Lady Di
11-21-2007, 08:09 AM
ThanksgivingProclamation 1777 by the Continental Congress, which was the first everNational Thanksgiving Proclamation:
IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777
FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore thesuperintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude theirObligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessingsas they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, notonly to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; butalso to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for theDefense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularlyin that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means usedfor 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 UNITEDSTATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMNTHANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good Peoplemay express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves tothe Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincereAcknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of theirmanifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble andearnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST,mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please himgraciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these Statesrespectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire ourCommanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom andFortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence ofAlmighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all humanBlessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Tradeand Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Landmay yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, sonecessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety,under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for thepromotion 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 thisAppointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.
IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777
FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore thesuperintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude theirObligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessingsas they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, notonly to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; butalso to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for theDefense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularlyin that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means usedfor 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 UNITEDSTATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMNTHANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good Peoplemay express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves tothe Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincereAcknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of theirmanifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble andearnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST,mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please himgraciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these Statesrespectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire ourCommanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom andFortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence ofAlmighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all humanBlessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Tradeand Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Landmay yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, sonecessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety,under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for thepromotion 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 thisAppointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.