Johnathan
Trumbull
1710-1785
—
Served in the Assembly, Chief Justice of the Superior Court, Colonial Governor
of Connecticut . . . He was the only governor of the 13 states to serve in that
capacity throughout the whole Revolution . . . Probably did more than any single
man to supply men, munitions and materials to General George Washington . . . Became
one of Washington's closet friends and confidantes . . . Washington called him "Brother
Jonathan."
Excerpt
of a proclamation, issued while Governor of Connecticut, on November 22, 1781,
calling for prayer and thanksgiving:
". . .One great part of the duty of this day, is to stir up ourselves to charity
to the poor and distressed, which ought always to accompany our prayers and our
thanksgivings. Thy prayers and thine alms, saith the angel to Cornelius, are come
up before God: — therefore if we desire that our prayers and our praises
should reach heaven, and receive a gracious acceptance and answer from God, we
must send up our alms along with them. God hath said, Deal thy bread to the hungry,
and bring the poor that are cast out to thine house; when thou seest the naked
that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh. Then
shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy salvation shall spring forth
speedily; thy righteousness, or thine alms, shall go before thee, and the glory
of the Lord shall be they reward; then shalt thou call, and I will answer thee;
thou shalt cry, and He shall say, here I am. . .."[9]
He
wrote a letter of resignation to the state legislature in October 1783 explaining,
that after 14 years, at age 73, he wanted to return to his ministerial studies.
"On
my advanced state of life, a life worn out almost in the constant cares of office,
I think it is my duty to retire from the busy concern of public affairs, that
at the evening of my days I may sweeten their decline by devoting myself with
less avocation and more attention to the duties of religion - the service of my
God in preparation for a future and happier state of experience in which pleasing
employment I shall not cease to remember my country and to make it my ardent prayer
that Heaven will not fail to bless her with its choicest favors."[10]