Ben Franklin’s Call to Prayer 1787: “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 man’…”We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they Labor in vain that built it.”
George Washington’s First Inaugural Address 1789: “I shall take my present leave: but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race, in humble supplication that since He has pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this government must depend.”
George Washington’s Farewell Address 1796: “Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to Political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensible supports”…”Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?”
Second Inaugural Address of President Abraham Lincoln 1865: (with regard to slavery) “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we not be judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been fully answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs Be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.”
The Biblically Based United States Constitution 1788
During inaugural ceremonies where public officials take their oaths of office, a hand is placed on the Bible. This oath is a promise to fulfill the duties of the position to the best of one’s ability. By placing a hand on The Bible, the unsaid oath is to uphold Biblical principles while in the position of serving the public.
Citing the United States Constitution, Article II section I, the last paragraph concerns the oath of the office of the President of the United States and states as follows:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
It has been protocol and custom in this Biblically based society for the newly appointed President to place his hand on The Bible while taking his oath and also adding “So help me God” after the oath. The gesture of placing one’s hand on The Bible and the ending statement demonstrate that there is recognition that God’s Laws supersedes the laws of men and women.
The internet is a good source to review past (United States) Presidential inaugural ceremonies.