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.
And this proclamation by President Washington Oct.3,1789 was in compliance with a Congressional Act of Sept.25,1789 and reflects well enough the comments made by Roger Sherman of Conn. in Congress affirming the call for a national Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to mark the adoption o four Bill of Rights thus fulfilling the Promise made in the Convention of 1787 to prepare our US Constitution. Mr. Sherman declared in Congress that Thanksgiving was laudable in itself but warranted by a number of precedents in the Holy Writ:” and he gave appropriate examples.The issue at hand is the supposed violation of the Establishment Clause. The remedy ,as I see it , can only be found in the terms adopted as they were understood when adopted.Metaphysical refinements and test of logical skill that can make everything mean anything or nothing at pleasure —are Out of place as Jefferson -then Justice Joseph Story both published. As true of such if constructed by the individual citizen —or by a corrupted Court that defends legal shorthand /tests like the Lemon test, the Endorsement test,or any other construct intended to beguile and defend the Fraud perpetrated since 1947 more than the Constitution and Laws Every Judge in every State swears to defend.The precedent in history seems the judiciary Committee Reports by Mr Badger in the US Senate Jan. 19,1853, and Corresponding US House Judiciary Committee Report by Mr.Meacham 27 March,1854 both of which affirm the Commentaries by Justice Joseph Story ,1833—1859-and the history of our Bill of Rights In Congress June- Sep.25,1789
It makes No difference what the Atheists,or any other Bigot might choose to believe so long as the supreme Court does not violate the right of conscience by making all prayer a mockery by instituting a disclaimer to accommodate Bigotry and unbelief.