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The Original Meaning Of Thanksgiving: George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789
STEVELACKNER.COM ^ | November 24, 2011 | Steven W. Lackner

Posted on 11/24/2011 1:57:34 PM PST by stevelackner

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 tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have 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 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 3d day of October, AD 1789

George Washington

For all the Presidential Proclamations of Thanksgiving spanning from George Washington's in 1789 to James Madison's in 1815, visit http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc1789.htm


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: georgewashington; proclamation; thanksgiving

1 posted on 11/24/2011 1:57:37 PM PST by stevelackner
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To: stevelackner
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."
If that were engraved on the walls of the Capitol, the Obama administration would have it sandblasted off.
2 posted on 11/24/2011 2:21:24 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (guitars and women.)
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To: stevelackner

Excellent! I read Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation today before we prayed and ate, and may do Washington tonight. Thanks!


3 posted on 11/24/2011 2:22:31 PM PST by jimmyray
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To: stevelackner

Compare this with Obama’s Thanksgiving Proclamation where God is not even mentioned. However, Obama does not seem to have any problem invoking Allah when addressing Muslims.


4 posted on 11/24/2011 5:25:35 PM PST by The Great RJ ("The problem with socialism is that pretty soon you run out of other people's money" M. Thatcher)
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To: stevelackner

“...True religion (the Bible), virtue and science.” That’s why American is the best country - ever.


5 posted on 11/24/2011 5:43:06 PM PST by Falconspeed ("Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94))
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To: The Great RJ

Exactly


6 posted on 11/24/2011 7:37:26 PM PST by RnMomof7
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