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George Washington's Amazing 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Writer's picture: Adam RichardsonAdam Richardson

Thanksgiving - to God Almighty - is a historic American tradition.

 

Our thirteen colonies were ruled by the Continental Congress from 1774-1789, overlapping the Revolutionary War. They were all happy to publicly thank and honor God in their civic capacities. On November 1, 1777, Congress issued one of the first Thanksgiving proclamations:



Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also to smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war…It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessing on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole…” Take note - this is the standing American government, publicly humbling itself before God and thanking Him for the “bounties of his common providence” and asking His continued blessing. Wow.

 

Fast forward twelve years. On September 25, 1789, at the close of the historic first Federal Congress in New York, both houses of Congress approved the final “Bill of Rights” (including the 12 “amendments”) by joint resolution. On that SAME DAY, Representative Elias Boudinot proposed a resolution calling on President George Washington to “Recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer… 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.”



After some debate, the Senate affirmed the motion, and sent a delegation to President Washington, who had anticipated the motion and was already prepared to affirm it. Later presidents Adams and Madison also made Thanksgiving proclamations, as well as several by Abraham Lincoln. The fourth Thursday in November was finally established by Franklin Roosevelt in 1941 as the official national day of Thanksgiving, where it remains today.

 

So in response to the invitation of Congress, on October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued this presidential proclamation:

 

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.

 

Go: Washington



As a side note: decades later, in 1813, Representative Elias Boudinot (who first presented the idea of a national day of Thanksgiving to President Washington and who was an outspoken abolitionist), became the first president of the American Bible Society. The first vice-president (and later president) of the ABS was also the co-author of the Federalist Papers (with Hamilton and Madison), Governor of NY, and America’s first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable John Jay.

 

May we, the American people, continue this tradition established by our national fathers, and to acknowledge as Washington said “with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God,” and “that we may all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks…and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions…to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue…to render our national government a blessing to all the people.” And may we the people faithfully carry on this vision!


Postscript: NGO Historic.us curates original source docouments related to American history. See its full record of presidential Thanksgiving Proclamations here.

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