It is very meet and right we should turn to our
better angels of years gone by in expressing our thanks for the great blessings
and benefits accorded the United States of America from her ancient inception
under the Providence of Almighty God. We long served and recognized our Lord as
the Great Sovereign to whom Presidents, Congress, and Judges must answer. It
has only been in the last several decades that we have turned from the glorious
history of our founding, and sought out men of low character and reputation to
rule us (men like unto ourselves, even); and this in total abandonment of those
precious ruling documents - the US Constitution and Declaration - for which our
Fathers pledged "to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred
honor." We present the Thanksgiving proclamation of a great President in
token to that glorious and godly nation whose memory is quickly fading as a
glimmering star on the distant horizon:
Thanksgiving Proclamation
[New York, 3 October 1789]
By the President of the United States of America, a
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 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 which we experienced 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
favors which he hath 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 shewn kindness
unto us) and to bless them with good government, 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 1789.
George Washington
My prayer is that God will once again send His Spirit
to move upon the Face of the Deep of American and pronounce those words of
power and restoration - "Let there be Light," and there shall be once
more in our troubled land.
Jerry L. Ogles
