A Thanksgiving Proclamation Made by Congress in 1777

November 20, 2025 by

This morning I spoke to the Upper School students about the congressional Thanksgiving proclamation of 1777.  This proclamation was made to encourage all the people of the United States to set aside a day, December 18th, 1777, in order to praise and thank God.  The occasion was on the wonderful victory at Saratoga only a few weeks after the battle.  Saratoga was a uniquely significant victory and was the first major defeat of the British which turned the tide of war.

I asked the students to think about three questions as we read through the Proclamation.  Those three questions were:

  1. Why did the U.S. Congress proclaim that people should give thanks?
  2. To whom did the U.S. Congress proclaim that people should give thanks?
  3. How should they give thanks, or what activities should accompany their thanks giving?

I’ve included the text of the proclamation below.  You can read it and see that the answers to these questions ought to be an encouragement to every American citizen who still believes “In God We Trust.” After the text I have included some of the thoughts from our talk in Forum. Please read to the end!

IN CONGRESS November 1, 1777 

1 FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of: And it having pleased Him in His abundant mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence; but also to smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defense and establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that He hath been pleased, in so great a measure, to prosper the means used for the support of our troops, and to crown our arms with most signal success: 

2 It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: 

3 That at one time and with one voice, the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor; 

4 and that, together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor; and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please GOD through the merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; 

5 That it may please Him graciously to afford his blessing on the governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole: 

6 To inspire our Commanders, both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: 

7 That it may please him, to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people, and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its Increase: 

8 To take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under His nurturing hand; 

9 and to prosper the means of religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.” 

10 And it is further recommended, that servile labor, and such recreation, as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion.

I trust you found that encouraging!  This is what we discussed with the students…

1. Why did the U.S. Congress proclaim that people should give thanks?

  • It was their duty or obligation. (par. 1)  We often think of thankfulness as a feeling; however, our forefathers had a different perspective.  As a moral obligation, we must also stir up that feeling and rightly express the appropriate attitude of gratitude. (See Ps. 92 & I Thess. 5:16-18)
  • They had received benefits and blessing. (par. 1)

2. To whom did the U.S. Congress proclaim that people should give thanks?  God. This seems obvious, but the encouraging thing is that this call to thank God is not just directed to a vague or general religious deity.  It is very clear they are speaking about the God of the Bible, the Triune God of Biblical Christianity. How do we know?

  • …the superintending Providence of Almighty God… (par. 1)
  • There is a call to “penitent confession” and that repentance for sin would lead to forgiveness “through the merits of JESUS CHRIST…” (par. 4)  This is a good old-fashioned gospel call. See John 3:16 & I John 1:5-10
  • There is a call to bless the “means of religion” (i.e. prayer, Bible reading, preaching, gathering together for worship services) to enlarge the “Kingdom”.  You know they were not talking about the kingdom of Britain.
  • Furthermore, that Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, consists and is characterized by goodness, peace, and joy in a right relationship and right standing with the Holy Spirit! (par. 9) 
  • Also see the direct quote from the Christian scripture, Romans 14:17(par. 9)

3. How should they give thanks, or what activities should accompany their thanks giving?

  • Solemn thanks giving (par. 2),
  • Praise to God (par. 2),
  • Express their grateful feelings (par. 3),
  • Consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor (par. 3),
  • Make penitent confession,
  • Make earnest supplication (i.e. pray) (par. 4)
  • Rest (par. 10).

This is our rich American history.  We once held these truths closely and appreciated from where our blessings originate.  Perhaps we can can work on these again this Thanksgiving holiday!