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Show February t 4 15, 1978 Beniamin Franklin's petition for prayer delivered at the constitutional convention At this juncture Franklin asked if he might be heard. This time he himself read his brief speech, in his low, soft, hesitant voice, addressing his words directly to Washington in the Chair, almost as if this matter were between the two. The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate stance, of Governments despair establishing by in- and to chance, war and Human W'isdom leave it conquest. I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth imploring the prayers assistance of Heaven, and its our on blessings eliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy and the City be requested to officiate in that service. An unsupported legend has grown up about Franklins proposal and its effect on the Convention. The facts ap- - 4 i pear to be simple. Sherman seconded the motion. Hamilton add several others expressed a variety of opinons. To begin prayers now, so late in the session, might cause talk, and lead the pubic to suspect that there was trouble behind the closed doors. It was not the Quaker custom to have at political prayers and this was Among the delegates were members of gatherings, Philadelphia. various Protestant denominations Quaker, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist, Roman Baptist and Catholics. of North Carolina pointed out that the Cenvention had no money to pay a chaplain or chaplains. Williamson The motion was never put to a vote, and the meeting adjourned. This religious discussion may have cooled the debate for the time being, but the next day, the 29th, the conflict went on with little change of temper. In this situation of the Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened. Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our In derstandings? un- the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers. Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us w ho were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind of providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived. Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I sec of this truth hat Cod 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, that except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this MRS. JUDY SPIERING, a first grade teacher at Valley View Elementary, instructs thechildren in their penmanship lesson writing on the silhouettes of Lincoln and Washington. |