Hello Great Questions Group Friends!
With our Thanksgiving Holiday soon upon us once again here in the U.S., I thought I would share a bit of American history with you…as this has been another area of fairly extensive study on my Great Questions Quest.
For many years I celebrated Thanksgiving, but never knew how it had become a National Holiday
It was actually initiated by our first President, George Washington, following a resolution by Congress, not too long after the United States came into existence.
Later, it was officially established by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, and then formally passed into law by Congress in 1941.
This proclamation, in addition to many other articles and documents, both official and unofficial, along with copious amounts of the personal writings of most of the people instrumental in the founding of our great nation, shed interesting light on their true intent in fostering a citizenry that not only acknowledged God, but also worshiped and obeyed Him, as they knew that doing so, was the only hope in maintaining a truly prosperous and tranquil, self-governing society.
And once my studies had provided ample evidence that there indeed was/is an “All-Powerful” God, these Founding Principles resonated with even more relevance.
Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation:
By the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation.
Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on 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 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 favor, able 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 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 third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington
P.S. My Great Questions Group email list has grown to the point that I now have to send these messages out in batches. So here is a comment I already received from the first portion of the Group I sent it to…
Mark – this is great! this is D… from the gym. I am so impressed at how washington can talk about god in such an open and forthright way – imagine any politician doing that today – we’ve become so politically correct – i see nothing wrong with a president speaking this way – where’s the harm? it’s wonderful. thanks again for sharing. i/m going to pass this on to friends and family. –DK
Wishing each of you a Happy, Safe, Reflective and Thankful Thanksgiving!
🙂
