Happy Thanksgiving
1676 Thanksgiving Proclaimation
“The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; (the rest)
Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclaimation
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 and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:” (the rest)>
Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclaimation
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly
contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded
even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect
continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.
(the rest)
Jane’s Thanksgiving Proclaimation
Now in this new centruy, we find that for which we are greatful has not changed since the founding of this great nation: a country founded in freedom, all those who have sacrificed to preserve this covenant, all those in public service and those who dedicate their lives to preserving the homefront and our communities, those who with their toil give energy to the nation, energy to our families, and energy to the world. These United States so recently attacked, so recently termed divided, so recently declared a rouge, stand together on this day as on all others in appreciation of liberty and a with a willingness to secure that liberty at any cost. And there are none who deserve out gratitude more than our fighting men and women, who thoughout the centuries have spent their lives to ensure the priviledge of democracy and the continuity of America for all the world. God bless America and all her allies both declared and hidden.
Link courtesy of Patty-Jo.
