American Remembrance
Proclamation Thanksgiving in 1789 by George Washington 10/03/1789
This is the text of George Washington's October 3, 1789 national Thanksgiving Proclamation; as printed in The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, on October 17, 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 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 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 one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
G. Washington."
"the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts....Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."-Paul from the Book of Romans chapter 1 sometime before "the year of our Lord seventy" and since then received and believed by many millions thousands of years later.
One thing that I have found common amongst the writings of the forefathers is that they publicly confessed a great concern for giving glory to God for whatever good came their way and if bad was in their way they accepted that at the hand of God, also.
The issue of slavery is the issue that Thomas Jefferson wrote in context of these interesting words, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just".
Thomas Jefferson was by no means a Christian but was a supporter of Christianity though not a believer as far as we know but these words have the influence of Christianity on them. I wonder if the ills of today in our nation are because we have become an ungrateful people toward God. May some grasp ahold of the Biblical wisdom our forefathers had by His providential grace this thanksgiving.
