"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 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 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 3d day of October, A.D.
1789." G. Washington
