Quote :

"The father of our country, George Washington, issued the first official Thanksgiving Day proclamation. 1789 Thanksgiving 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 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 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 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, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. (signed) G. Washington"

11/22/2005 11:44:56 PM

Some self rightous athiest is going to complain about this letter you just posted

11/23/2005 2:26:08 AM

thats hot, i never knew there was a T-day proclamation.

but you know rjrumfel, the religious sentiments and place of America in 1789 =/= 2005, right?

[Edited on November 23, 2005 at 12:08 PM. Reason : fullerr.]

11/23/2005 12:08:10 PM

indian people get all outta shape because of the seminole and the illini... they should be furious about thanksgiving... a national holiday where we celebrate learning to live off the land from the injuns then murdering them as we drive them west... out of the white man's land.

(this is not a serious post)

11/23/2005 12:27:02 PM

No one takes any of your posts seriously, so no warning is needed

And I don't even think this was intended to bait civil libertarians, anyways. Earthdogg's one (I think), and Washington's speach is totally non-sectarian, anyways.

11/23/2005 1:42:50 PM

Can we find his 1789 proclamation regarding National Secretary's Day?

11/23/2005 2:05:52 PM

^Yeah, I was wondering why this was even on here.

11/24/2005 12:59:11 AM

Quote :

"Yeah, I was wondering why this was even on here."

I just wanted to share some positive and uplifting sentiments about our country from one of the founders.

This experiment in liberty we call America is still pretty amazing.
Hopefully the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations can see His way to continue pardoning our national transgressions.

11/24/2005 1:11:25 AM

CROSS THE DELEWARE!!!!!!

11/24/2005 1:36:13 AM