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| The Prayer At Valley Forge by Arnold Friberg (1976). |
Exactly 230 years ago today in American history, President George Washington issued the following proclamation on Saturday, October 3, 1789, designating
Thursday, November 26th of that year as a national day of thanks.
In his proclamation,
Washington declared that the necessity for such a day sprung from the
Almighty’s care of Americans prior to the Revolution, assistance to them
in achieving independence, and help in establishing the constitutional
government.
George Washington was the first United States president to issue a Thanksgiving proclamation. This was the first official American Thanksgiving Day as a nation under the US Constitution.
Thanksgiving Proclamation
New York, 3 October 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 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 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 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
