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 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 favor, able interpositions of His
providence 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 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 trangressions; 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 third day
of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington
