11/23/2021
Happy Thanksgiving season to all my metalheads and hard
rockers.
It is a time to thank our Almighty God, Jesus Christ, and
the Holy Spirit (the triune God) for his provision. Although the date for
Thanksgiving has moved a couple of times, it has finally settled on the 4th
Thursday of every November. I thought it
wise to reprint the recommendation to the states given by the committee of
Congress of the United States to proclaim Thanksgiving a national day of
thanks. It is reproduced below.
Blessings in Christ,
Bodi-wan
Saturday, November 1, 1777
The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the
several states, to set apart a day of public thanksgiving, brought in a report;
which was taken into consideration, and agreed to as follows:
Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to
adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with
gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such
farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his
abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his
common providence, but also smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and
necessary war, for the defense and establishment of our unalienable rights and
liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to
prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with
most signal success:
It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive
powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December
next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the
good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate
themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with
their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent
confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and
their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the
merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance;
that it may please him graciously to afford his blessings on the governments of
these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to
inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that
wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the
providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of
all blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the
trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our
land may yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so
necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety,
under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the
promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
And it is further recommended, that servile labor, and such
recreation as, though at other times
innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so
solemn an occasion.
