Research Guides: Religious Aspects of the American Civil War: Fast-Day Sermons

Fast-Day Sermons

Fast days were publicly appointed days for citizens to reflect on issues or crises and the role of people and God in them. An ancient practice, fast days were first declared in America by colonial governments, and were continued by state governments and by the federal government.

These sermons are arranged by date and author.

1860

Fisher, George Park. National Faults; A Sermon Delivered in the Chapel of Yale College, on Fast Day, April 6th, 1860. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1860.

1861

Mayo, Amory Dwight. American Dangers and Duties. Albany: Weed, Parsons & Company, printers, 1861. [Exact date of delivery unknown]
Dewey, Orville. A Sermon, Preached on the National Fast Day at Church Green, Boston. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1861.

January 4, 1861

Bennett, Lorenzo Thompson. Our Present Duties and Responsibilities as Christian Patriots: A Sermon Delivered on the Day of the National Fast, in Christ Church, Guilford, Conn., January 4, 1861. New Haven: Printed by E.G. & H.B. Storer, 1861.
Cummins, George David. The African a Trust from God to the American: A Sermon Delivered on the Day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, in St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, January 4, 1861. Baltimore: John D. Toy, 1861.
Duffield, George, 1818-1888. The God of our Fathers: An Historical Sermon Preached in the Coates' Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on Fast Day, January 4, 1861. Philadelphia: T.B. Pugh, 1861 (Philadelphia: H.B. Ashmead).
Fiske, John Orr. A Sermon on the Present National Troubles Delivered in the Winter Street Church, January 4, 1861, the Day of the National Fast. Bath, [Maine]: Printed at the Daily Times Office, 1861.
Handy, Isaac W. K. Our National Sins: A Sermon, Delivered in the First Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth, Va., on the Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, January 4, 1861. Portsmouth, Va.: Office of the Daily and Weekly Transcript, 1861.
Hovey, Horace Carter. The National Fast: A Sermon Preached at Coldwater, Mich., January 4, 1861. Coldwater, Mich.: Republican Print, 1861.
Hudson, Henry Norman. Christian Patriotism: A Sermon Preached in St. Clement's Church, New York, Friday, Jan. 4th, 1861. New York: F. D. Harriman, 1861.
Humphrey, Heman. Our Nation: A Discourse Delivered at Pittsfield, Mass., January 4, 1861, on the Day of the National Fast. Pittsfield, Mass.: Henry Chickering, printer, 1861.
McGill, Alexander Taggart. Sinful but not Forsaken: A Sermon Preached in the Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue and Nineteenth Street, New York, on the Day of National Fasting, January 4, 1861. New York: Trow, printer, 1861.
Mercer, Alexander Gardiner. American Citizenship, Its Faults and their Remedies: A Sermon for the Day of National Fast, January 4, 1861. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1861.

September 26, 1861

Adams, Ezra Eastman. The Temple and the Throne, or, The True Foundations: A Sermon Preached in the North Broad Street Presbyterian Church, September 26th, 1861. Philadelphia: H.C. Peck & Theodore Bliss, 1861.
Bellows, Henry Whitney. The Valley of Decision: A Plea for Unbroken Fealty on the Part of the Loyal States to the Constitution and the Union, Despite the Offences of the Rebel States. New York: H.B. Price, 1861.
Carpenter, Hugh Smith. The Relations of Religion to the War: A Sermon Delivered on Fast-day, Sept. 26, 1861 by Hugh Smith Carpenter, Pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, South Brooklyn. New York: W.A. Townsend, 1861.
Dana, John Jay. The Acceptable Fast: A Sermon Preached in the Village Church in Cummington, Mass., on the Day of the National Fast, September 26, 1861. Northampton: Metcalf & Company, 1861.
Doggett, Thomas. A Sermon Preached on the Fast Day, September 26, 1861. Haverhill: E.G. Frothingham, printer, 1861.
Furness, William Henry. A Discourse Delivered on the Occasion of the National Fast, September 26th, 1861, in the First Congregational Unitarian Church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: T.B. Pugh, 1861.
Hedge, Frederic Henry. The National Weakness: A Discourse Delivered in the First Church, Brookline, on Fast Day, Sept. 26, 1861. Boston: Walker, Wise, and Co., 1861.
Lord, John Chase. The Justice of Our National Cause and the Momentous Issues for Our Nation, the Church and the World, which are Involved in the Result of the Present Civil War. Buffalo: Clapp, Matthews and Waite's Steam Printing House, 1861.
McCoskry, Samuel Allen. The Blessings and the Sins of the Nation, the Causes and the Remedy: A Sermon reached in St. Paul's Church Detroit, September 26, 1861. Detroit: H. Barns & Co., 1861.
Neill, James. Reasons for our Opposition to the Southern Confederacy: A Sermon Preached in the Central M. E. Church, Philadelphia, Thursday, September 26, 1861. Philadelphia: Collins, printer, 1861.
Skinner, Thomas Harvey. Comfort in Tribulation: An Address Delivered in the Reformed Dutch Church, Stapleton, S.I., September 26th, 1861, a Day Kept as a National Fast, by Appointment of the President of the United States. New York: A.D.F. Randolph
Stearns, William Augustus. Necessities of the War and the Conditions of Success in It: A Sermon Preached in the Village Church, . For the College. Amherst, Mass.: H.A. Marsh, 1861.
Steele, Daniel. The Cause, the Crime, and the Cure of our National Suicide: A National Fast Day Sermon Delivered in the Baptist Church, Springfield, September 26, 1861. Springfield, Mass.: Samual Bowles & Company, printers, 1861.
Walker, George Leon. The Offered National Regeneration: A Sermon, Preached in the State Street Church, Portland, on the Occasion of the National Fast, September 26, 1861. Portland, Me.: Advertiser Steam Job Office, Little, Bro. and Co., 1861.

1862

Stone, Andrew Leete. Emancipation: A Discourse Delivered in Park Street Church on Fast Day Morning, April 3, 1862. Boston: Henry Hoyt, 1862.
Thompson, Augustus Charles. Military Success from God: A Sermon, Preached in the Eliot Church, Roxbury, Fast Day, April 3, 1862. Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin & Son, 1862.
Paine, Levi Leonard. Political Lessons of the Rebellion: A Sermon Delivered at Farmington, Connecticut, on Fast Day, April 18, 1862. Farmington, S. S. Cowles, 1862.

1863

Willcox, William H. Hope for the Country: A Fast Day Sermon, Preached in the Bethesda Church, Reading. Boston: Wright and Potter, 1863. [Exact date of delivery unknown]

April 1863

Clarke, James Freeman. Discourse on the Aspects of the War: Delivered in the Indiana-Place Chapel, Boston, on Fast Day, April 2, 1863. Boston: Walker, Wise, 1863 (Boston: Prentiss & Deland).
Lamson, William. God Hiding Himself in Times of Trouble: A Sermon Preached on the Day of the State Fast, April 2, 1863, in the Baptist Church, Brookline, Mass. Boston: Gould and Lincoln, 1863.
Cleaveland, Elisha Lord. Our Duty in Regard to the Rebellion: A Fast Day Sermon Preached in the Third Congregational Church, New Haven, April 3, 1863. Conn.: Thomas H. Please, 1863.
Bellows, Henry Whitney. The War to End Only When the Rebellion Ceases. New York: Anson D.F. Randolph, 1863.
Brainerd, Thomas. Patriotism Aiding Piety: A Sermon, Preached in the Third Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on the 30th of April, 1863. Philadelphia: W.F. Geddes, 1863.
Fuller, Richard. Wrong and Right Dispositions under National Judgments: A Sermon Preached … on Thursday, April 30, 1863. Baltimore: W.M. Innes, 1863.
Giles, Chauncey. The Problem of American Nationality, and the Evils which Hinder its Solution: A Discourse Delivered on the Day of the National Fast, April 30, 1863 Cincinnati, 1863.
Reid, Adam. Government a Divine Ordinance: A Discourse Delivered on the Day of the National Fast, April 30, 1863, in the Congregational Church Salisbury, CT. Hartford: Press of Case, Lockwood & Company, 1863.

1864

Baker, A. R. A Discourse Delivered on the Annual Fast Before the Associated Evangelical Churches of Ward Twelve in Boston, April 7, 1864. Boston: Crosby & Nichols, 1864.
Chambré, Albert St. John. The Condition and Prospects of the Nation: A Sermon Preached in the Parish Church, Stoughton, Mass., on the National Fast Day, August 4, 1864. Boston: Printed by David Clapp, 1864.
Steele, Daniel. Two Rebellions: Benjamin and American Slaveholders: A National Fast-Day Sermon Delivered at the Baptist Church, Lima, N. Y., August 4th 1864, before the United Congregations. Rochester: C. D. Tracy & Co, 1864.

1865

Mills, Robert Curtis. The Southern States Hardened until Ruined: A Sermon Preached in Salem on Fast Day, April 13th 1865. Boston: J. M. Hewes, Printer, 1865.

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