Posted by
Billy on Thursday, November 26, 2009 11:49:50 AM
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 PUBLICK 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.
(Read all of George
Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789.)