Thought for Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007

General Thanksgiving

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 favour; and Whereas both Houfes
of Congress have, by their joint committee, requefted
me "to recommend to the people of the United States
a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING 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 eftablifh a form of
government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY,
the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted
by the people of thefe States to the fervice 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
fincere and humble thanks for His kind care and
protection of the people of this country previous to
their becoming a nation; for the fignal and manifold
mercies and the favorable interpofitions of His
providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late
war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and
plenty which we have fince enjoyed;-- for the
peaceable and rational manner in which we have been
enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for
our fafety and happinefs, and particularly the
national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil
and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and
the means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful
knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the
great and variousfavours which He has been pleafed
to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in moft humbly
offering our prayers and fupplications to the great
Lord and Ruler of Nations and befeech Him to pardon
our national and other tranfgreffions;-- to enable
us all, whether in publick or private ftations, to
perform our feveral and relative duties properly
and punctually; to render our National Government
a bleffing to all the people by conftantly being a
Government of wife, juft, and conftitutional laws,
difcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to
protect and guide all fovereigns and nations
(especially fuch as have shewn kindnefs unto us);
and to blefs them with good governments, peace,
and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice
of true religion and virtue, and the increafe of
fcience among them and us; and, generally to grant
unto all mankind fuch a degree oftemporal profperity
as he alone knows to be beft.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York,
the third day of October, in the year of our Lord,
one thousand feven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday,
October 14, 1789