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George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
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| 11/23/17
| G.W.
Posted on 11/23/2017 3:29:12 AM PST by The Ignorant Fisherman
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 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, A.D. 1789.
Go: Washington
TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: thanksgivivg
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To: The Ignorant Fisherman
I homeschool my 7th grader and got to learn real American History and civics along side of him (as opposed to the “social studies” of my public school days). I am moved to tears whenever I see things like this, and realize what huge sacrifices the Founding Fathers made for this nation. And then I think of all the harm that some want to do to our country and pray we can stop it.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the Freepers!
To: pinkandgreenmom
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
You beat me to it ...
Here's some more
background information to go with it.
LS, to Thomas Mifflin, CSmH;
LS, to John Sullivan, MB;
LS, to George Walton, NcD: George Walton Papers;
LB, DLC:GW; Df, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
There are minor changes in wording in the letters.
1. On 25 Sept. Elias Boudinot introduced in the House of Representatives a resolutionThat a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States, to request that he would 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 signal favors of Almighty God,
especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.
The House was not unanimous in its determination to give thanks.
Aedanus Burke of South Carolina objected that hedid not like this mimicking of European customs, where they made a mere mockery of thanksgivings.
Thomas Tudor Tuckerthought the House had no business to interfere in a matter which did not concern them.
Why should the President direct the people to do what, perhaps, they have no mind to do ?
They may not be inclined to return thanks for a Constitution until they have experienced that it promotes their safety and happiness.
We do not yet know but they may have reason to be dissatisfied with the effects it has already produced;
but whether this be so or not, it is a business with which Congress have nothing to do;
it is a religious matter, and, as such, is proscribed to us.
If a day of thanksgiving must take place, let it be done by the authority of the several States(Annals of Congress, 1st Cong., 1st sess., 94950).
Citing biblical precedents and resolutions of the Continental Congress, the proponents of a Thanksgiving celebration prevailed,
and the House appointed a committee consisting of Elias Boudinot, Roger Sherman, and Peter Silvester to approach GW.
The Senate agreed to the resolution on 26 Sept. and appointed William Samuel Johnson and Ralph Izard to the joint committee.
On 28 Sept. the Senate committee reported that they had laid the resolution before the president (DHFC, 1:192, 197, 3:232, 238).
GW issued the proclamation on 3 Oct., designating a day of prayer and thanksgiving.
See his Proclamation, this date.
Whatever reservations may have been held by some public officials, the day was widely celebrated throughout the nation.
The Virginia assembly, for example, resolved on 19 Nov. that the chaplainto this House, be accordingly requested to perform divine service,
and to preach a sermon in the Capitol, before the General Assembly, suitable to the importance and solemnity of the occasion, on the said 26th day of November (Journal of the House of Delegates, 1789, 70).
Most newspapers printed the proclamation and announced plans for public functions in honor of the day.
Many churches celebrated the occasions by soliciting donations for the poor.
Tobias Lear wrote to John Rodgers, pastor of the two Presbyterian churches in New York City, on 28 Nov., thatby direction of the President of the United States
I have the pleasure to send you twenty five dollars to be applied towards releiving the poor of the Presbyterian Churches.
A paragraph in the papers mentioned that a contribution would be made for that purpose on Thanksgiving day;
as no opportunity offered of doing it at that time,
and not knowing into whose hands the money should be lodged which might be given afterwardsThe President of the United States has directed me to send it to you,
requesting that you will be so good as to put it into the way of answering the charitable purpose for which it is intended (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters).
I also recommend
The True Story of Thanksgiving by Rush, along with all the
Related Links he attached to that article.
4
posted on
11/23/2017 4:16:13 AM PST
by
Yosemitest
(It's SIMPLE ! ... Fight, ... or Die !)
To: Yosemitest
Thanks for these additional materials.
Happy Thanksgiving!
5
posted on
11/23/2017 4:28:14 AM PST
by
Susquehanna Patriot
(Do Leftist/Liberals Really Believe That Dissent = Highest Form of Patriotism?)
To: Yosemitest
Really appreciate the background material.
6
posted on
11/23/2017 4:30:50 AM PST
by
mairdie
To: pinkandgreenmom
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
7
posted on
11/23/2017 4:38:37 AM PST
by
Lopeover
( The 2016 Election is about allegiance to the United States!)
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
George Washington and the Foundersa far better and wiser breed of godly leaders than the current crock of foolish drecks shuffling the halls of Crapital Hill in the District of Cesspool. Happy Thanksgiving and MAGA however America needs to collectively acknowledge the Almighty once again.
8
posted on
11/23/2017 4:39:16 AM PST
by
tflabo
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
1789 was a good year. There was no income tax and President George signed the Tariff Act. 120 years of prosperity ensued.
9
posted on
11/23/2017 4:41:16 AM PST
by
central_va
(I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
To: The Ignorant Fisherman; Pharmboy; Doctor Raoul; indcons; Chani; thefactor; blam; aculeus; ELS; ...
The
RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list.
Happy Thanksgiving ping
Please FreepMail me if you want to be added to or removed from this low volume ping list. Ping requests gladly accepted.
Recessional of the Sons of the American Revolution:
“Until we meet again, let us remember our obligations to our
forefathers who gave us our Constitution, the Bill of Rights,
an independent Supreme Court and a nation of free men.”
Dr. Benjamin Franklin, when asked if we had a republic or a monarchy, replied "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Can we???
10
posted on
11/23/2017 4:42:43 AM PST
by
NonValueAdded
(#DeplorableMe #BitterClinger #HillNO! #cishet #MyPresident #MAGA #Winning #covfefe)
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
Americans were once thankful for their blessings to be a sovereign nation. The left has erased all of that...
The one thing I am most thankful for...
I am still thankful that HILLARY didn’t WIN!
11
posted on
11/23/2017 4:45:46 AM PST
by
broken_arrow1
(I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
Some district judge somewhere would ban this now for using God too much.
To: Susquehanna Patriot
You too...
And to go with it and Thanks Giving to our Lord and His Father, remember this....
Congressional resolution, September 12, 1782, endorsing Robert Aitken's Bible [page 468]
David C. Claypoole, 1782 from the Journals of Congress
The war with Britain cut off the supply of Bibles to the United States with the result that
on Sept. 11, 1777, Congress instructed its Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from "Scotland, Holland or elsewhere."
On January 21, 1781, Philadelphia printer Robert Aitken (1734-1802) petitioned Congress
to officially sanction a publication of the Old and New Testament
which he was preparing at his own expense.
Congress "highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken,
as subservient to the interest of religion . . . in this country, and . . . they recommend this edition of the bible to the inhabitants of the United States."
This resolution was a result of Aitken's successful accomplishment of his project.
Aitkens Bible
Aitken published Congress's recommendation of September 1782 and related documents (Item 115)
as an imprimatur on the two pages following his title page.
Aitken's Bible, published under Congressional patronage,
was the first English language Bible published on the North American continent.
"The Bible of the American Revolution"
As long as the United States remained under British rule,
the British government forbade the printing of Bibles in America.
When the Colonies declared their independence,
the importation of Bibles became restricted
and by 1777 there was a severe shortage of Bibles in America.
On September 11, 1777, this shortage of Bibles was brought to the attention of the Continental Congress
by its chaplain, Dr. Patrick Allison.
He said in his report that Bibles were urgently needed because, the use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great
and on Dr. Allisons advice, Congress passed a resolution
to make every attempt to import 20,000 Bibles in Englishfrom Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the Union.
The importation of Bibles soon proved to be nearly impossible
and the Continental Congress had to search for another alternative
to supply the population with their most important book.
On January 21, 1781, the noted colonial printer Robert Aitken petitioned Congress
for both sanction and support for the production of a complete Bible for the American people
and a committee was immediately formed to determine
if Aitken were qualified to produce a book of such significance.
Aitkens impressive credentials (he had, among other things, been the publisher of the Journals of Congress for the first Congress
and published numerous articles by Thomas Paine)
convinced the committee and on September 10, 1782,
a Congressional Resolution was adopted granting Aitken permission and financial support
for the printing of the first edition of the first American Bible.
George Washington, one of the greatest supporters of the Aitken Bible, was so pleased with the result
that he regretted that the Revolutionary troops had been disbanded
before he could provide them with such an appropriate symbol of his gratitude.
Writing to a friend, Washington lamented, "It would have pleased me well,
if Congress had been pleased to make such an important present
(a copy of the Aitken Bible) to the brave fellows,
who have done so much for the security of their Country's rights and establishment."
The printing of the new Bible marked a significant moment in the history of the United States.
More American versions of the Bible soon followed
and, no longer subject to British editions of the Bible, the United States was,
for the first time, able to fully express the freedom of religion held so dearly by the population.
The Aitken Bible was championed by the people
and symbolized a dramatic release from British, and indeed government control,
over their right and ability to worship.
I also found out that the Aitken 1782 Holy Bible was called by Congress the
Also see http://courses.ischool.berkeley.edu/i182ac/s01/third78.html
Although 10,000 copies of the Aitken Bible were printed, the first printing is extraordinarily scarce today.
20th-century estimates place the number of extant copies between 30-40, with possibly five (certainly no more than ten) in private hands.
It is one of the worlds rarest books, significantly rarer than even the Gutenberg Bible.
The photo of the copy to the left is an extraordinarily scarce first edition,
one of approximately 30 known copies (with perhaps only five in private hands),
of the first English Bible printed in America,
the first and only Bible ever to be printed with Congressional approval.
An absolutely extraordinary copy of a most rare and important volume.
13
posted on
11/23/2017 5:09:47 AM PST
by
Yosemitest
(It's SIMPLE ! ... Fight, ... or Die !)
To: mairdie
You're welcome.
My, pleasure ...
I want as many of today's children as I can inform, to know these FACTS presented through our history.
14
posted on
11/23/2017 5:37:00 AM PST
by
Yosemitest
(It's SIMPLE ! ... Fight, ... or Die !)
To: pinkandgreenmom
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
I think it is interesting that God never told the Isrealites to fast, only to feast.
In the New Testament, Jesus only says when you fast , as if “I know you will do it even though you were never told - so do it this way when you do”
16
posted on
11/23/2017 7:04:27 AM PST
by
jimfr
To: The Ignorant Fisherman; Yosemitest
Publication of Washington's Proclamation in "The Independent Gazetteer," Monday, November 2, 1789
17
posted on
11/23/2017 7:37:41 AM PST
by
mairdie
To: The Ignorant Fisherman; redleghunter; Springfield Reformer; kinsman redeemer; BlueDragon; metmom; ..
Thanks for posting this, which I was going to do myself but found yo beat me to it!
But don't forget two others ones:
Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777 Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of;...
It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance ;...may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God...to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=3847)
Congressional Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1782 It being the indispensable duty of all nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty God, the giver of all good, for His gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner, to give Him praise for His goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of His Providence in their behalf; therefore, the Unites States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of Divine goodness to these States in the course of the important conflict, in which they have been so long engaged, - the present happy and promising state of public affairs, and the events of the war in the course of the year now drawing to a close;..
Do hereby recommend it to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe and request the several states to interpose their authority, in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF NOVEMBER next as a day of SOLEMN THANKSGIVING to GOD for all His mercies; and they do further recommend to all ranks to testify their gratitude to God for His goodness by a cheerful obedience to His laws and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.
Done in Congress at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh. (http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=17944)
More quotes, by God's grace
18
posted on
11/23/2017 9:05:45 AM PST
by
daniel1212
(Trust the risen Lord Jesus to save you as a damned and destitute sinner + be baptized + follow Him)
To: jimfr
I think it is interesting that God never told the Isrealites to fast, only to feast. Not so.
19
posted on
11/23/2017 9:17:58 AM PST
by
daniel1212
(Trust the risen Lord Jesus to save you as a damned and destitute sinner + be baptized + follow Him)
To: The Ignorant Fisherman
Rush Limbaugh yesterday talked about the George Washington Thanksgiving Day proclamation.
20
posted on
11/23/2017 12:12:29 PM PST
by
Biggirl
("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5W)
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