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 PUBLICK
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 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 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 publick 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 shewn 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.
(signed) G. Washington
Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
A copy of the original
Centinel printing is also available.