George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

[handy]

I think that our first President would be glad to see that we still gather to give thanks in this nation. I hope and pray that more and more will come to know the One who is altogether worthy to receive our thanks and gratitude.

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving 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 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 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 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

 

[Vic C.]

Thanks Dora and Happy Thanksgiving!

Back then, it was almost customary for our leaders to ask the citizens to set aside a day for thanksgiving. Washington sat aside Thurs., 26th. of Nov. which happens to coincide with this year's date. A couple of presidents declared at least two days a year. Party pooper (LOL) Jefferson cried foul and said it caused a conflict between the church and the state.

After Madison declared April 13, 1815 as a day of thanksgiving, it stopped until Lincoln re-instituted it in 1863. He declared November 26, would be a national Thanksgiving Day, which was to be observed every year on the 4th. Thursday each November. :amen

FDR changed it to the 3rd. Thurs. during the depression to add an "extra" week to the Christmas shopping "season". It only lasted for the years of 1939 and 40. In 1941, it was moved back to the 4th. Thurs. and Congress made it an official yearly "holiday".

 

[jasoncran]

good speech, the sad thing today if a president did that today the aclu would shut them down.