George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation Oct 3, 1789
City of New York, October 3, 1789

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 thanks-giving 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 tranquillity,
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 shown 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 encrease 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.