Prayers for the Sestercentennial

arranged by Joseph H. Prouser

I.

I now make it my most earnest prayer, that God would incline our hearts to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for our fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for our brethren who serve in the armed forces.1

May it be the true glory of the United States to cultivate peace by observing justice,2 for whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.3

Let us by all wise and constitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties.4

For liberty without learning is always in peril, and learning without liberty is always in vain.5

May that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, and the Protector in all ages of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation and its Government, and give it all possible success.6

May our country be always successful, but whether successful or not, always right.7

Let us not mistrust the future,8 but swear upon the altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of tyranny over the mind of man.9

Having chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear.10

II.

I once more give expression to America’s prayerful and continuing aspiration: We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may have their great human needs satisfied;

that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it to the full;

that all who yearn for freedom may experience its spiritual blessings;

that those who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibilities;

that all who are insensitive to the needs of others will learn charity…

that, in the goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love.11

History and experience tell us that moral progress comes not in comfortable and complacent times, but out of trial and confusion.12

Our Nation can be strong abroad only if it is strong at home. And we know that the best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation.13

Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.14

Ours was the first society openly to define itself in terms of both spirituality and human liberty. It is that unique self-definition which has given us an exceptional appeal.

It also imposes on us a special obligation to take on those moral duties which, when assumed, seem invariably to be in our own best interests.15

Because the world is more connected every day in every way, America’s security and prosperity require us to continue to lead in the world.

We must remember that America cannot lead in the world unless here at home we weave the threads of our coat of many colors into the fabric of one America.

As we become ever more diverse, we must work harder to unite around our common values and our common humanity.16

Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for – because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.17

Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is editor-in-chief of this journal.