Thanksgiving Proclamation
Issued by President
George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789
By the President of the
United States of America, a 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 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 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 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 favor,
able 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 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 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 to 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 1789.
Go. Washington
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