Thanksgiving proclamations of Washington and Lincoln

Brethren,

Since today is the Thanksgiving observance and holiday in the United States, I thought that it would be prudent to read the Thanksgiving proclamation of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

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.

Go: Washington
3 October 1789

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gw004.html
http://memory.loc.gov/mss/mgw/mgw8a/124/0100/0132.jpg

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/thanksgiving/pdf/lincoln.pdf

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Thank you Chris for posting these Thanksgiving Day proclamations.
I am reminded of them every Thanksgiving season, and also that
we should continue to pray for all those in authority, and that God
would give us leaders that would seek His will to govern and lead
our nation.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I apologize for the delayed response. Thanks for your reply.

I have read many of the Thanksgiving proclamations made by presidents and governors through US history. It is interesting to read what was "proclaimed" -- and how it has often changed with the times and the slow "falling away" that has occurred in terms of how men view the Christian faith (or, more importantly, the Lord).

I read the last few "Thanksgiving proclamations." One didn't even mention "God" anywhere in the proclamation. This year's proclamation didn't mention thanking God -- but thanking others and "getting behind" the White House.

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-thanksgiving-address-calls-unite-behind-wh-doesn-080136187.html

This week, I listened to a news program while waiting for a haircut. The idea of "Thanksgiving" has become as secularized as the notion of "Christmas." Now, Thanksgiving is just about getting together with family and being "grateful" for family members, friends and other things that we hold as important. It is about feasting rather than fasting. It is about family and friends rather than the Creator. It is about watching football and Black Friday deals more than turning our eyes upon Jesus.

The idea that "Thanksgiving" was originally meant as a time for a nation to pause collectively and to corporately give thanks to our Creator is almost completely foreign (except upon a surface level) for many people.

I think that Thanksgiving has become a sign of the times. Obviously, the holiday is no more important than any other day (since every day is the same for believers). However, the people of this world desperately take every reference to our Creator and turn it back upon themselves. Yes, I am thankful for family, friends and other things. However, I am thankful to the LORD for those things.

I am happy that some people do remember the Lord during the day. They "say grace" before a meal. I always pray that the hearts of such people will be stirred to know the God to whom they pray on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yet, I also see this world doing whatever it can to remove the references to these days with increased determination and fortitude. Many groups would use the legal system to remove any reference of Thanksgiving proclamations from being read in a public school.

It is my prayer that some of the sentiments that are expressed in proclamations by George Washington, John Adams and Abraham Lincoln would be considered by those who are literally "lost" in this world.

Thanks for your post. Sure makes you long for leaders like them again. May God bless you for taking the time to remind us what we should be thankful for.

In Him,
Tim