In light of America's current war and ongoing war against terrorism,
the actions of our Founding Fathers in times of war are instructive. This is the
text of the first national day of thanksgiving in America (set for December 18,
1777), declared by the Continental Congress on November 1, 1777:
IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777
FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the
superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their
Obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings
as they stand in Need of; And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy not
only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence, but
also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the
Defence and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly
in that he hath been pleased in so great a Measure to prosper the Means used for
the Support of our Troops and to crown our Arms with most signal success:
It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these
United States, to set
apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of
December next, for
Solemn Thanksgiving and
Praise; That with one
Heart and one Voice the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their
Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and
that together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join
the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every
Favour, and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD,
through the Merits of
Jesus
Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it
may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these
States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole; to inspire our
Commanders both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and
Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of
Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human
blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE; That it may please him to prosper the Trade
and Manufactures of the People and the Labour of the Husbandman, that our Land
may yet yield its Increase; To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so
necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety,
under his nurturing Hand, and to prosper the Means of Religion for the promotion
and enlargement of that Kingdom which consisteth “
in Righteousness, Peace and
Joy in the Holy Ghost.”
And it is further recommended, that servile Labour, and such Recreation as,
though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this
Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.
Extract from the Minutes,
Charles Thomson, Secr.
[This proclamation can be
found in:
Journals of the American Congress From 1774 to 1788
(Washington: Way and Gideon, 1823), Vol. II, pp. 309-310]
This is text excerpted from a national fast declared by the Continental
Congress on March 16, 1776:
IN CONGRESS
In times of impending calamity and distress; when the liberties of America
are imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an
insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the indispensable duty of
these hitherto free and happy colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the
most reverent devotion, publickly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of
God; to confess and deplore our offences against him; and to supplicate his
interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous
efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and posterity.
. . . Desirous, at
the same time, to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a
solemn sense of God's superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to
rely, in all their lawful enterprizes, on his aid and direction, Do earnestly
recommend, that Friday, the Seventeenth day of May next, be observed by the said
colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may, with united
hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a
sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure,
and, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and
forgiveness; humbly imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of
our unnatural enemies;
. . . that it may please the Lord of Hosts, the God of
Armies, to animate our officers and soldiers with invincible fortitude, to guard
and protect them in the day of battle, and to crown the continental arms, by sea
and land, with victory and success: Earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil
rulers, and the representatives of the people, in their several assemblies and
conventions; to preserve and strengthen their union, to inspire them with an
ardent, disinterested love of their country; to give wisdom and stability to
their counsels; and direct them to the most efficacious measures for
establishing the rights of America on the most honourable and permanent
basis—That he would be graciously pleased to bless all his people in these
colonies with health and plenty, and grant that a spirit of incorruptible
patriotism, and of pure undefiled religion, may universally prevail; and this
continent be speedily restored to the blessings of peace and liberty, and
enabled to transmit them inviolate to the latest posterity. And it is
recommended to Christians of all denominations, to assemble for public worship,
and abstain from servile labour on the said day.
[Source:
Journals of the American Congress From 1774 to 1788 (Washington: Way and
Gideon, 1823), Vol. I, pp. 286-287]
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