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 THANSGIVING 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 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 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.
