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George Washington: Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789
Millions Of Americans ^ | November 19, 2001 | George Washington

Posted on 11/18/2001 10:30:40 PM PST by sweetliberty

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 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 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 3rd day of October, AD 1789

George Washington


TOPICS: Announcements; Miscellaneous
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We are all the time hearing the liberals flippantly tossing around words about the "intent" of our forefathers when they said this or that, much in the same way that they demanded to be allowed to interpret the "intent" of Florida voters at this time last year. Usually this is done to justify the undermining of some fundamental premise of our long traditions of patriotism and faith, particularly as relates to one of their "pet" issues, the separation of church and state. Every now and then the timely reading of the words of certain of these esteemed men reveals a simplicity and a clarity that make it very difficult to distort the intent of the author. The Thanksgiving Proclamation of the first President of the United States is such a statement and one to be taken to heart as we prepare ourselves for the busy holiday.
1 posted on 11/18/2001 10:30:40 PM PST by sweetliberty
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To: sweetliberty
a respectful bump
2 posted on 11/18/2001 10:46:58 PM PST by Draco
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: sweetliberty
I am thankful that George Washington isn't alive today, otherwise he would be in prison!

How, in God's name, have we fallen so far from the beautiful idea that was America?

4 posted on 11/18/2001 11:00:52 PM PST by Nitro
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: alien2
Washington's Farewell Address
6 posted on 11/18/2001 11:04:16 PM PST by Nitro
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To: sweetliberty
Thursday, the 26th day of November

I am truly humbled. That is my birthday.

7 posted on 11/18/2001 11:04:42 PM PST by Slyfox
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To: alien2
Great minds think alike!
8 posted on 11/18/2001 11:05:11 PM PST by Nitro
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To: alien2
If George Washington were alive today and living in America what would he be saying and what would he be doing?

Probably working on his beloved farm like his Roman hero Cincinnatus.

9 posted on 11/18/2001 11:06:58 PM PST by Slyfox
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To: Slyfox
Mine is November 24th, and like yours it lands on Turkey Day every fourth year!
10 posted on 11/18/2001 11:10:39 PM PST by Nitro
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Nitro
Yeah, my mom didn't have turkey that day, she had me.
12 posted on 11/18/2001 11:13:08 PM PST by Slyfox
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To: Slyfox
Excellent!

I was hatched on a Sunday!

13 posted on 11/18/2001 11:14:51 PM PST by Nitro
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To: alien2
George Washington speaking against the party system...

"It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble
the Public Administration....agitates the Community with
ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the
animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to
foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the
will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of
another."

That man was a genious, literally!!

14 posted on 11/18/2001 11:18:45 PM PST by Nitro
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: sweetliberty
Don't let the ACLU read this. They'll want to dig him up and sue him. Perhaps they'l just sue his lineal decendents. He had no biological children, but he did adopt Martha's two children, so if your last name is Custis (Martha's first husband's name), or even Washington, (he did have brothers both half and full) better watch out. :)
16 posted on 11/18/2001 11:31:32 PM PST by El Gato
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To: alien2
You must mean the Looney Tune Lefties!!

Because this is how it should be......

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.

18 posted on 11/18/2001 11:39:41 PM PST by Nitro
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To: alien2
"It was a brilliant design for a government..."

Brilliant indeed. That's the word I was thinking of...you beat me to it. I guess I hadn't really looked at it that way before.

19 posted on 11/18/2001 11:42:48 PM PST by sweetliberty
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To: alien2
The ignorance was imposed by design, the current school system was largely promoted by the so-called philanthropists of yesteryear, the rich industrialist types wanted to ensure an ignorant society that would accept a modicum of success as a panacea!
20 posted on 11/18/2001 11:45:15 PM PST by Nitro
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