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.

George Washington


hear it on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UScpl_stz0

Photocopy of the original handwritten manuscript can be found on the Internet.

also see thread: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1393802_Our_First_Thanksgiving_Day_Proclamation.html&light=Thanksgiving%7CProclamation

NOTE:

Shortly after the Thanksgiving Proclamation was written, it was lost for 130 years. The original document was written in long hand by William Jackson, secretary to the President, and was then signed by George Washington. It was probably misplaced or mixed in with some private papers when the US capitol moved from New York to Washington, D.C. The original manuscript was not placed in the National Archives until 1921 when Dr. J. C. Fitzpatrick, assistant chief of the manuscripts division of the Library of Congress found the proclamation at an auction sale being held at an art gallery in New York. Dr Fitzpatrick purchased the document for $300.00 for the Library of Congress, in which it now resides. It was the first official presidential proclamation issued in the United States.

He sure mentions God a lot. Sounds like a dangerous Religious-Right fundy nutjob, if you ask me.

May God bless America!

It would be nice to have men like that in government today.

Happy Thasgiving everyone...I am thankful that we had visionary leaders once upon a time

GWs proclamation will be read at our Thanksgiving get together here in a few minutes.  We have abandoned our young people to ignorance of what our founding fathers originally intended our country to stand for.  I hope to correct a little of that shortly.

Well, it did not go exactly as expected.  We had some folks at the table who were more anxious to get to the day's NFL football game rather than to listen to GW being read.
Some looked at me like I had just gotten there from Mars, but others were duly impressed at GWs words.  I told the youngsters to take the copies I brought and a thumb tack to school next week and tack it to the bullet board.

No sermons, but I did sit there thinking that at our current rate of decline, an Imam will have to be invited to declare Fatwah on the turkey next year or your family will be fined for bigotry and racism for enjoying Thanksgiving without giving Mohammed and Allah their due for founding this nation.