| To: slave who wrote (46792) | 11/24/1999 3:28:00 PM |
| From: Dean Wilson | Respond to of 116424 |
| |
Here's George Washington and Congress getting a national Thanksgiving Day rolling:
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 favorable
>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
>supplication 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 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 3d day of October, AD
>1789
>
>George Washington |
