George
Washington's
1789
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations
to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will,
to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His
protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have,
by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the
people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and
PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the
many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording
them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government
for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign
THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted
by the people of these States to the service of that great and
glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that
was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in
rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind
care and protection of the people of this country previous to
their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and
the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and
conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility,
union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the
peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to
establish Constitutions of government for our safety and
happiness, and particularly the national one now lately
instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we
are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing
useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and
various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then
unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to
the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon
our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all,
whether in public or private stations, to perform our several
and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our
National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly
being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws,
discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and
guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown
kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments,
peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of
true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them
and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree
of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN
under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of
October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and
eighty-nine.
(signed) G.
Washington