Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

What does President George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation teach us in 2023?

“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 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, 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, 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 hath 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 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 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 1789.”

— George Washington

In context, this proclamation, to dedicate a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God,” followed a War for American independence that grew into a world war and cost many Americans their lives and fortunes.  It followed a failed initial attempt at self-government with the Articles of Confederation, and it followed a three-year effort to establish the United States Government under our Constitution.  This proclamation also preceded the ratification of the first 10 Amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, by nearly two years.

Despite the magnitude of the loss of life, many lost battles, and domestic struggles associated with the birth of the United States, George Washington, a man who had seen firsthand the tragedies of war and the potential failure of American self-government, acknowledges and proclaims God as “the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”  Washington’s proclamation continues to acknowledge God’s providence over America through the Revolutionary War and its design and implementations of constitutions of government “for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed.”

While the first half of the Proclamation is thanksgiving to God and acknowledging that it is He who has richly provided for America, the second half of the Proclamation is a request to America that “we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations.”  Washington asked all Americans to offer prayers to pardon our transgressions, to render government as a blessing to all people, to protect and guide nations and rulers that were allies of the United States and bless them with peace, and to promote the practice and education of true religion and knowledge.

So, what has Washington taught us with this first Thanksgiving Proclamation?

• That we must first acknowledge and give thanksgiving to God. And not a god, but Jesus Christ, the Lord.  (Washington’s not a deist.  He does acknowledge Jesus Christ.  Read the last sentence.)
• That we must be humble. No great leader can survive without humbling himself or herself.
• That we must count our blessings, one of which is our “civil and religious liberty.” That is a blessing not an entitlement.  We lose civil and religious liberty when God lifts His blessing from us.  As a nation and as individuals, we have too many transgressions to be entitled to civil and religious liberty.
• That we must seek true religion of the heart and grow in knowledge. If we do this, then God’s blessing will be over us even if it’s not over our nation.

Leaders, study the example of George Washington and do likewise.

1. Acknowledge God
2. Humble yourselves
3. Count your blessings
4. Grow yourself and your team

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and your families!

-Jordan