[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 92 (Thursday, June 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H5024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FAITH IN GOD IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, a deep abiding faith in God, I believe, 
undergirds and protects this Nation from its very start until today. As 
you and I tour this Capitol, as you and I work in this Capitol, and as 
you and I go about the business of the people in this Capitol, there 
are signs of that deep faith throughout the Capitol. Some are overt, 
such as the inscription above you that says ``In God We Trust,'' and 
there are others that aren't quite as overt that are particularly 
subtle, and it is one of these subtle remembrances and reminders that I 
want to talk about today.
  As you move between the Statuary Hall and the Rotunda, there is a 
statue of a gentleman named John Muhlenberg. John Muhlenberg's story is 
what I want to talk about today.
  John was a clergyman, a soldier, and a politician. John was a 
Virginian, and he was a member of the Assembly of Virginia; and he was 
a witness to the British taking over the armory in Williamsburg and 
taking the gun powder and the weapons out of that armory. He was 
incensed that his country, his communities would be attacked by these 
British soldiers.
  So he rode his horse back to his congregation in Western Virginia, 
and on a Sunday morning began a sermon, and he spoke from that familiar 
passage Ecclesiastes 3 in which he said, There is a time for everything 
and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a 
time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a 
time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep 
and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to 
scatter stones and a time to gather them; a time to embrace and a time 
to refrain; a time to search and a time to give up; a time to keep and 
a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be 
silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; and a 
time for war and a time for peace.
  He then looked at his congregation, Madam Speaker, and said, This is 
a time for war. Standing in a pulpit with his clerical robes on, he 
then removed his robe to display his colonel's uniform and sword. 
Pastor Muhlenberg then went on to raise the militia of some 300 strong 
Virginians and fought valiantly in the Revolutionary War on behalf of 
his country.
  In addition to John Muhlenberg, he had a brother named Fredrick 
Muhlenberg who was also a preacher in New York City. His brother, once 
understanding what John was doing, wrote to him telling him the error 
of his ways, that this was not his fight, he should not be 
participating in it, and to stand down and to leave this matter of a 
revolution alone.
  Fredrick held that position until the Brits burned his church in New 
York City, and then Fredrick took up arms against the Brits as well. In 
addition to those feats, Fredrick became the first Speaker of the House 
of Representatives.
  So as you walk between the Statuary Hall and the Rotunda, you will 
see a statute of John Muhlenberg. He's got clerical robes, and on he's 
also got a sword; and as you see this statue, be in remembrance of the 
fact that this was a clergyman who had taken up arms to create and 
defend this country.
  Madam Speaker, I believe that this country should remain with a deep 
abiding faith in God, and that we should absolutely adhere to the 
inscription ascribed above your head and that in fact in God we do 
trust.

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