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A Thanksgiving Proclamation
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | November 23, 2010

On October 3, 1789, George Washington issued the following national 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 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 one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

Comments
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  • Linda Templet commented on 12/3/2010
    As I try to analyze George Washington’s statement "to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us", I sit here wondering to myself what does true religion and virtue mean to the people of our world today? It doesn't mean much in today’s world because the majority of the men and women who represent We, the People, have turned their backs to how the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue made us the greatest country in the world. I ask you to consider what True Religion is. Is religion a church? Is it a certain denomination? Is it a certain doctrine? The definition to True religion is clearly defined in the greatest book of all times; The Holy Bible as being, "Let US make man in our image AFTER OUR LIKENESS". When will the people become Wise enough to realize that True Religion gives birth to one thing and one thing only; VIRTUE, general moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness of character. Virtue is an asset for our country. If we want good government with good representation Virtue should be promoted to the very top of all the many lists of things that must be changed in our country. We had Laws that guarded and protected True Religion; Virtue in America . "Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment of religion OR the FREE exercise thereof". Our Worldly interpreters of our 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America somehow twisted everything around and Demoted the first section of our Bill of Rights concerning True Religion or Virtue and Promoted all the other Freedoms so these freedoms would have rule over True Religion; Virtue. Why is that? Were they not able to look far enough ahead in time to see that once you take True Religion; the VIRTUOUS NATURE of anything out of the sight and out of the minds of the people that evil, wicked, and unmoral freedoms would try to take over the whole body of America? Is there any general moral excellence being Promoted in America. How about the Promotion of right action and thinking; OR Promoting the goodness of character? Why everything in America is okay in today’s world now that our intrepreters of the 1sr Amendment DEMOTED and DEVALUED the 1st part of our 1st Amendment. Now that we got this VIRTUOUS NATURE of America out of our WAY we people in America can DO and SAY whatever our heart desires and nobody can stop us. We are a FREE country.TRUE Religion and Virtue has suffered long enough. The intrepreters of our 1st Amendment tried to dissolve the Virtuous Political Bands that our forefathers used to form the greatest country in all the World. They politically banded together and all agreed to follow the VIRTUOUS WAYS of the Holy Bible. They all agreed to let God's Virtuous WAYS to be the Judge over the Nature of the WAYS of government and the WAYS of man. The way I see it, the first part of our 1st Amendment was meant to Promote and Protect an establishment of True Religion everywhere in our country. Our forefathers had Firm reliance on the Protection of divine Providence. So where are the WISE MEN? Christmas is almost here. The first part of our 1st Amendment has been demoted long enough. The time has come for us to begin to PROMOTE True Religion; Virtue, Moral Excellence, right action and thinking, good and right conduct and behavior in America. The time has come for us to give our country a spiritual bath so people can see that We Are a Christian Nation who believes in TRUE RELIGION; Virtuous; Godlike WAYS.
  • Linda Templet commented on 12/4/2010
    Dear Members of the Prayer Caucus, I see that there is a bill called H.Con.Res121 named Recognizing the Importance of the Bible in American Society that is looking for co-sponcers. If you are members of this PRAYER CAUCUS are you DEAD or what? Why aren't ALL of the members of this prayer caucus supporting this bill? What is wrong with you people? What ,do you think the Bible isn't important enough to openly stand up to support this bill? Do you think you might lose a vote for office if you openly stand up and fight to get this bill passed? WAKE UP!! The Bible has contributed more to our society than anything ever imagined. You all will vote for some great movie star to get recognized and lifted up here in America; but you won't cast your lots for the REAL STARS of the Bible that can turn the nature of our country around--Almighty God, and Jesus Christ. Every member of this prayer caucus should be supporting this bill H.Con.Res.121. This bill has been on the books since May 2009. One year has passed and only 26 of you members support it. There are no religious tests to be taken in order to be a representative in this country--just look at the sponsors of Recognizing the Importance of the Holy Bible in American Society and we can all see who wants Virtue in our country and who doesn't. My OPIONION is this--If you can't stand up to help PROMOTE the Recognition of the Holy Bible in American Society--you have no business being one of the members of the Congressional Prayer Causus. What, are the rest of you members in name only? The Time to Act is NOW!! Get behind these other members of Congress and lets push to get this Bill Recognized.
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Members of the Congressional
Prayer Caucus

Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Founder
& Co-Chairman

Congressman Mike McIntyre, Co-Chairman


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Contact the Congressional Prayer Caucus Amy Vitale, Amy.Vitale@mail.house.gov