Wednesday, November 25, 2009

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving 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 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 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 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 show 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 dy of October, A.D. 1789.

(signed) G. Washington

Happy Thanksgiving one and all,

Wade Burleson

10 comments:

Bob Cleveland said...

Despite what one might say about the President's Declaration, in contrast with the general condition of the USA and its populace, today, I'll just say nice post, and I hope you and your all have a marvelous Thanksgiving Day, too.

RM said...

You sure wouldn't hear that coming out of Washington today.

Rex Ray said...

RM,
I believe you are referring to the shameful words:

“One of the great strengths of the United States is that it does not consider itself a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”

The first step to accept something Desired is substitute the Existing to something different.
The last step is to substitute the Different to the Desired.

The changing of ‘Christian Nation’ to a ‘Nation of values’ is the first step. What will be the last step?

I see the first step happing in our proposed BGCT Church Constitution:
The BFM 1963 has been substituted by 2 pages of beliefs or values.

It was made easier to see by a paper given to the church saying we would be lead to accept the BFM 2000.

BTW, I read where Wiley Drake has changed asking for Obama to die to asking prayers for his protection until he can be properly tried for treason.

Drake’s lawsuit has been dismissed on the grounds that only Congress has the authority to remove a sitting president.

If Obama has a legal birth certificate, why wouldn’t he want to prove it in a court of law?

Maybe being a lawyer, he knows he would lose and his actions sure wouldn't help.

Anonymous said...

"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-George Washington


lol Check out this word ver: tumsts (Tums Top Strength; how appropriate today---err tonight.)

Christiane said...

I am thankful for the first Ammendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."


This means that the old Jewish rabbi I visit will not be persecuted for his faith, with the blessings of our government.
Most of his original family died in a country that considered itself a 'Christian Nation'. They died in a Nazi death camp.

I hope we never take our freedom of religion for granted.

Even today, on this holiday, our soldiers are in the field defending our way of life. Our freedom of religion comes at a very great price.

Love, L's

Rex Ray said...

Has Obama said anything that would keep America from becoming Muslim?

If we are not a Christion Nation, but only have ideals and values, do not Muslim Nations have ideals and values.

Math teaches “Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Rex Ray said...

George W. Truett believed that only Christ’s church—not any government—offered hope for lasting peace.

Would he would roll over in his grave if he heard, “U.S. will never be at war with Islam”.

“Speak Softly and Cary a Big Stick” has changed to laryngitis with a toothpick.

“Don’t Tread on Me” has changed to a white flag.

Obama spoke truth when he said he would CHANGE America.

Rex Ray said...

Some think there’s no difference between Wiley Drake wanting Obama tried for treason and the most radical Muslim.

It doesn’t make sense for a Christian to bow to a Muslim, but a Muslim to a Muslim…Hmmmm

Drake is crying TREASON for the injustice of dragging America in the mud by bowing to a Muslim mass murderer of his own people.

If King David and Samson bowed to the Philistines, they’d be selling Israel and God down the river.

What is Obama doing to America?

Hey! You guys aren’t scared of a possible visit from the CIA are you?
Your silence seems to speak volumes.

That will rest my case until I think of something else. :)

Anonymous said...

Rex,

I am no dispensationalist, but Obama is the closest thing I have seen in my lifetime to an Antichrist. 2010-2016 just may very well be the tribulation.

lol

Come CIA come!

Gene S said...

Wow--how quickly a beautiful statement by a deist becomes a battle for the America is Christian bull!!!

You conservative guys are a riot!

I read clearly what our "Founding President" said and know he is reflecting the high ideals of the Founding Fathers who surrounded him. The were all products of the "Age of Enlightenment." Opposite this, you had the "Age of Repression" going on in England and Europe. The people in those countries were there to serve Government and America was founded with the dream that Government would serve the People.

Where was the "God bless America" in Washington's statement? He was saying:

(1) There is a deity
(2) We have been blessed and should take a day to reflect on the divine blessing

He did not say:

(1) America is a Christian nation
(2) All citizens should be "forced" to pray
(3) We cannot use any other name for the deity besides "God"
(4) We have a God-given right to rule/influence all the nations of the world
(5) Now it's time for some football and beer

Read in the context of the day, it bespeaks the ideals of our nation's founding!

We need to get off the world-dominating through war technology mode and let all nations seek freedom to choose--communism / Islam / dictatorship / etc.

By our wise use of democracy to revolt against failed leaders rather than the gun and sword, we can have a revolution every 2 /4 /6 years. We got one last November, but conservatives have not quit criticizing and name calling yet with a mile wide MEAN STREAK!

How about a little family love alongside gluttony and football-with-beer / nap! What the world needs now is love sweet love...