[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.

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