How far have we come as a Nation?
The original Thanksgiving holiday was all about giving thanks to our single Creator. With words to paper, our government clearly proclaimed the benefits of having God remain America’s protector and the Ruler of Nations.
Once you read and understand our history, you will find it odd for any American politician to “preach” the government’s intent was the separation of Church and State.
One must question, “Are they not aware that our Founding Fathers believed and lived just the opposite?”
As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day this year, enjoying the company of family and friends of all races, creeds and cultures, let us remember how it all started with the first informal Thanksgiving meal held with Pilgrims and Native Americans in the early 1600s. Wishing this beautiful tradition to continue, our founding leaders thought it was of national importance for them to proclaim, understand, and respected the authority of God. I hope everyone takes the time to read these historic proclamations of public record below.
Taken directly from the Annals of the Congress, The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States:
On Thursday, September 24, 1789, the first House of Representatives voted to recommend the First Amendment of the newly drafted Constitution to the states for ratification. The next day, Congressman Elias Boudinot from New Jersey proposed that the House and Senate jointly request of President Washington to proclaim a day of thanksgiving for “the many signal favors of Almighty God”. Boudinot said that he “could not think of letting the session pass over without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining, with one voice, in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings he had poured down upon them.”
As President, on October 3, 1789, George Washington made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America:
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 shown 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.
It wasn’t until October 3, 1863, building on the foundation of the first amendment, Abraham Lincoln would formally declare that the last Thursday of November 1863 would be set aside as a nationwide celebration of thanksgiving. His proclamation stated that:
“No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy…. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday in November next as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent father who dwelleth in heaven.”
It was Franklin D. Roosevelt who changed the celebration to the third Thursday in November “to give more shopping time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Gary DeMar’s bestselling book, “America’s Christian History: The Untold Story”
Our history as a Country and the relationship forged with our Holy Protector was and should be forever intertwined. So, the next time a political representatives states otherwise, boldly remind them that we were and still are one Nation under God. That status will only cease once the unjust men and women reach the majority of the population. Thank God, we are not to that point yet.
If this is my last post, I want all to know there was only one purpose for all that I have written; to have made a positive difference in the lives of others.
“Inquisitio veritatis”
Anthony “Tony” Boquet, the author of “The Bloodline of Wisdom, The Awakening of a Modern Solutionary”
