"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 thanks-giving and prayer to
be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single 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 single and manifold mercies, and the favorable interposition's of His
providence, which we experienced 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, of the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have to acquiring
and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various
favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us."
"And also that we may then unite in most humble 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 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 unto
us) and to bless them with good government, 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 know to be best."
