"How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding?  In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection.

"Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.  All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending Providence in our favour . . . And have we not forgotten that powerful Friend?  Or do we imagine 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 possible 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 labor in vain that build it.'  I firmly believe this.  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 byword down to future ages.  And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance despair of establishing government 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."

--Benjamin Franklin’s address to General Washington and delegates from all thirteen colonies at a meeting in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 seasoned by differing opinions and flared tempers.

I have just returned from a trip to the United States and heard much talk about the coming election for the next president.  On the same day that I read this account in a book called Living Under God, I went searching in a US Today newspaper for an item that might reflect somewhat similar circumstances to that of the American founding fathers when desperately desiring independence from Great Britain.  Certainly the presidential race, I must admit, is not the same as in Franklin’s day, but there was a story about the raising of funds by both the Democrats (Obama) and Republicans (Romney).  As it turned out, the President’s political party had raised less money than the Republicans to which the campaign’s chief operating officer, Ann Marie Habershaw, was quoted as saying “we didn’t close the gap enough [i.e., money raised].  If Obama loses to Romney in November it will be because we didn’t close the gap.” USA Today, Tuesday, July 12, 2012, p. 4A

We have come a long way in politics in the 225 years since Benjamin Franklin gave his address to the delegates in Philadelphia, but sadly in the wrong direction.