"My sacrifice, the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, broken down with sorrow for sin and
humbly and thoroughly penitent, such O God, You will not despise."
(Psalm 51:17)
Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer
that Thou will keep the United States
in Thy holy protection;
that Thou will incline the hearts of the citizens
to cultivate a spirit of subordination,
and obedience to government,
and entertain a brotherly affection and love
for one another and for their fellow-citizens
of the United States at large.
And finally, that Thou will most graciously
be pleased to dispose us all to do justice,
to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with
that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind
which were the characteristics of the Divine Author
of our blessed religion, without a humble imitation
of whose example in these things we can
never hope to be a happy nation.
Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
*According to the website of The Library of Congress this prayer is used regularly
at "The President's Chapel" of George Washington University and voices
the aspirations of the University for the fulfillment of civic duties
and the promotion of national welfare.
It was presented to The Daughters of The American Revolution by The
George Washington University as a token of its appreciation of the use
of Memorial Continental Hall on October 30, 1919 for the Special
Convocation at which the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was
conferred upon His Majesty, Albert, King of the Belgians.
-William Miller Collier, President.
Printed in Buff and Blue the University Colors
* In the wake of the recent act of vandalism committed against the statute
of George Washington on the campus of George Washington University
I have to wonder if this prayer by our first president is still in use there.
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