Evening star., 1941-11-20
THANKSGIVING

When Congress in 1889 requested
him to recommend to the people OF
the United States a day of public
Thanksgiving and prayer" George
Washington responded by issuing
call to the service of that great
and glorious Being who is the
Beneflcent Author of all the good
that was, that is or that will be-"
The first President then listed the
benefactionS for which he summoned
the pOpulace to render sincere and
humble thanks; and the specific
examples Of Gods intervention to
which he referred included: His
kind care and protection OF the peo-
pie of this country previous to their
becoming nation; the signal
and manifold mercies and the favor
able interpoSitions of His providence
in the course and conclusion of the
late war; the great degree of
tranquility, union and plenty which
we have since enjoyed; the
peaceable and rational manner in
which we have been enabled to
establish constitutions of govern
ment for our safety and happiness,
and particularly the national one
now lately instituted; 1.-THE civil
and religious liberty with which we
are blessed, and the means we have
Of acquiring and diffusing useful
knowledge; and, in general,
all the great and various favors
which He has been pleased to confer
upon us"
In the solemn words here quoteE
the nobleSt mind of his time &C
knowledged the obligation of the
citizens Of the young Republic to
their Creator. There was no pre-
tense about MS confession of the
debt, nor was there any lack Of COM
prehension of the responsibility in
volved in the acceptance of Divine
aid. Washington asked supplications
to "the great Lord and Ruler of
Nations 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 pune
tually: to render our National Gov
ernment blessing to all the people
by constantly being a government
OF wise, just and constitutional laws.
dlScreetly and faithfully executed
and obeyed, to protect and guide all
sovereigns and nations especially
such as have shown kindness to u.s.
and to bless them with good govern
ments, peace and concord; to pro-
mote 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"
With the alteration of only a
phrase or two. the first call for
national Thanksgiving might be a
spiritual charter for the whole COM
pany OF mankind today, more than
a century and half after it was
written. The experience of the
human family in recent years has
convinced even the occasional
doubter that a foundation in reli-
gion and ethics is necessary to any
civilization worthy of the name. So.
too. 1t is evident that society must
have a basic groundwork of freedom
If it is to be immune from repeated
disturbances.
OF the fundamental truth of those
realities a vast majority of living
men and women everywhere now are
convinced. Their faith may be chal-
lenged. their hope and aspiration
Knocked. but the future-With all
that it promises OF construction
lies in the hands of the millions
whose cause is one with the Deity
to whom Washington gratefully
bowed his head.
For all the gifts of God which
they possess and likewise for the
privilege of deserving them the
people of America presently as per-
haps never before are thankful.