‘A Day of Public Thanksgiving’

Regardless of what their thoughts on church/state matters might be, presidents have always directed their Thanksgiving messages heavenward. George Washing-ton issued this proclamation Oct. 3, 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 favour; 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 ...