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How
many of you have heard that our founders were atheists or were
agnostics? So that’s the first Thanksgiving, the official proclamation
for it. It has traceable routes right back to the Pilgrims.
“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
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 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.” And “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 … and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord.
To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and
the encrease [sic] 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 me hand at the city of New York on the
3rd day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1789, George Washington.”
"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants." —Kevin James
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