The preparations for the inauguration had been in depth ; everything had been well planned ; the event appeared to be proceeding smoothly. The parade carrying Washington by horse-drawn carriage to the swearing-in was nearing federal Hall when it was realized that no Bible had been got for managing the oath. Parade Marshal Jacob Morton hurried to the nearby Masonic Lodge and grabbed its giant 1767 King James Bible.
As Chancellor, Livingston was the highest ranking legal official in New York] was to administer the oath of office. Beside Livingston and Washington stood many distinguished officials, including vice president John Adams, original supreme court Chief Justice John Jay, Generals Henry Knox and Philip Schuyler, and a number of others. The Bible was opened to the second part of Genesis ; Washington placed his left hand upon the open Bible, raised his right, and then took the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution. Washington then bent over and kissed the Bible, reverently closed his eyes, and said,'So help me God!' Chancellor Livingston then proclaimed,'It is done!' Turning to the crowd assembled below, he shouted,'Long live George Washington - the 1st President of the United States!' That shout was echoed and re-echoed by the crowd below. Washington and the officers then departed the balcony and went within Fed Hall to the Senate Chamber where Washington delivered his opening Address. From the outset of that first presidential address, Washington - as his first extraordinarily official act - set a spiritual tone by expressing his very own heartfelt prayer to God :
Such being the impressions in which I have - in obedience to the general public summons - repaired to [arrived at] the present station, it might be peculiarly wrong to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being Who rules over the universe, Who presides in the councils of nations, and Whose auspicious assists can supply every human defect - that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the US a state instituted by themselves for these necessary purposes.
the remainder of Washington's address was no less strongly spiritual ; he even called on his listeners to remember and acknowledge God :
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David Barton and Rick Green David Barton and Rick Green explain that in tendering this homage [act of worship] to the Great author of each private and non-private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and love the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the united states. Can't be compared to the ways in which most govts have been settled without some return of religious gratitude.
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Rick Green and David Barton explain that Many major internet sites and encyclopedias identify the 4th of July as “America’s largest religious holiday,” and the compendium outlines “secular” as “pertaining to things that aren’t regarded as non secular or sacred.” the events leading in to America’s birthday were anything except temporal. As George Washington recognized, “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he has got to be worse than an infidel that lacks religion, and more than evil, which has not gratitude enough to recognize his obligations.” And John Adams endorsed : “The general elements that the fathers achieved autonomy were the general elements of Christianity.”
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