U.S. Congressional
Thanksgiving Proclamations
I777
By THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS-A
PROCLAMATION
Forasmuch as it is the
indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of
Almighty God;
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to acknowledge with tbeir
gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore
such farther blessings as they stand in need of;
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and it having pleased him
in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties
of his common providence but also smile upon us in the prosecution of a
just and necessary war, for the defence and establishment of our unalianable
rights and liberties;
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particularly in that he hath
been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support
of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success:
It is therefore recommended
to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart
Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise;
'' that with one heart
and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their
hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor";
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and that together with their
sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession
of their mamfold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their
humble and earnest supplication
that
it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ,
mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance;
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that it may please him graciously
to afford his blessings on the governments of these states respectively,
and prosper the public council of the whole;
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to inspire our commanders
both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude
which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty
God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence
and peace;
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that it may please him to
prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman,
that our land may yield its increase;
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to take school and seminaries
of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty,
virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of
religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth
in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
And it is further recommended,
that servile labor, and such recreation as, though at other times, innocent,
may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn
an occasion.
Friday, October 3lst. I777.
RESOLVED, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a recommendation
to the several states, to set apart a day for thanksgiving, for the signal
success, lately obtained over the enemies of these United States: The members
chosen,
Mr. S. Adams, Mr. R. H.
Lee, and Mr. Roberdeau.
Saturday, November 1st,
1777. The comittee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several
states; to set apart a day of public thanksgiving, brought in a report;
which was taken into considera ion, and agreed to.
Friday, November 7th.1777
. Congress ORDERED, That a duplicate of the recommendation to t he several
states to set apart a day of thanksgiving, signed by the president, be
sent to the several states, and to General Washington and General Gates.
1778
BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS-A
PROCLAMATION
It having pleased Almighty
God, through the course of the present year, to bestow many great and manifold
mercies on the people of these United States; and it being the indispensable
duty of all men gratefully to acknowledge their obligations to him for
benefits received:
RESOLVED, That it be, and
hereby is recommended to the legis- lative or executive authority of each
of the said states, to appoint Wednesday, the 3oth of December next, to
be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and praise, that all people
may, with united hearts, on that day, express a just sense of his unmerited
favors;.....
1779
BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS-A
PROCLAMATION
Whereas it becomes us humbly
to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the
wonders which his goodness has wrought in conducting our fore-fathers to
this western world;
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for his protection to them
and to their posterity amidst difficulties and dangers;
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for raising us, their children,
from deep distress to be numbered among the nations of the earth;
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and for arming the hands of
just and mighty princes in our deliverance;
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and especially for that he
hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyments of health, and so to order
the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance,
blessing the labors of the husbandmen, and spreading plenty through the
land;
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that he hath prospered our
arms and those of our ally ; been a shield to our troops in the hour of
danger, pointed their swords to victory and led them in triumph over the
bulwarks of the foe;
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that he hath gone with those
who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes;...
1780
BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS-A
PROCLAMATION
Whereas it hath pleased
Almighty God, the Father of all mercies amidst the vicissitudes and calamlties
of war, to bestow blessings on the people of these states, which call for
their devout and thanksful acknowledgments, more especially in the late
remarkable interposition of his watchful providence, in rescuing the person
of our commander in chief and the army from imminent dangers, at the moment
when treason was ripened for execution;
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in prospering the labors of
the husbandmen, and causing the earth to yeld its increase in plentiful
harvests;
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and, above all, in continuing
to us the enjoyment of the gospel of peace.
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It is therefore recommended
to the several states to set a part Thursday, the 7th day of December next,
to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer;
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that all the people may assemble
on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor;
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to confess our unworthiness
of the least of his favors, and to offer our fervent ' supplications to
the God of all grace;
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that it may please him to
pardon our heinous transgressions and incline our hearts for the future
to keep all his laws;
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to comfort and relieve our
brethren who are any wise afliicted or distressed;
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to smile upon our husbandry
and trade;
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to direct our public councils,
and lead our forces, by land and sea, to victory;
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to take our illustrious ally
under his special protection, and favor our joint councils and exertions
for the establishment of speedy ' and permanent peace;
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to cherish all schools and
seminaries of education, and to cause the knowledge of Christianity to
spread over all the earth.
Done in Congress, this I8th
day of October, I780, and in the fifth year of the independence of the
United States of America. Wednesday, October I8th. I780. Congress took
into consideration the resolution reported for setting apart a day of thanksgiving:
and prayer, and agreed to.
