge their beliefs; and

WHEREAS, it is our Christian Heritage which is treasured by so many of us, as Americans, that gives us strength during these trying times; and

WHEREAS, CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge our many blessings, to contemplate the numerous challenges that we, as a society and a nation, face here at home and throughout the world, and to rededicate ourselves to our nation’s spiritual roots, our personal faith, and His divine plan to spread Hope, Peace, and Love among all people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Engler, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby declare November 19 – 25, 2000, as CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK in Michigan, and I encourage the citizens of the Great Lakes State to recognize the importance of Christian beliefs and values to the life and culture of our state and nation.

Given under my hand on this thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord two thousand and of the Commonwealth one hundred and sixty-three.

JAMES ENGLER

Governor

West Virginia 2000 (month)

Proclamation

By Governor Cecil H. Underwood

WHEREAS,  the Preamble to the Constitution of West Virginia declares, “Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God…”; and,

WHEREAS,  the Declaration of Independence declares that our citizens are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights to “ … Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”; and,

WHEREAS,  the West Virginia Legislature opens each daily session with a prayer to Almighty God; and,

WHEREAS, West Virginians are a people grounded in faith and family, and our fundamental values have produced citizens with a strong sense of history, a fundamental commitment to our communities, a consistent desire to help others and a deep respect for the law; and,

WHEREAS, steadfast faith sustained our Mountaineer forefathers during years of hardship, suffering and isolation; and,

WHEREAS, our Christian heritage is seen daily in the character and lives of our citizens and by the many churches throughout the Mountain State;

Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved that I, Cecil H. Underwood, Governor of the State of West Virginia, do hereby proclaim April 2000, as Christian Heritage Month in West Virginia and encourage all citizens to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate each in their own way the heritage of our great state and nation where our motto is Mountaineers are Always Free.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.

Done at the Capitol, City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this the Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand , and in the One Hundred Thirty-seventh year of the State.

Cecil H. Underwood

Governor

By the Governor

Ken Hechler

Secretary of State

West Virginia 2000 (week)

Proclamation

By Governor Cecil H. Underwood

WHEREAS,  the Preamble to the Constitution of West Virginia declares, “Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God…”; and,

WHEREAS,  the Constitution of West Virginia guarantees religious freedom of religious speech and worship  to all citizens; and,

WHEREAS,  West Virginia is richly blessed in natural beauty and natural resources, reflecting God’s miracle of creation; and,

WHEREAS, steadfast faith sustained our Mountaineer forefathers through years of hardship, isolation and suffering; and,

WHEREAS, the week of Thanksgiving  is an appropriate time to center attention on our thanks to Almighty God for His great and good Providence and for the Christian faith, which is part of West Virginia’s and America’s history;

Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved that I, Cecil H. Underwood, Governor of the State of West Virginia, do hereby proclaim November 19-25, 2000, as Christian Heritage Week in the Mountain State and encourage all citizens to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate each in their own way the heritage of our great state where our motto is Mountaineers Are Always Free.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.

Done at the Capitol, City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand , and in the One Hundred Thirty-eighth year of the State.

Cecil H. Underwood

Governor

By the Governor

Ken Hechler

Secretary of State

New Jersey 2000

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Proclamation

WHEREAS, during 2000, we reflect on the goals set forth in past years to understand our Christian Heritage and to re-establish our original freedom of religious concepts; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of New Jersey states that, “We the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which he hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution”; and

WHEREAS, George Washington stated, “animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity”; and

WHEREAS, we also remember the words in the Declaration of Independence, when the Framers noted, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”; and

WHEREAS, these, and many other truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring American history, were Christian statesmen of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith;

NOW, THEREFORE, I CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim

SEPTEMBER 3 to SEPTEMBER 9, 2000

As

 CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK

in New Jersey.

GIVEN, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this twenty-third day of June in the year of Our Lord two thousand and of the Independence of the United States, the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

Christine Whitman

Governor

BY THE GOVERNOR:

DeFOREST B. SOARIES, JR.,

SECRETARY OF STATE

Nebraska 2000

STATE OF NEBRASKA

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS,      The Preamble to the Constitution of the State of Nebraska states that “We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government;” and

WHEREAS,      Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, stated: “It is impossible to build an empire without our Father’s aid. I believe the sacred writings which say that ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it’” (Psalm 127:1); and

WHEREAS,      George Washington enunciated: “animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity;” and

WHEREAS,      Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote: “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?;” and

WHEREAS,      James Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution, advocated “the diffusion of the light of Christianity in our nation” in his Memorial and Remonstrance; and

WHEREAS,      George Mason, in his Virginia Declaration of Rights, forerunner to our U.S. Bill of Rights, affirmed “that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other;” and

WHEREAS,      These and many other truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were Christian statesmen of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith.

NOW, THEREFORE,  I, Mike Johanns, Governor of the State of Nebraska, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM the week of November 19th through the 25th, 2000, as CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and cuase the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska to be affixed this Twenty-Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand.

Mike Johanns

Governor

Scott Moore

Secretary of State

Gold Beach, Oregon 1999

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS:  Christianity is an integral part of our Western civilization and the history of this nation; and

WHEREAS:  America was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and many Americans have benefited from this privilege by being able to pursue Christianity as a means of developing their own faith.

WHEREAS:It is important for Americans to know the influence of various religions and philosophies of our nation; and

WHEREAS: Christianity has been a constant source of moral and spiritual guidance for many Americans throughout history; and

WHEREAS: Christianity has been a major influence in American art, literature, music and has inspired a sense of charity in our communities; and

WHEREAS: Christianity has long provided inspiration, hope and comfort for millions of Americans and will continue to do so in the years ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Marlyn Schafer, Mayor of the City of Gold Beach,

Hereby proclaim

APRIL, 1999

AS

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE MONTH

In the City of Gold Beach and encourage all residents to join in this observance.

PROCLAIMED THIS 15THDAY OF APRIL, 1999, BY MAYOR SCHAFER, FOR THE CITY OF GOLD BEACH

Seal:                                                                                                   

Marlyn Schafer  

Mayor

 

ATTEST:

Dave Hagood, City Administrator

Coos Bay, Oregon 1999

Proclamation

WHEREAS, Christianity is an integral part of our Western civilization and the history of this nation; and

WHEREAS, America was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and many Americans have benefitted from this privilege by being able to pursue Christianity as a means of developing their own faith; and

WHEREAS, it is important for Americans to know the influence of various religions and philosophies of our nation; and

WHEREAS, Christianity has been a constant source of moral and spiritual guidance for many Americans throughout history; and

WHEREAS, Christianity has been a major influence in American art, literature, music and has inspired a sense of charity in our communities; and

WHEREAS, Christianity has long provided inspiration, hope and comfort for millions of Americans and will continue to do so in the years ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Joanne Verger, Mayor of the City of Coos Bay, Oregon, hereby proclaim April, 1999

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE MONTH

in Coos Bay and encourage citizens to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the City of Coos Bay to be affixed this 6thday of April.

Joanne Verger, Mayor

Virginia 1999

CERTIFICATE of RECOGNITION

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

THE 6THANNUAL CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia states that, “all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other”; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was written by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1786, and religious freedom is an inalienable right recognized by the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the principles of liberty, justice and equality upon which our great Commonwealth and nation were founded, as well as the very structure of representative government, originated from the tenets of Christianity; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is the birthplace of great men of faith such as George Washington, James Madison, Patrick Henry and George Mason who, as statesmen and leaders of integrity, courageously fought to preserve and protect morality; and

WHEREAS, Patrick Henry proclaimed, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation as founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ”; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting that the people of our Commonwealth recognize that the free and orderly society which we presently enjoy was established to a large extent by the faithful service of the men and women of moral integrity who preceded us;

NOW, THEREFORE, I James S. Gilmore, III, do hereby recognize March 7-13, 1999 as THE 6THANNUAL CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

James. S. Gilmore

 Governor

 Anne P. Petera

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Pennsylvania 1999

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Governor’s Office

Proclamation 

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK

February 21-27, 1999

WHEREAS, The Preamble to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania states that “We, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution;” and

WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 stated: “It is impossible to build an empire without our Father’s aid. I believe the sacred writings which say that ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it’ (Psalm. 127:1);” and

WHEREAS, George Washington enunciated: “animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity;” and

 WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote: “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction of these liberties are the gift of God?” and

WHEREAS, James Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution, advocated “the diffusion of the light of Christianity in our nation” in his Memorial and Remonstrance; and

 WHEREAS, Patrick Henry quoted Proverbs 14:34 for our nation: “Righteousness alone can exalt a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people;” and

WHEREAS, George Mason, in his Virginia Declaration of Rights, forerunner of our U.S. Bill of Rights, affirmed: “That it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other;” and

WHEREAS, these and many other truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were statesmen of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith.

THEREFORE, I Tom Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim February 21-27, 1999, as CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK in Pennsylvania.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg on this twenty-fifth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-third.

 

TOM RIDGE

Governor 

Rhode Island 1999

State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations

GUBERNATORIAL PROCLAMATION

Whereas, John Adams wrote, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were…the general principles of Christianity.” (Letter to Thomas Jefferson, June 28, 1813); and,

Whereas, Noah Webster taught, “The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His Apostles…This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.” (History of the United States, 1832, public school textbook.); and,

Whereas, Thomas Jefferson warned, “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed heir only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are the gift of God?” (Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781.); and

Whereas, James Madison proclaimed, “And to the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which as so richly enjoyed in his favored land.” (Presidential Proclamation, 1815.); and,

Whereas, Benjamin Rush encouraged, “Let the children…be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education.” (A Plan for Free Schools, 1787.); and

Whereas, George Washington exhorted, “We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation which disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” (“Inaugural Address”, April 30,1789.); and,

Whereas, Commemorating America’s Christian heritage provides an opportunity for those choosing to participate to thank God for His “Blessings of Liberty”, to ask His help in reinsuring “domestic Tranquility”, and to recognize our national need to reaffirm our “reliance on the protection of divine Providence” in keeping America a “Free and Independent” Nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINCOLN ALMOND, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, November 21 – 27, 1999 as America’s Christian Heritage Week in the State of Rhode Island and encourage all of its citizens to join me in this nationwide celebration of America’s Christian heritage.

In recognition whereof I have hereby set my hand and caused the Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to be hereunto affixed this 21st day of November, 1999.

Lincoln Almond

Governor

James R. Langevin

Secretary of State