George Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation

OPINION:

Certain words are so beautifully crafted that they should be left alone, unedited and honored with a humility that admits we can do no better.

“Ask not what your country can do for you …”

“I have a dream.”

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

The list is short, but some words reach so deeply into our national soul that any attempt to change or improve them would be as misplaced as presuming to alter Holy Writ.

Buried though they may be in our national archives, I believe we have such words for today, after celebration of this year’s Thanksgiving holiday.

Consider the following, written by George Washington at the behest of the United States Congress in 1789.

“By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

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 favor — 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, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions — to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed — to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord — To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York, the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.”

                    —George Washington

Yes, some words stand alone and enduring: “Thankfulness for the providence of Almighty God, the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be, rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country; grateful for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence, and humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions.”

Some things need no change, no rebuttal and no debate. No response seems right, other than one of “Thanksgiving to the author of true religion,” because “He alone knows best.”

• Everett Piper (dreverettpiper.com, @dreverettpiper), a columnist for The Washington Times, is a former university president and radio host. He is the author of “Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth” (Regnery). He can be reached at epiper@dreverettpiper.com.