(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)
From The Center for Arizona Policy, via an email forward from my mom.
Our country was built on a foundation of prayer. George Washington, in his First Inaugural Address spoke these words:
“It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.”
George Washington called the entire nation to prayer in 1789 when he proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Following his lead, subsequent presidents also proclaimed days of prayer and thanksgiving. In 1952 Congress established a National Day of Prayer and in 1988 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation permanently setting the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May of each year.
Interesting to read the words of Washington, especially that last sentence. I've never read them before.
And I've never found prayer to be a bad thing.
