Faith, Prayer and Our Founding Fathers

Was there disagreement among our Founding Fathers about opening their Continental Congress with prayer?  Yes, says historian Ron Zell. 

In an interesting and informative presentation to the OFS at our March meeting, Mr. Zell presented the text of a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail. 

In the letter, Adams tells about the debate going on to decide whether or not to open with prayer at the Continental Congress.  

You can see the letter in the two slides below. 

(Mr. Zell has generously shared these slides from his presentation on faith in the early colonies up through the Constitutional Congress in 1787. Click on the slides to see them full size.)

Below is a continuation of Adams's letter to his wife, Abigail. Prayer to open the Congress was approved. On the left is the Psalm read by a Reverend to the Continental Congress.

The painting below is of the Reverend praying at the congress. The painting is by Howard Chandler Christy. 

Thirteen years later, at the Constitutional Congress of 1787, Benjamin Franklin wrote the request for prayer below. He is asking the Constitutional Congress to pray to God for help and guidance.

Below is another painting by Christy that hangs in the US Capitol. It is of the Constitutional Congress in 1787.

Many thanks to Mr. Zell for his informative presentation that showed us all how faith led the early settlers and our Founding Fathers through their trials.