I’ve been shocked by the attempts to re-write this well-known and much-loved American tradition. COVID-19 may require a change in the way you, your family and your friends celebrate but whatever you do… DO NOT CANCEL THANKSGIVING!
WallBuilders is an organization dedicated to presenting America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on moral, religious, and constitutional history. Thanks to them we have this Proclamation from 1806 as a record of Rhode Island’s God-honoring Thanksgiving heritage. It was encouraging back then and should be even more so today! (It’s also an interesting historical reminder that the “separation of Church and State” is not language in our Constitution).
BY HIS HONOUR
ISAAC WILBOUR, ESQ.
Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode-Island
and Providence-Plantations.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS the General Assembly of the State aforesaid, on the First day of November inst. passed the following Resolutions, to wit:
“WHEREAS all men are sharers in the bounties of GOD: it is therefore their duty to acknowledge, with humility, their sense of His goodness, and with grateful
hearts to render to Him their thanks for the same. “Resolved, That it be recommended to the people of this State, to observe THURSDAY, the Twenty-seventh day of November inst. as a day of PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That they unite in rendering thanks to the Great Father of all for their being, preservation, and redemption; for their exemption from the miseries of war, to which other nations, less favored at this time exposed; for the means of education, and religious improvement, which they enjoy; for the possession of their liberty; for the privilege of equal laws; for the fruitfulness of the season; and for the health of the people: And to entreat that He would continue to look upon them with an eye of favor: That He would bless the officers of the government of the United States, and of each particular State:
That He would give us Grace, duly to appreciate the blessings of a free government, happily administered, and to be duly sensible of the evils that
would result from divisions among us: — That He would take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from union and concord:
That as there is but one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, and one GOD and Father of us all; so we may henceforth be all of one heart, united in one
bond of truth, peace and charity: That He would preserve us against wars from abroad, from wasting sickness, and from the commission of any thing which
might offend against His holy Law; and with deep humility and contrition to confess their manifold sins and transgressions.
We at Family Policy Alliance are thankful for you!
David Aucoin
Chairman, Board of Directors – Rhode Island
P.S. Please remember our Matching Grant Challenge of $13,500 in your year-end giving.
