President George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation
October 3, 1789
“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 favor-- 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 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 26th 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 which we
experienced 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 enabled 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 favors which he hath
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 shewn
[sic] kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and
concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and
the encrease [sic] 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.”
