Dear Winter Patriots,
The leadership at Indy Defenders of Liberty would like
to wish you a great Thanksgiving Day and weekend in celebrating the
blessings we have received.
To help us in our celebration and in reflection on the
historical foundation of this day there are several quotations and
references listed below we hope you enjoy. Perhaps you can include them
in your Thanksgiving reflections and prayers with your families.
Have a Great Thanksgiving
Edward Winslow's account of the
First Thanksgiving
"And God be praised we had a good
increase... Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on
fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after
we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as
much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a
week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms,
many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest
king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained
and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought
to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and
others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time
with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we
often wish you partakers of our plenty."
Edward
Winslow, Mourt's Relation: D.B. Heath,
ed. Applewood Books. Cambridge, 1986. p 82
Washington's Thanksgiving Prayers
Washington's
General Order November 18, 1775 Cambridge
The Honorable Legislature of this Colony having thought
fit to set apart Thursday the 23d of November Instant, as a day of public
thanksgiving 'to offer up our praises, and prayers to Almighty God, the
Source and Benevolent Bestower of all good; That he would be pleased
graciously to continue, to smile upon our Endeavours, to restore peace,
preserve our Rights, and Privileges, to the latest posterity; prosper the
American Arms, preserve and strengthen the Harmony of the United
Colonies, and avert the Calamities of a civil war.' The General therefore
commands that day to be observed with all the Solemnity directed by the
Legislative Proclamation, and all Officers, Soldiers and others, are
hereby directed, with the most unfeigned Devotion, to obey the same.
Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation (New
York, 3 October 1789)
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
shewn 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.
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