Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress,
on October 3, 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 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
