Thanksgiving 2004 and George Washington

Many national politicians strongly argue that the USA is a secular nation. Some are so REACTIVE that any public display of religion and/or spiritual life is met with horrified screams about the necessity of the "Separation of church and state". (Reactivity is a hysterical, overly emotional reaction to an insignificant event.)

I would like to remind everyone to take a deep breath, calm down and think clearly for a moment.

1. A political office holder who prays, sings and attends church is not a "church" so any private, personal act is not establishing a church.

2. When the government's organization such as the Boy Scouts uses the term, "God" it is not setting up a church.

3. A church is an officially organized body like Episcopalian or Roman Catholic Denominations.

4. Separation of church and state means that the government cannot establish a national denomination. Many European countries have official, tax supported denominations. I know of no Evangelical or fundamentalist who wants a state, tax supported denomination.

Let us celebrate George Washington's faith while recognizing that he is not setting up a denomination's church

As our nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, it is helpful to remember what our first president said about Thanksgiving Day on October 3, 1789:

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 favour;

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 PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and 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 TWENTY-SIXTH 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 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 enable 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 favours which He has 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 publick 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 governments, 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, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington