Thanksgiving: 400 Years Later

 By Barry Waugh - Posted at Reformation21: 

Americans today are used to thinking of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but it was not always that way. During the years following the Pilgrims’ feast in 1621, the holiday was celebrated primarily in New England, with other regions exhibiting limited or no interest. In 1789, the houses of Congress met in joint committee and asked President George Washington to set aside a day of thanksgiving…

“…to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful heart 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.”

General Washington quickly agreed and selected Thursday, November 26, 1789, a day of public thanksgiving. This was the first national Thanksgiving Day proclamation under the Constitution. Washington’s declaration eloquently recommended to the people that they thank “that great and glorious Being,” “the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be,” and “the great Lord and Ruler of Nations” whose “favorable interpositions of his Providence” brought victory, independence, freedom of religion, and national unity.

Washington did not mention the Pilgrims. Also, it is important to see that the word recommend was used by Congress. There had been previous attempts to have a national day of thanks, but the issue was divisive. Some people thought that the president’s recommendation was an intrusion by the state into the ministry of the church, and in some cases, opponents contended that the government was ordaining a day of worship not commanded by God’s Word.

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