Words From Our Founders: Congressional Prayer Proclamation, 1779

Thanksgiving, Words From Our Founders,

Today we continue our Words From Our Founders series examining our Founding Fathers’ own words on religion, religious liberty, and morality.

In honor of Thanksgiving, we have, below, a proclamation issued by the Continental Congress on October 20, 1779, calling on the different states to fix a day of thanksgiving and prayer.

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 forefathers to this western world; for his protection to them and to their posterity, amidst difficulties and dangers; for raising us their children from deep distress, to be numbered among the nations of the earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty Princes in our deliverance; and especially for that he hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health and so to order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labours of the husbandman, and spreading plenty through the land; 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; that he hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory. Therefore,

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Words From Our Founders: Hanson’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Words From Our Founders,

Today we continue our series examining our Founding Fathers in their own words and considering their high esteem for religion, religious liberty, and virtue.

John Hanson President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation following the American Revolution. In 1782 he issued the following proclamation declaring the fourth Thursday of November a day of thanksgiving.

By the United States in Congress assembled, PROCLAMATION.

It being the indispensable duty of all nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty God, the giver of all good, for His gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner, to give Him praise for His goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of His Providence in their behalf; therefore, the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of Divine goodness to these States in the course of the important conflict, in which they have been so long engaged, — the present happy and promising state of public affairs, and the events of the war in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils which is so necessary to the success of the public cause, — the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them, — the success of the arms of the United States and those of their allies, — and the acknowledgment of their Independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States; Do hereby recommend it to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe and request the several states to interpose their authority, in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF NOVEMBER next as a day of SOLEMN THANKSGIVING to GOD for all His mercies; and they do further recommend to all ranks to testify their gratitude to God for His goodness by a cheerful obedience to His laws and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh.

JOHN HANSON, President. CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

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What Our Founding Fathers Had to Say About Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving. I hope you and your family have a wonderful day planned together.

When people think about the history of Thanksgiving, they typically picture the Pilgrims at “the first Thanksgiving.” That’s a major part of Thanksgiving’s history, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

Before it was a federal holiday, Thanksgiving was a day appointed by Congress, the President, or the state legislature. Early on in our nation’s history, Congress sometimes appointed more than one “Thanksgiving” in a given year. That’s because these were not meant to be days simply of turkey-feasting. They were, rather, days of prayer. In fact, virtually every early thanksgiving proclamation includes calls to prayer along with fasting, corporate worship, confession of sin, or some similar act.

We have posted several of these proclamations as part of our Words From Our Founders series on our website. Below are excerpts from a few Thanksgiving proclamations issued from 1775 to 1813. I hope they give you an idea of what Thanksgiving was meant to be in this country, and I hope you and your family have a truly happy Thanksgiving!

 

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