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undefined Separation of Church and State ??? The distinguished gentlemen who gathered in Philadelphia in the late spring of 1787 clearly represented the thinking, aspirations, and religious values of their time. Although this was not a religious conclave, the overwhelming numbers of the delegates were of such religious belief and character as to preserve this document form including any principle that was contrary to the Bible -- which nearly all held in high esteem. Besides, they knew they must have the document ratified by the states, all of which were strongly Christian, eight of which still required church membership and commitment to Christ of their elected officials. It wasn't popular in 1787 to be an infidel in America.

On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional convention finally had enough delegates present to begin deliberations. After more than a month of political haggling and wrestling with the formation of the Government's operational basis, it seemed as if no progress would be made. The debate on the floor over representation and voting had reached a hopeless deadlock, and tempers were heating up. Some of the New York delegation had already left, and others were on the verge of following suit.

At this dismal and unpromising point of debate, the eighty-one-year-old philosopher, scientist, and statesman Benjamin Franklin rose to address the president (George Washington) and delegates. As recorded by the convention's secretary, James Madison, here is what Franklin said:

"Mr. President, The small progress we have made after
four or five weeks close attendance and continual
reasonings with each other -- our different sentiments on
almost every question, several of the last producing
as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of
the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed
seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we
have been running about in search of it. We have gone
back to ancient history for models of government, and
examined the different forms of those Republics which
having been formed with the seeds of their own
dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed
modern states all round Europe, but find none of their
Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the
dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it
when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we
have not hitherto once though of humbly applying to the
Father of lights to illuminate our understanding! In the
beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we
were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room
for the Divine protection. --Our prayers, Sir, were heard,
and they were graciously answered. All of us who were
engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent
instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To
that kind Providence, we owe this happy opportunity of
consulting in peace on the means of establishing our
future national felicity. And have we now forgotten this
powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His
assistance? 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. And if a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable
that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been
assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord
build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly
believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring
aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better,
than the builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our
little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded;
and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word
down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may
hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of
establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it
to chance, war, and conquest. 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 proceed to business,
and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested
to officiate in that service. **

** Gallard Hunt and James B. Scott, ed.,
The Debates
in the Federal Convention of 1787
Which Framed the
Constitution of the Unite States of America, reported by James
Madison (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1920),
pp. 181-82 pp. 181-82

From that day forward, every session of Congress has been opened with prayer!! The first official act of Congress was to authorize the printing of twenty thousand Bibles for the Indians! Nowhere within the document of the Constitution does the phrase 'Separation of Church and State' appear. Nowhere! No constitutional restrictions were placed on the church. Instead, all limitations were imposed in the role of government. Eleven years after the Constitution was first adopted; it was Thomas Jefferson who brought up the "wall of separation" between church and state. Even then, however, he was referring to a wall that kept government out of the church -- not church or church people out of government! It is a sad commentary on the educational system of today that most people never learn of the religious heritage upon which this country was founded. Our first president, George Washington, did not shy away from expressing his faith. One need only look to his writings to get a personal glimpse of the man: ". . . by the miraculous care of Providence, that protected me beyond all human expectation; I had four Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me, and yet escaped unhurt. Providence has heretofore taken us up when all other means and hope seemed to be departing from us, in this I will confide. I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my Official life, by commending the Interest of our dearest Country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping."