George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1789

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…

Several things strike me about this proclamation (read the full text here). First, those who feel that George W. Bush has used too much religious rhetoric should read this proclamation from Washington. He makes Bush look like an ACLU board member. This is not just general “thank God for all you do”. This proclamation assumes that God has intervened repeatedly and specifically in the young nation’s life. Second, it does not assume America to be blameless but rather asks God to “pardon our national and other trangressions.” Somehow politicians who invoke God these days don’t tend to dwell on that part.