As leaders in this day and this time, it is
incumbent upon us collectively to both recall and reflect upon the true
heritage of our nation and its public observance of a day of Thanksgiving and
prayer.
Thanksgiving
Day 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 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 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 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 if 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 have been 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 pleased to confer on us.
And also
that we may then unite in most humbly offering 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 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
third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
George
Washington
As my family and I prepare to observe in accordance
with the spirit and content of President Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation…
I pray that our sovereign nation would again be blessed with authentic
leadership such as first founded these United States two hundred and thirty
eight years ago, and that almighty God would bring forth Godly leaders that
would follow His divine plan, purpose and will for our nation, heal our land,
unite our People and restore the foundational premise of our nation’s
existence.
I extend my sincere and earnest wish to you and your family for a Happy Thanksgiving!
