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"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 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 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." |
