[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 28833]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WELCOMING THE REVEREND ERIC W. JORGENSEN

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Madam Speaker, I want to thank one of my 
constituents, Pastor Eric W. Jorgensen of St. Stephen's Reformed 
Episcopal Church in Eldersburg, Maryland, for serving as a guest 
chaplain of the House of Representatives and providing us a beautiful 
prayer before we begin our work.
  This is a tradition begun by Benjamin Franklin that has been followed 
ever since by the House of Representatives and the Senate. Benjamin 
Franklin, then 82 years of age, rose during a moment of crisis during 
our Constitutional Convention. This is part of what he said: ``In the 
days of our contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger, 
we had daily prayer in this room for divine protection. 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. If a sparrow 
cannot fall without his notice, can a Nation rise without his aid?
  ``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 begin to proceed to any other 
business.''
  Thank you, Mr. Franklin, for this precedent. Thank you, Pastor 
Jorgensen, for helping to continue this great tradition.

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