The First Thanksgiving Proclamation (June 20, 1676)
On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held
a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that
had seen their community securely established. By unamimous vote they
instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of
thanksgiving, our first [in what is now the US] . That proclamation is
reproduced here in the same language and spelling as the original.
"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive
dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this
land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant
people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the
midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his
Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with
many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving
many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy,
and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal
Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly
we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not
consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies
are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should
take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be
found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as
well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:
The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this
instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his
Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but
we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as
diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a
People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend
it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction;
Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by
the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies
and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."
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From: "ShieldsFamily" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: "ShieldsFamily" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [TruthTalk] Thanksgiving Proclamation
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 08:06:29 -0600
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<http://wilstar.com/holidays/washington.jpg> George Washington's 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 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.
<http://wilstar.com/holidays/wash_sig.gif>
G. Washington (his actual signature)
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NOTE:
Shortly after the Thanksgiving Proclamation was written, it was lost for
130
years. The original document was written in long hand by William Jackson,
secretary to the President, and was then signed by George Washington. It
was
probably misplaced or mixed in with some private papers when the US capitol
moved from New York to Washington, D.C. The original manuscript was not
placed in the National Archives until 1921 when Dr. J. C. Fitzpatrick,
assistant chief of the manuscripts division of the Library of Congress
found
the proclamation at an auction sale being held at an art gallery in New
York. Dr Fitzpatrick purchased the document for $300.00 for the Library of
Congress, in which it now resides. It was the first official presidential
proclamation issued in the United States.
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Return to Thanksgiving Story <http://wilstar.com/holidays/thankstr.htm>
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This page courtesy of Maurice Smith
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<< wash_sig.gif >>
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