[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  THE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

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                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. CRANE. We, indeed, have much to be thankful for living in these 
United States of America, and Thanksgiving Day provides us a moment to 
reflect on these blessings. Because Congress will adjourn before, and 
will not reconvene until after Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to take this 
opportunity to share with my colleagues the first Thanksgiving 
proclamation issued by our first president, George Washington.

                  The First Thanksgiving Proclamation

                    (By President George Washington)

       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, do I recommend and assign Thursday, the 
     twenty-sixth 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 service 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 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 
     prayer 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 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 promote the knowledge and practice of true 
     religion and virtue and the increase of science among 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, A.D. 1789 George Washington.

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