THE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
- JUNE 20, 1676:
"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations
in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written
and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this
wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements
he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of
his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations
of his Fatherly Compassion,
and regard; reserving many
of our Towns from Desolation Threatened,and attempted by the Enemy, and
giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal
Advantages against them,
without such Disadvantage
to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's
mercy that we are not consumed,It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness,
when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing
the
Lord should take notice
under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an
Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well
as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:
The Council has thought
meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day
of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour,
many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not
those who are sensible of
God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and
that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying
Him; the Council
doth commend it to the Respective
Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously
to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God
we may all,
even this whole people offer
up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by
Jesus Christ."
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Background:
The First Thanksgiving Proclamation
(June 20, 1676)
On June 20, 1676, the governing
council of Charlestown,Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best
to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community
securely established. By
unamimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June
29 as a day of thanksgiving, our first. That proclamation is reproduced
here in the same language and spelling as the original.
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