American tradition

Mulhollanddose · 11-24-2005, 09:22 AM

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 favour; 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 PUBLICK THANSGIVING 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:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH 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 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 enable 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 favours which He has 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 publick 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 governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase 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, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

Mulhollanddose · 11-24-2005, 09:39 AM

speeder · speeder's Garage

See you for some turkey later?

BGCarrera32 · 11-24-2005, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the post....good read.
BG

livi · 11-24-2005, 10:58 PM

Thats an interesting piece of paper. Whats its origin ?

No matter who is the author, its a pretty bold statement telling "all nations" its their "duty" acknowledging God.

Its not radical Muslim stuff, is it ?

Edit: I might misunderstand the meaning of it for lack of English language knowledge - then I am sorry.

Joeaksa · 11-24-2005, 11:14 PM

Markus,

No, its just "old" English. Can be difficult to read even for someone who supposedly can read English like me!

America was a bit different in those days and the majority of the people living there had moved from Europe to escape religious issues. They wanted to be free to worship God as they pleased but were for the most part a very religious group. Remember that the American paper bills have "in God we trust" on it, so religion dominated much of what was going on at that time.

Times have changed I am afraid, and not all the changes have been positive.

Joe A

86 911 · 86 911's Garage

Markus, by the way the author of that paper was our very first president, George Washington. Old english is pretty hard to read though.

livi · 11-25-2005, 01:42 AM

Thanks !

A pretty amazing bit of history.

Joeaksa · 06:57 AM

Marcus,

Its even more interesting when people realize how they are all connected. Half of my family is a neighbour of yours, from Roskilde Denmark. Two brothers and one got mad at the tax required from the church in Denmark in 1850. He packed up his family and moved to America and set up a new life for half of the family. The other brother stayed at home and continued with life.

My Father returned to Denmark in 1970, not knowing a thing about the other family, or that they even existed. He looked in the phone book and the 4th number he called was his cousin. We have spent a lot of time with them since this and I may spend Christmas in Kopenhagen with them this year.

People look at America and while they may think one thing or another about it, but it helps when they realize that it was made up of mostly people from other countries who were not happy at home and moved there to be able to do as they wished, and it usually involved a religious situation.

You see, the brother who moved to America did not have a problem paying the tax to the church, but he wanted it to go to HIS church and not another one. His move allowed him to do this and for him and his family, I guess it was a good decision. Otherwise I would be emailing this to you from either Roskilde, Lingby or Soburg!

Its a very small world at times.

JoeA

livi · 11-25-2005, 07:09 AM

A small world, indeed Joe.

I went to the Roskilde music festival several years in a row when I was younger. Wildly out of control mostly..

I live practically across the border (a narrow bit of water in between).

Joeaksa · 11-25-2005, 07:12 AM

I was at Roskilde in 1999, have not made the festival in other years. Yes, it was rather wild but why not? Its in the summer and thats the time to have a good time.

Joe A

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa

Times have changed I am afraid, and not all the changes have been positive.

Joe A

You sound like my Dad, he is always pointing out downsides and negatives, hard on the chi dude.

When I see an elderly document such as that, I am a bit overwhelmed that our country has done as well as it has. After all, the Constitution is for a group of people with fundamentally differing beliefs, and it is working in spite of the fact that I am convinced that Great Americans like Washington and many of his contemporaries don't exist anymore.(How is that for negative?)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

Joeaksa · 11-25-2005, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tobra
You sound like my Dad, he is always pointing out downsides and negatives, hard on the chi dude.

When I see an elderly document such as that, I am a bit overwhelmed that our country has done as well as it has. After all, the Constitution is for a group of people with fundamentally differing beliefs, and it is working in spite of the fact that I am convinced that Great Americans like Washington and many of his contemporaries don't exist anymore.(How is that for negative?)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

Excuse me? Always pointing out the negatives you say?

All I said is that all the changes have not been positive. Many have and some have not. If you choose to see this as negative then your glass is half empty. Mine is always at least half full and usually overflowing.

Might get to know me a bit more before painting my statement with a broad brush like that in the future.

JoeA

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Tobra
You sound like my Dad, he is always pointing out downsides and negatives, hard on the chi dude.

When I see an elderly document such as that, I am a bit overwhelmed that our country has done as well as it has. After all, the Constitution is for a group of people with fundamentally differing beliefs, and it is working in spite of the fact that I am convinced that Great Americans like Washington and many of his contemporaries don't exist anymore.(How is that for negative?)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

He's just old and cranky from all that up down, up down.