This Week in Christian History: George Washington, Martin Luther, Pope Comes to US
George Washington Issues Thanksgiving Proclamation – October 3, 1789
This week marks the anniversary of when President George Washington issued a proclamation naming November 26 as a day of prayer and thanksgiving, the first such proclamation since the Constitution had been ratified.
President Washington stated in his proclamation that "it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God" and to "obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor."
"... 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," continued the proclamation.
"To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease 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."
