Washington Praying Before Crossing the Delaware
On October 3, 1789 President George Washington released this proclamation:
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
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 shewn 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 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.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
What a wonderful prayer and proclamation.
Sadly, the Democrats would have run George Washington, a religious and patriotic man, out of town if he were alive today.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.
May we all pray that this next year will bring us the bounty of the land and the fruits of our unwavering efforts.
UPDATE: Thanks Chisum for reminding me–
“May God bless our families and our troops.”
November 26th, 2009 | 10:50 am | #1
Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
November 26th, 2009 | 10:57 am | #2
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
May God bless our families and our troops.
November 26th, 2009 | 10:59 am | #3
God Bless our Fore Founders, our wonderful AMERICA and all of our faithful citizens! Pray for the less fortunate. Pray for God to throw out all of the frauds from our White House and all forms of government!
November 26th, 2009 | 11:05 am | #4
Jim, I recall the first Thanksgiving after losing my Mom, 21 years ago. It was hard, but it also helped me remember the beauty she brought to my life.
Happy Thanksgiving, and know that we’re all thankful for your steadfastness and bravery.
Semper Vigilo Fortis Paratus et Fidelis!
November 26th, 2009 | 11:13 am | #5
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Happy Thanksgiving GP & All
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November 26th, 2009 | 11:19 am | #6
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 26th, 2009 | 11:25 am | #7
“What a wonderful prayer and proclamation.”
Indeed it is. And I pray to that very same Lord that one day each and every one of us will know Him and fully understand the blessings He has bestowed upon this great nation. That He comes into our hearts to stay, and guides us through the trials and tribulations we encounter each and every day, and that He forgives us – just as Washington begged His forgiveness – for our transgressions. Amen and Amen.
A blessed Thanksgiving 2009 to everyone.
November 26th, 2009 | 11:38 am | #8
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It Has Always Been The Soldier
It is the soldier,
not the President who gives us democracy.
It is the soldier,
not the Congress who takes care of us.
It is the soldier,
not the Reporter who has given us Freedom of Press.
It is the soldier,
not the Poet who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It is the soldier,
not the campus [community] Organizer who
has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag;
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
that allows the protester to burn the flag.
~ Father Dennis O’Brien, US Marine Corp. Chaplain
God Bless America!
God Bless Soldiers everywhere for putting THEIR
lives on the line to protect us ALL from terrorism!
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November 26th, 2009 | 11:46 am | #9
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
November 26th, 2009 | 11:59 am | #10
Happy Thanksgiving GP and to ALL !
May your day be special…
November 26th, 2009 | 12:02 pm | #11
Thank you for posting this. George Washington was an amazing man, and I enjoyed reading this address.
I do have one nitpick however, the painting you used as an illustration is actually “The Prayer at Valley Forge” by Arnold Friberg (see http://www.fribergfineart.com/). I am certain however that George Washington also prayed before crossing the Delaware and at many other times.
November 26th, 2009 | 12:16 pm | #12
Same to you
November 26th, 2009 | 12:26 pm | #13
beautiful.
thank you.
November 26th, 2009 | 1:32 pm | #14
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
November 26th, 2009 | 2:36 pm | #15
[...] Goldberg, Patrick McIlheran, Paddy O’Furniture, Bruce, Jim Hoft, John Adams of Whitewater, Don, and Kate highlighted George Washington’s 1789 [...]
November 26th, 2009 | 2:54 pm | #16
[...] Sister Toldjah: Happy Thanksgiving! Motor City Times: Happy Thanksgiving Gateway Pundit: Happy Thanksgiving – 2009 Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion: My Thanksgiving Greeting GayPatriot: Happy [...]
November 26th, 2009 | 3:49 pm | #17
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
God bless our troops and their families, and my best wishes to our Gateway Pundit community.
November 26th, 2009 | 5:13 pm | #18
Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks to GP for Washington’s awesome prayer.
Remember, too that not only our soldiers who serve overseas, American missionaries and humanitarian aid people, Peace Corps Volunteers are giving up the easy life to bring aid and know-how to other people all over the world, a sharing of American blessings to others less fortunate.
America has much to be proud of and to be humbled by the great spirit of our volunteers – military and civilian – serving far from our shores, a blessing from God we don’t always realize we’ve been given.
November 26th, 2009 | 6:17 pm | #19
Climategate and his “science” advisor are just the tip of the iceberg.
http://barackobamaantichrist.blogspot.com/
November 26th, 2009 | 7:21 pm | #20
[...] http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/11/happy-thanksgiving-2009/ [...]
November 26th, 2009 | 7:23 pm | #21
“God Bless our Fore Founders, our wonderful AMERICA and all of our faithful citizens! Pray for the less fortunate. Pray for God to throw out all of the frauds from our White House and all forms of government!”
It’s good to see patriotic Americans take the opportunity of a national holiday to…slam the President. Well done wing nut.
November 26th, 2009 | 7:38 pm | #22
Here’s another blessing for which I am grateful. Thank God! I am not an acrimonious (that means hate America and anybody that is productive and prosperous, chris), liberal douche-bag who is convinced that the marxist/leninist nightmare which the taffiya fraud will foist on us is preferable to the most successful economic system on the planet.
November 26th, 2009 | 7:47 pm | #23
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via TRBO
Glenn Beck Show November 25, 2009
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November 26th, 2009 | 8:03 pm | #24
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
November 26th, 2009 | 8:48 pm | #25
Happy Thanksgiving my friends.
November 26th, 2009 | 10:23 pm | #26
Happy thanksgiving everybody, but I’ll have my government without the theocracy dressing and have a constitutional non-religious republic instead.
Remember George Washington makes no references to Christianity in that speech, the same words can be twisted by people who might want Sharia law in the USA. Feel free to praise jesus or allah or whatever god it is you may believe in, but lets keep it out of government.
November 27th, 2009 | 9:17 am | #27
God bless America.Thank you, George Washington, and all the noble men and women involved in our foundation of freedom. Read a vision given to General George Washington while he was at Valley Forge: http://www.PresidentWashingtonsVision.com
Thank you, Gateway Pundit for your common sense and love for America.
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