Day of Public Thanksgiving
NOVEMBER 26, 1789
- A national day of Thanksgiving was observed in the United States having been recommended by President George Washington and approved by Congress. Washington had made the recommendation on October 3 as follows:
"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 shown 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 encrease 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."
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