REFERENCES TO THE TOPIC:

PRAYER

Compiled by WD Kemner July 2025

Biblical Passages referencing the Subject:

Concordance: PRAYER

Papers written on Topic:

How Daniel handled Prayer and Fasting – Daniel 10 is a lesson for everyone.

Spiritual Warfare Illustrated by an Old Man

Historical Figures referencing the Subject:

Benjamin Franklin

Spoken During the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787

Record contained in the Madison Debates. Copy online at Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library, The Avalon Project. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_628.asp

“Mr. President

The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other-our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings 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.”

Government Restrictions and Laws on Subject

1962, June 25 - U.S. Supreme Court declared prayer in public schools unconstitutional.

It created a lot of confusion in that it was used to stop ALL prayer by many School systems. Clarification leaned toward the fact that the State could not dictate the content or organize what was said in a prayer. This can all be researched online.

“Justices ban prayer at public school graduation”; Philadelphia Inquirer. June 25, 1992

This original newspaper article held on file.

Topic Portrayal in Media

“The Family Circus” by Bill Keane 1995