To My Readers: Thank You
America`s history is replete with
expressions of thanksgiving. In our giant collection of
THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS (which we are now shipping, if
anyone wants to order them), we have included The First
Thanksgiving Proclamation. On June 20, 1676, by
unanimous vote, clerk Edward Rawson was authorized to
proclaim June 29 as a day of corporate thanksgiving. The
proclamation
says, in part:
"The Council has
thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of
this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and
praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour … [T]he
council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers,
Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and
seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being
persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this
whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living
and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."
On October 3, 1789, our first (and
greatest) President, George Washington, issued his
National Day of Thanksgiving proclamation. He said
(in part),
"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 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 promote the knowledge and
practice of true religion and virtue …"
With a spirit of thanksgiving,
Benjamin Franklin wrote,
"And forasmuch as ingratitude is one of the most odious of vices, let me
not be unmindful gratefully to acknowledge the favours I
receive from Heaven…. For all Thy innumerable
benefits; for life and reason, and the use of speech;
for health and joy, and every pleasant hour,—My good
God, I thank Thee!"
As one searches through our
history, he or she finds endless expressions of
thanksgiving to God from the recorded statements of
virtually every state congress and governor, as well as
every President in American history.
At this Thanksgiving, I would like
to not only publicly thank my God and Savior for His
bountiful and abundant blessings, but I would also like
to thank my readers for their faithfulness to read and
repost, copy, and resend these columns all over America.
During the past four months, I
traveled more than 30,000 miles; and visited more than
30 states, and scores of cities and towns. Everywhere I
went, I was inundated with dozens and scores of people
telling me how they read and distribute my columns.
Frankly, I am amazed and taken aback by the numbers of
people who read these columns.
To all of my readers: THANK YOU.
Thank you for your love of liberty, your love of
constitutional government, and your expressions of
appreciation for my columns. This column has given me an
extended family of patriots that is among the greatest
on earth. I pray our Heavenly Father will give you a
wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Again,
thank you!
P.S. We are still shipping FREEDOM
DOCUMENTS. This is our giant compilation of 50 of the
greatest documents of American history in one volume. We
print only twice a year, and our current supply will not
last much longer. These make wonderful Christmas gifts.
Here is
the original announcement regarding THE FREEDOM
DOCUMENTS, and to order THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS, go
here.
Dr. Chuck Baldwin is the
pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola,
Florida. He hosts a
weekly radio show. His
website is
here.
