[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 55 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  APPRECIATION FOR DR. GEORGE DOCHERTY

  (Mr. GINGRICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to share with my colleagues 
what a wonderful thing it is today to have Dr. George Docherty back 
sharing with us and leading us in prayer. He grew up and attended 
public school in Scotland; in Glasgow, to be exact. At the age of 20, 
he heard his calling to become a minister.
  In 1949, the Washington religious community was shocked by the death 
of Dr. Peter Marshall, the Scottish preacher, who was both Chaplain of 
the U.S. Senate and Pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
  Dr. Marshall had identified a minister to preach in his church in his 
absence: George Docherty. In 1950, the congregation chose as its new 
pastor George Docherty. He held the congregation together and led the 
church into an active ministry for the underprivileged which continues 
to this day. He worked with Reverend Billy Graham on the Washington 
crusades and arranged for Reverend Graham's first crusade to Scotland.
  For all of us this week, we should think about the notion, as we 
contemplate prayer and a National Day of Prayer, that Dr. Docherty 
convinced President Eisenhower and the Congress to add the words 
``under God'' to the Pledge of Allegiance. He is an example of why this 
is a great country, filled with good people who do amazing things.
  The fact is that we all owe Dr. George Docherty a thanks for 
reminding us that the only true America is an America which recognizes 
that its blessings come from the Creator who endows it with its unique 
rights.

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