Washington wasn’t just America’s first President; he was also a Freemason — often respectfully called Brother Washington by fellow Masons. In the fall of 1789, Brother Washington issued a proclamation that set aside Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer” for the young United States. This is the story of how a newly inaugurated President (and proud Mason) launched a tradition of gratitude that lives on to this day, blending a bit of history, patriotism, and yes, a dash of Masonic flavor for an entertaining journey into the past.
The year 1789 was momentous: the United States had just ratified its Constitution, elected George Washington as the first President, and was taking its first steps as a unified nation. Amid the excitement and uncertainty of starting a new government, Congress asked Washington to recommend a national day of thanksgiving. The idea was to acknowledge the “providence of Almighty God” in helping America achieve independence and establish a constitutional government. Washington agreed wholeheartedly. He believed that after the trials of the Revolution, the fledgling country owed thanks for the Almighty’s care before and during the war, for victory and independence, and for the chance to create a new government of the people.
The following Proclamation was issued by Brother George Washington, President of the United States of America, 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 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 and also that we may then unite in mostly 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 bless-ing 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 encrease 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.
Washington’s proclamation itself was a thoughtful and eloquent document (his skills as a wordsmith might surprise those who know him only as a general!). He wrote in formal, grand 18th-century prose, invoking the blessing of the Supreme Being, who watches over the affairs of nations. In fact, the proclamation reads almost like a prayer. You can feel Washington’s deep sense of humility and reverence. He was calling for national unity in thanksgiving. The President went on to enumerate the blessings the American people should reflect upon and be grateful for, including:
Divine protection before and during the Revolution: Washington thanked God for His “kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation,” as well as for “favorable interpositions of His Providence” during the war that secured independence. He believed the victory in the Revolutionary War was an act of divine intervention and wasn’t achieved by human efforts alone.
The return of peace, unity, and plenty: After years of conflict, Americans in 1789 were enjoying “a great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty.” The war was over, the states had come together, and there were plenty of reason to be thankful.
The new constitutional government: Perhaps the greatest blessing, in Washington’s view, was that Americans had been able to establish constitutions of government for their safety and happiness,” especially the new national Constitution now in effect.
Civil and religious liberty: Washington reminded Americans to be grateful for the “civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed.” The new nation prided itself on freedoms unknown in many parts of the world, and preserving those liberties was paramount.
Opportunities for education and knowledge: The United States was a place where learning and self-improvement were possible, and this, too, was a gift to appreciate.
Importantly, Washington’s proclamation wasn’t only about giving thanks for past blessings. It also had a moral dimension. After listing the nation’s blessings, Washington asked the American people to humbly seek God’s guidance and forgiveness. He, urged that the day be spent not just in thanksgiving but also in prayer.
By issuing this proclamation, Brother George Washington blended faith, and patriotism.
So, what happened on that first Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1789?
President Washington noted in his diary that the day was “most inclement and stormy,” and as a result, “but few people” showed up to the special thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Chapel.
In truth, the 1789 Thanksgiving wasn’t a huge, bustling national festival. It was a new idea, and people were still figuring out how to observe it. Some towns held special church services; families enjoyed modest meals (nothing like today’s fried turkey extravaganzas); and newspapers printed Washington’s proclamation so everyone would remember why the day was set aside. The significance of the occasion lay more in what it symbolized than how big the crowds were. The President of the United States had asked all Americans, of every state and every creed, to pause and count their blessings as one people. That was something significant in 1789, and it set a precedent for bringing Americans together in shared gratitude.
George Washington’s 1789 proclamation planted the seed of a tradition. The idea of a national Thanksgiving caught on slowly. It wasn’t yet an annual holiday, but Washington would issue another proclamation in 1795, and later Presidents like John Adams and James Madison also declared occasional days of thanks. Decades passed, and the nation grew. Finally, in 1863, amid the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived Washington’s idea and established Thanksgiving as an annual national holiday on the last Thursday of November. Lincoln, perhaps intentionally, chose November 26, 1863, exactly 74 years after Washington’s first Thanksgiving, as the date for that observance. From that point on, Thanksgiving became a beloved yearly tradition in the United States. Today we celebrate it every fourth Thursday of November, a fixed date set by Congress in 1941, carrying forward the spirit that Brother Washington envisioned: a day for all Americans to unite in thanksgiving.
Looking back, Washington’s proclamation might read in flowery 18th-century language, but its essence is timeless. It reminds us that even in challenging times, there is power in focusing on our blessings and coming together as a community. Washington knew the young republic faced deep divisions and uncertainties. By calling for a Thanksgiving, he hoped to strengthen the nation’s sense of shared purpose and gratitude. He was building national unity on a foundation of gratitude. That idea is just as meaningful today for a country that can always use a bit more harmony and appreciation of the good things we share.
As we enjoy our Thanksgiving with football on TV, pumpkin pie, and maybe a toast around a busy dining table, it’s worth pausing to remember that first Thanksgiving Day proclamation. It came from a Freemason President who believed in the Almighty, in the virtue of gratitude, and in the importance of caring for one another. Brother George Washington’s message crosses the centuries: take time to reflect on the blessings of liberty, prosperity, and peace, and acknowledge the source of those blessings with “sincere and humble thanks”. And just as Washington did, let’s not forget to show kindness and charity to those who could use a helping hand. After all, is not just about saying thanks, but giving others a reason to be thankful.
In the end, Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation is an inspiring reminder that gratitude will always be a unifying force. Our Brother, George Washington, understood that a thankful heart isn’t a trivial thing, but rather a powerful tool to build hope, and a future.