State of Louisiana

M.J. “Mike” Foster, Jr.

Governor

Proclamation

 WHEREAS, the Preamble to the Constitution of the state of Louisiana states that “We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the      civil, political, economic, and religious liberties we enjoy…and secure the blessings of freedom and justice to ourselves and our posterity, 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 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 Memorialand 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 to our U.S. Bill of Rights, affirmed: “That 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, M.J. Foster, Jr., Governor of the state of Louisiana, do proclaim the week of April 25 through May 1, 1999, as Louisiana’s fourth annual

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK

in the state of Louisiana.

Attest By: The Governor

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this the 14^thday of September A.D., 1999.

M. J. Foster Jr.

Governor of Louisiana

Fox McKeithen

Secretary of State