Past presidents have called for a national day of prayer

Throughout American history Presidents have called for national days of prayer to pay tribute and give thanks. In 1952, Congress issued a joint resolution calling for a prayer service on the steps of the Capitol. The service was conducted by Rev. Billy Graham, and thousands of people came to the service in the pouring February rain.

After this display, Congress called for the construction of a room with facilities for prayer and meditation for the use of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the Capitol’s Chapel is a stained glass window depicting George Washington in prayer under the inscription “In God We Trust.” Als,o a prayer is inscribed in the window that says, “Preserve me God for in Thee I do put my trust.”

From July 1st to July 3rd in 1863, more than 160,000 soldiers fought in Gettysburg in the bloodiest battle ever in North America that had over 51,000 casualties. On Nov. 19, 1863, President Lincoln came to Gettysburg to dedicate the first national military

cemetery.

His speech that was known as the Gettysburg Address was only two minutes long, but it became his most famous speech that was well remembered for the closing prayer. “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain and that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Historians have debated George Washington’s religious convictions, but his own actions showed that he was a man with deep faith. At Mount Vernon he expressed his belief in the guiding hand of providence in countless letters to family members, friends and colleagues. Also engraved in his church is the prayer for the United States of America, “Almighty God we make our earnest prayer that Thou will keep the United States in Thy Holy protection and Thou will incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large and especially their brethren who have served in the field.”

It is poignant that the first rays of sun that illuminate our Nation’s Capital each morning first fall upon the eastern side of its tallest building, which is the 555 foot monument to the father of our country. There on its top is inscribed on the eastern side of the four sided aluminum capstone are the Latin words Laus Reo “Praise be to God.”

These simple words which are placed for the eyes of heaven alone are a fitting reflection of George Washington’s deep conviction that the securing and maintaining of American liberty is owed to divine blessing for which all Americans should humbly give thanks.

Read my column next week which will be more information on the same subject.

HHJ News