Conflict at the Convention is calmed

The Constitutional Convention opened on May 25, 1787. The stated purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it was soon realized by all in attendance that the Articles were too badly flawed to fix. A new Constitution would need to be written, but they soon found that there were deep disagreements in the group. The North and South argued about slavery and tariffs. The Large states and small states argued about representation. The disagreements became so strong, that at one point the whole Convention seemed to be sinking into chaos and failure. At this crucial point of the Constitutional Convention, Ben Franklin rose to speak. The following is a part of that speech. “The small progress we have made after four or five weeks, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of Human understanding. In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for 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. 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. I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing 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.” When the Convention assembled the next day this is what Jonathan Dayton recorded; “We assembled again; and …every unfriendly feeling had been expelled, and a spirit of conciliation had been cultivated.” God had used the conviction of Ben Franklin to open each meeting in prayer, to possibly save our Republic. All of a sudden, compromises were agreed upon, and the Convention produced perhaps the greatest political document that mankind has ever seen. If our constitution could not have been produced without God guiding its authors, how can we continue living in freedom without God’s guidance?