1787 Franklin Prayer · Founding Made Plain

1Mr. President:

2The small progress we have made

3 after 4 or five weeks'

4 close attendance

5 &

6 continual reasonings

7 with each other --

8 our different sentiments

9 on almost every question,

10 several of the last producing

11 as many noes as ays,

12is methinks a melancholy proof

13 of the imperfection

14 of the Human Understanding.

15 We indeed seem to feel

16 our own want

17 of political wisdom,

18 since we have been running about

19 in search of it.

20We have gone back to ancient history

21 for models of government,

22 and examined the different forms

23 of those Republics

24 which having been formed with

25 the seeds of their own dissolution

26 now no longer exist.

27And we have viewed Modern States

28 all round Europe,

29 but find none of their Constitutions

30 suitable to our circumstances.

31In this situation of this Assembly

32 groping as it were in the dark

33 to find political truth,

34 and scarce able to distinguish it

35 when presented to us,

36how has it happened, Sir,

37 that we have not hitherto once thought

38of humbly applying to the Father of Lights

39to illuminate our understandings?

40In the beginning

41 of the contest with G. Britain,

42 when we were sensible of danger we had

43daily prayer in this room

44for the divine protection.

45 -- Our prayers, Sir,

46 were heard,

47 and they were graciously answered.

48All of us who were engaged in the struggle

49 must have observed frequent instances

50 of a Superintending providence in our favor.

51to that kind providence

52 we owe this happy opportunity

53 of consulting in peace

54 on the means of establishing

55 our future national felicity.

56and have we now forgotten

57 that powerful Friend?

58 or do we imagine that

59 we no longer need his assistance?

60I have lived, Sir, a long time

61 and the longer I live,

62 the more convincing proofs

63 I see of this truth --

64 that God governs

65 in the affairs of men.

66And if a sparrow

67 cannot fall to the ground

68 without His notice,

69 is it probable

70 that an empire

71 can rise without His aid?

72We have been assured, Sir,

73 in the sacred writings

74 that "except the Lord build the House

75 they labor in vain that build it."

76 I firmly believe this;

77and I also believe that

78 without His concurring aid

79 we shall succeed

80 in this political building

81 no better than the Builders of Babel:

82 We shall be divided by our

83 little

84 partial

85 local

86 interests;

87 our projects will be confounded,

88 and we ourselves shall be become

89 a reproach

90 and a bye word

91 down to future ages.

92 And what is worse,

93 mankind may hereafter

94 from this unfortunate instance,

95 despair of establishing Governments

96 by Human Wisdom,

97 and leave it to

98 chance,

99 war,

100 and conquest.

101I therefore beg leave to move --

102 that henceforth prayers

103 imploring the assistance of Heaven,

104 and its blessings on our deliberations,

105 be held in this Assembly

106 every morning before we proceed to business,

107 and that one or more

108 of the Clergy of this City

109 be requested to officiate

110 in that service.

111Mr. SHARMAN seconded the motion.

112Mr. HAMILTON & several others

113 expressed their apprehensions

114 that however proper

115 such a resolution might have been

116 at the beginning of the convention,

117 it might at this late day,

118 I. bring on it some

119 disagreeable animadversions. &

120 2. lead the public to believe

121 that the embarrassments

122 and dissensions within the Convention,

123 had suggested this measure.

124It was answered

125 by Docr. F. Mr. SHERMAN & others,

126 that the past omission of a duty

127 could not justify

128 a further omission-

129 that the rejection

130 of such a proposition

131 would expose the Convention

132 to more unpleasant animadversions

133 than the adoption of it:

134 and that the alarm out of doors

135 that might be excited

136 for the state of things within,

137 would at least be as likely

138 to do good as ill.

139Mr. WILLIAMSON,

140 observed that the true cause

141 of the omission

142 could not be mistaken.

143 The Convention had no funds.

144Mr. RANDOLPH

145 proposed

146 in order to give

147 a favorable aspect to ye. measure,

148 that a sermon be preached

149 at the request of the convention

150 on 4th of July,

151 the anniversary of Independence;

152 & thenceforward

153 prayers be used

154 in ye. Convention every morning.

155Dr. FRANKLIN.

156 2nd this motion

157After several unsuccessful attempts

158 for silently postponing the matter by adjourning,

159The adjournment was at length carried,

160 without any vote on the motion