Throughout the American Revolution Congress had set aside days of Thanksgiving to God for American victories. After the surrender of Burgoyne in 1777 Congress authorized General Washington to proclaim a national day of Thanksgiving, which he did, designating it to be observed on December 18, 1777. Thus, President Washington readily agreed when the new federal Congress authorized him to issue a Thanksgiving Proclamation, establishing the first American Thanksgiving to be held on the last Thursday in November. Washington observed the day by attending church at Saint Paul Chapel and donating beer and food to imprisoned debtors in New York City. Here is the text of the proclamation:
Thanksgiving 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 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 tranquillity, 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
Happy Thanksgiving to all TAC contributors, commenters and readers!
A happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all here, and if you’re not in the USA, then a blessed and happy day to you as well. Best wishes to all for a prosperous and peaceful 2024. Especially peaceful. I suspect that may be a challenge for many of us. Keep in mind that God wins in the end, but He never promised the road to Eternity would be easy. .
That was when government thanked God for Jesus. If we practice our freedom we will get good at it. Jesus Christ was the freest man to ever walk the earth. Jesus Christ is the Real Presence.
Happy Thanksgiving day to TAC.
Agreed, Frank and Mary. It doesn’t take long for a few disobedient fellows to influence others. Our Nation is still compromised of good God fearing men and women. Unfortunately you can’t stay at a crossroads forever. Observations convince me that many non-God fearing people have chosen a dead end street.
We never give up though.
We know who holds our future and He Is Christ the King.
If that I’m most thankful.
Comprised………geessh
That Washington begins with “duty” seems typical of the 18th century Protestant British authors I have read on the issue of religion: Burke, Johnson, etc. “We owe God” is true and men of that class took duties seriously, although taken alone (without the additional ideas of love and personal relationship) duty can lead to a “do et des” idea of religion (and by education these men were steeped in the Greek and Roman classical authors who spoke the same way).
So when John Adams says, “Our Constitution is made for a religious people; it can work for no other”, he means not necessarily a devote people, but a dutiful one: a people who accept obligations to God, their country and their fellow citizens, and carry them out faithfully.