[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7368-S7369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE GUEST CHAPLAIN
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Madam President, in the midst of all the
strife and partisanship and ideological rigidity that makes it so
difficult these days for us to bring about consensus in the world's
most deliberative body, there is the occasion at the first of each of
these meetings in the Senate that we do come together--when the
chaplain mounts the rostrum, prays for the Senate and for the Nation,
and then we all join together in the Pledge.
I think it is worthy noting the way that the great master of the
Senate, Senator Robert Byrd, taught all of us freshmen 10 years ago to
mount the rostrum and to call the Senate together. As the Presiding
Officer calls the Senate to order, he or she then announces the
chaplain for the day and descends from the rostrum as the chaplain
comes to the rostrum to offer the prayer. It is a recognition of the
Deity, it is an expression of humility, it is a little symbolic act,
but it is important.
I think it is important to note that in July, when the entire Senate
filed through that center door under that arch inscribed with ``In God
We Trust,'' we all stood silently at our seats as our Chaplain, Admiral
Black, gave a prayer over the flag-draped coffin of our departed
colleague, Senator Byrd. Each of us stood silently in reverence and
recognition not only of a fallen colleague but in recognition of a
supreme Deity. And so it is that that tradition continues. And it
continues with my friend, the Reverend Dr. Joe Hunter from Florida, who
has shared with us his message this morning in the opening of the
Senate with a prayer.
The prayer started in the early days of the Continental Congress. It
was in 1774, in that Congress, that a chaplain was called to open those
sessions. Under the new government that came about as a result of the
Articles of Confederation--which had not worked to keep a new spirited
nation together because it didn't have a central government--they met
together in that steamy room in Philadelphia to hammer out the
Constitution, and the Constitutional Convention prayer was offered
during those deliberations.
As a matter of fact, it was Benjamin Franklin who made the comment--
when the delegates wondered whether this Nation could stand, a Nation
that was seeking freedom, a Nation that was seeking democracy--Benjamin
Franklin said something to the effect that if the Supreme Being knows
even when a sparrow falls, will that Supreme Being not be involved in
the affairs of a young and struggling nation?
In the beginning of that Nation under a constitutional government, in
lower Manhattan, the chaplain of the nearby church was proclaimed the
Chaplain of the Senate. When the government moved to Philadelphia, the
second Chaplain of the Senate was appointed. When the government moved
to this present location on the banks of the Potomac, the third
Chaplain of the Senate was appointed. In that long succession of
Chaplains, we are so pleased to have as our Chaplain now, after so many
distinguished ones, Admiral Barry Black, whom we all love and
appreciate.
So today continues a tradition with great selectivity of certain
ministers being invited to come and pray for the Nation. Joel Hunter is
the pastor of one of those mega-churches. It is a big church north of
Orlando. But it is a church that has about five churches all spread
out, with an incredible outreach to the community. Joel Hunter is a man
who has reached out and ministered to Presidents, and Joel Hunter is a
man who has done so much good for our community and our State and our
country. He has suffered tragedy with the loss of a granddaughter just
recently. Yet out of that suffering, all the more his compassion comes
forth.
Indeed, we are very privileged to have Dr. Joel Hunter as our
Chaplain for the day.
I yield the floor.
[[Page S7369]]
____________________