Benjamin Franklin Suggests Prayer for Constitutional Convention

Many today downplay the religion of the Founding Fathers. Benjamin Franklin is a frequent example that is used. Certainly Franklin was not what most would call Christian, but he did show faith in God.

During the debates about the Declaration of Independence the representatives prayed regularly. But after several weeks at the Constitutional Convention, Ben Franklin pointed out that they had not yet prayed. He expressed the concern that their lack of prayer was responsible for the lack of progress that frustrated them all.

The following is from the Franklin Institute:

On June 28, 1787, Franklin made a formal motion for prayers at the Constitutional Convention. The text of the motion itself reads:

I therefore beg leave to move, That henceforth Prayers, imploring the Assistance of Heaven and its Blessing on our Deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to Business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that Service.

Read the entire transcript here:
www.constitution.org