Date: October 3, 1789
By: George Washington
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 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 Twenty-Sixth 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 tranquility, union, and plenty which
we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which
we have been enable 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 favours
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 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 unto 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, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
