PRESIDENTIAL QUOTES FOR THE WEEK
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This week we honor Presidents Washington and Lincoln.
As George Washington prepared to vacate his position of leadership in the Federal Government, he expressed many concerns for the future of America--particularly that faith and values would guide our Nation into the future. Here is a brief excerpt from his Farewell Address, delivered September 17, 1796.
Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports..let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
--George Washington
This photo shows the huge crowd that assembled for Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
When Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office for the second time, he held tenaciously to his vision for an end to the conflict that had torn America apart. In his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865, Lincoln sounded a strong note for healing and unity that come from God. Within days of delivering this address, President Lincoln was killed by an assassin's bullet.
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
--Abraham Lincoln
PRESIDENT BUSH QUOTES ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO ENCOURAGE AMERICANS TO PRAY
Photo of President Bush praying at last week's National Prayer Breakfast, courtesy of the White House.
When the first Continental Congress met at Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia, one of its first official acts was prayer. In 1779, the Day of Prayer Proclamation asked that "Almighty God would grant the blessings of peace to all contending nations, freedom to those who are in bondage, and comfort to the afflicted."
During our nation's darkest hour, our nation's greatest President called America back to prayer. President Abraham Lincoln urged his fellow citizens to "look to the redeeming and preserving grace of God." And Americans wisely accepted President Lincoln's counsel.
America is a country of faith. And throughout our history, in times of crisis and in times of calm, Americans have always turned to prayer... Millions of Americans of every religious faith have been led to prayer. They have prayed for comfort in a time of sorrow, for courage in a time of fear and for understanding in a time of anger. They have prayed for wisdom in the midst of war and for strength on the journey ahead.
--George W. Bush