Foreward

On This Day, LaHay, B. Farris, M.
Some parts paraphrased

Benjamin Franklin must be given the credit for instituting the practice of prayer during the sessions of the constitutional convention in 1787. This practice has continued to today at each opening session of Congress.

After some frustrating days of attempting to create a new form of government, On June 28 Franklin rose to his feet and delivered the following remarks:

"How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly appealing to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible to danger, we had daily prayers in the room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered . . . I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the affairs of men. -- And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." . . . I firmly believe this.

From that day until this, every session of Congress has begun with prayer. It has only been since early in this century, however, that the Congressional Record has recorded the text of the prayers as a part of the historical record of the day's proceedings.

"On This Day" published by Concerned Women for America Education and Legal Defense Foundation, Inc. No publication date, but I believe it was published in the 1980s.