by
President George Washington
October
3, 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 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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