Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-23
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.
Copy of Northumberland by President
George Washington.

Copy of ProclamatiOnlIssu by President
George Washington.
Rev. w. n. Bacon of Bridport read the
following at his recent Thanksgiving Day
services:
The following is the first national pro-
clamatiOn issued by George Washington,
first president of the United States. 1t
is dated Jan. l, 1895, and will be read
with interest at this time. especially in
view of the fact that some persons would
have US believe that a national Thanks
giving proclamation is recent invention
in our country:
PROCLAMATION.
When we review the cqlamtles which af-
flict so many other nations, the pre- sent con.
ditiOn of the United states affords much mat.
ter of consolation and satisfaction. Our ex.
emption hitherto from foreign war; an in.
creasing prospect of the continuance of that
exemption, the great degree of internal
tranquility we have enjoyed, the recent con.
| tirmation of that tranquility by the suppress
sion of an instruction which so wantonly
threatened it, the happy course of our public
affairs in general, the unexampled prosperity
of all classes of our citizens, are crcum-
stances which peculiarly mark, our situation
with indications of the divine beneficence to-
ward us. In such a state of things it is in an
especial manner our duty rs a people, with
devout reverence and affectionate graf tude,
to acknowledge our many an great Obliga.
tons to Almighty God, and to imp ore Him
to continue and confirm the blessings we ex-
perenced.
Deeply penetrated with this sentiment, l.
George Washington, President of the United
States, do recommend to all religious so.
cieties and denominations, and to all persons
whomsoever, within the United states to set
rto q obs
February next as day of public thanksgiv
ing and prayer, and on that day to meet to.
gether ana render sincere and hearty thanks
to the great Ruler of nations for the manifold
and signal mercies which distinguish our lot
az a nation particularly for the possession of
constitutions of government which unite and,
by their union, established liberty with order,
for the preservation Of our peace, foreign and
domestic; for the reasonable control which
has been given to IL spirit OF disorder in the
suppression of the late insurrec ton, and
generally for the prosperous condition of our
affairs, public and private, and at the sa ne
time humbly and fervently beseech the kind
Author of these blessings graciously to pro.
long them to us; to imprint on our hearts a
deep and solemn sense of our obligations to
Him for them; to teach us rightly to estimate
their immense value; to preserve us from the
arrogance of prosperity, and from haz lrding
the advantages we enjoyed by delusive pur-
suits, to dispose us to merit the continuance
of His tavors by not abusing them, by our
gratitude for them, and by corresponding
conduct as citizens and as men to render this
country more ana more Il safe and propitious
asylum for the unfortunate of other countries;
to extend among us true and useful know
ledge; to ditfuse and establish habits of
sobrety, order. morality, and piety, and IN
ally to i'm part all the blessings we possess or
ask for ourselves to the whole family of man.
kind.
In testimony whereof, | have caused the
seal of the United States of America to be af.
fixed to these presents, and signed the same
with my hand. Done at the city of Philadel-
pha the first day of January, 1875.
GEORGE WAsHINGToN.
BY the President: