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
tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and
rational manner in which we have 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 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, AD 1789
George Washington
